2002 Beef Business Bulletin Stories Archive
EPA Farm Focus Moving to Air Quality
The Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) regulations are expected to be final on Dec. 15, nearly two years following the initial proposal. NCBA submitted seven volumes of information in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s initial 404-page proposal.
Much of the information submitted by NCBA has been given careful consideration by the agency. In November 2001, EPA published a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) and indicated that it was considering the use of certain economic data submitted by NCBA.
Again in its July 23, 2002, NODA, the agency stated that it was considering using certain alternate economic information, and that such consideration “is consistent with recommendations by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. ...” (Federal Register, July 23, 2002, Volume 67, Number 141,
p. 48105).
NCBA’s efforts have been assisted by the cooperation of its state affiliates. When EPA announced public listening sessions across the country to discuss the proposal, NCBA notified state cattle associations and provided information to state affiliate staff and producers to help prepare for the sessions. The turnout at the Ames, Iowa, meeting was such that EPA contacted NCBA with concerns about seating capacity for a subsequent upcoming Midwestern meeting.
In all, some 12,000 comments to this proposed regulation were received by EPA, an unprecedented number of comments for an agriculture regulation.
Clear the air
Another environmental issue gaining attention is air quality. On May 14, EPA signed a settlement agreement involving a challenge to its approval of California’s air permits program under the Clean Air Act. California’s air program does not require a permit for any equipment used in agricultural operations. Environmental groups had brought suit, claiming that EPA’s approval of the California program was improper.
EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman has indicated that EPA “will continue to work closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the farm community, the states and the public to better understand and address the agricultural sector and air quality issues in a common-sense way.” (EPA Press Release, May 14, 2002).
Recognizing that air quality issues have been an emerging area of concern, NCBA has been tracking the work of the Task Force on Agriculture Air Quality and the National Academy of Sciences study on livestock air emissions.
NCBA has retained the law firm of Holland & Hart for their expertise in air quality issues. NCBA staff has met with EPA to discuss cattle operations and air quality and will continue to meet with EPA.
at USDA to address them.