Family Farms, Rural Communities Threatened by Craig Amendment
Environmental Integrity Project
WASHINGTON,
D.C. (September 21, 2004) – The air and drinking water, lakes and streams in and near family
farms and rural communities across the United States would be
jeopardized by a U.S. Senate amendment that would allow the undisclosed release of hazardous chemicals and other pollution from factory farm operations, according to the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) and 32 leading farm, environmental and community groups.
The
controversial amendment in question is expected to be offered today by
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig in a Senate committee markup of the appropriations bill.
A joint letter to U.S. Senators on the topic has been sent by a
coalition of national and local organizations across the country,
including EIP.
The
groups are opposing the behind-the-scenes bid to exempt agricultural
operations from existing laws that require reporting of releases of
toxic chemicals. The amendment would change the definition of “release”
in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation Liability Act
(CERCLA, or Superfund) and the definition of “hazardous chemical” in
the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA).
According to the letter: “Large
livestock operations, confining thousands and even hundreds of
thousands of animals, routinely emit large quantities of hazardous
chemicals such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide into the environment and
nearby communities. Chemical releases from these operations are
anything but diffuse and low-level. Because of the concentration of
large numbers of animals and their waste, chemical releases are also
concentrated.”
Data
show that the livestock sector is the largest ammonia polluter
nationwide, producing nearly three-quarters of all ammonia emissions.
The
joint letter points to mounting evidence “correlating Concentrated
Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) air emissions with detrimental public
health and environmental impacts.”
According to the letter: “Peer-reviewed studies show air emissions from
a 6,000-head hog operation in North Carolina caused increased
headaches, sore throats, excessive coughing, diarrhea, burning eyes,
and reduced quality of life for nearby residents. Another study shows
increased eye and upper respiratory symptoms in residents within two
miles of a large hog operation in Iowa.”
The letter continues:
“Stories abound of the horrific impacts from these types of facilities;
witness the recent, nuisance judgments against CAFOs rendered by courts
in Iowa against Iowa Select and in Ohio against Buckeye Egg. These
verdicts helped bring relief to communities plagued by noxious
emissions from facilities that had operated outside the law for far too
long. Serious questions have also been raised in the San Joaquin Valley
– an area heavily polluted by agricultural operations – with respect to
CAFOs' contribution to total air pollution and the corresponding health
effects associated with smog and particulate matter pollution. Seven
people have died in Minnesota since 1992 from exposure to toxic
hydrogen sulfide fumes released during the pumping of animal waste from
pits. Two California dairy workers died this year from hydrogen sulfide
exposure.”
EIP Senior Counsel Michele Merkel said: “In
addition to our concerns about public health, we find it completely
inappropriate to use appropriations bills to make substantive
amendments to longstanding environmental protection laws. The groups are asking the Senate to keep this bill (and all other appropriations bills) free of anti-environmental riders.”
The full text of the joint letter is available online at http://www.environmentalintegrity.org.
Blog For Iowa 
Ammonia & hydrogen sulfide in high enough continuous amounts can cause memory loss, disorientation, cause one to pass out, & also death. We have all got to come to grips with the fact that we over consume, over purchase, & over promote. There is deadly waste created from the process of nearly everything that touches our lives from nuclear power, to vehicle emissions, and farm produce. Even seemingly benevolent chickens can create deadly toxic poop if delivered in sufficent amounts. So take a look at what you purchase : who became ill for your welfare?…..Conserve, Conserve, Conserve
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