Friday, February 13, 2009

No Guidance On EPA Rules

Livestock farmers: New EPA rules confusing
Many don't know how or what to report; Pork Producers sue
BY KEVIN MURPHY FOR THE TH

MADISON, Wis. -- The Environmental Protection Agency imposed air emission reporting requirements on large livestock producers last month but didn't tell them how or what to report, according a federal lawsuit filed Friday by the National Pork Producers Council.

The suit seeks to have the new EPA reporting rule not apply to large livestock producers where animal waste is used only in routine farming operations.

"I've gotten a lot of calls from confused farmers in Grant County about their reporting requirements and I've received absolutely no guidance as to how the program is to be working," said Steve Braun, Grant County's Emergency Management and Disaster director.

The rules were formulated in December and announced Jan. 16, just days before they went into effect on Jan. 20, leaving "everyone in the dark," said Braun. Read More

This seems to be a typical bureaucratic mess. Pass a regulation with no guidance on how to conform to it. The livestock industry is producing fewer emissions than ever, yet people insist on placing more regulations on us. What these reports will accomplish is unknown, other than the fact it will create more paperwork.

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