April 21, 2008
How Does Your State Monitor Large Animal Feed Lots?
A new study by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production tackles the issue on a state by state basis.
DENVER - Large concentrated animal feeding operations are familiar in rural America. These facilities offer farmers and producers a more efficient system to feed and house animals. But these large farming operations cause a greater potential for air, water and land pollution for neighboring properties and communities. When appropriately applied to soil, animal manure can fertilize crops and restore nutrients to the land. When improperly managed, animal wastes can pose a threat to human health and the environment.
Local, state and federal authorities regulate concentrated animal feed lots. Many states go beyond the federal requirements, and laws can very greatly from state to state.
"State and local governments have developed a patchwork of regulations typically using federal regulations as a basic guideline that can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. That may result in imbalanced and ineffective enforcement," said former Kansas Governor John Carlin and Chairman of the Pew Commission.
To gain a better understanding of various state laws and how they are administered, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production sent a survey to agricultural agencies in all 50 states. State administrators were asked to provide state regulations of confined or large feeding operations, evaluate resources available to state agencies on how to handle these operations, and to determine how to better implement these laws.
The survey confirmed Governor Carlin's assessment, that state laws regulating concentrated animal feeding operations vary greatly. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforces a national standard for runoff from these operations into water sources, compliance is spotty, and the EPA relies on the states for administration. Some states, such as Oklahoma, apply their own set of standards in addition to the EPA standard, double regulating these operations. Others, such as New Hampshire, simply let the EPA handle the issue.
Members of the media may contact NCSL's Press Room to obtain a free copy of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: A Survey of State Policies report.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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