The Oregon Division of Environmental High quality is asking the general public to weigh in on whether or not the state ought to start regulating air air pollution from giant dairies.
In August, a coalition of twenty-two advocacy teams filed a petition for rulemaking with the state. They’re asking DEQ to declare giant dairies sources of air air pollution, identical to factories.
Recent research from the lead petitioner, Meals & Water Watch, discovered Oregon’s megadairies collectively launch greater than 17 million kilograms of methane annually, equal to the emissions from 318,000 vehicles.
Giant dairies, or confined animal feeding operations, additionally emit ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter, all of which might trigger well being issues in individuals.
DEQ will settle for written feedback on the petition till 4 p.m. Oct. 23.
To submit feedback, go to oregon.gov/deq/rulemaking/Pages/DairyAirPetition.aspx or e mail DairyAir.Petition@deq.oregon.gov.
The state Environmental High quality Fee, which advises DEQ, plans to behave on the petition at a particular assembly to be scheduled earlier than a Nov. 15 deadline to reply. The EQC might deny the petition, grant the petition and start rulemaking, or select to do one thing else.
Guidelines would apply to about 37 giant dairies
The proposed rule submitted by the teams is just like the advice from a 2008 legislative activity power on dairy air emissions, Emily Miller, the Meals & Water Watch lawyer who was the lead creator of the petition, mentioned throughout a media briefing Wednesday.
“Their suggestions strongly urged the state to take fast motion to handle this challenge,” Miller mentioned. “The state has executed little to nothing to manage this trade.”
The proposed rules would apply to dairies with 700 or extra mature cows, or about 37 of the state’s 230 dairies. These giant dairies home about 56% of the state’s dairy cows.
New dairies, in addition to dairy expansions or modifications, would wish to acquire an air high quality allow earlier than starting development. Current dairies would have one yr to acquire a allow.
Permits would require that, if sure emissions have been exceeded, the dairy must take steps to attain reductions.
These might embrace issues like conserving manure in dry, stable kind relatively than liquifying it; overlaying manure lagoons and treating vented air with a biofilter; making use of liquid manure to fields with a low, relatively than excessive strain system; or creating pure windbreaks round manufacturing areas and lagoons.
Emissions from giant industrial dairies are impacting the well being of their workers and households, who should reside close by, Ubaldo Hernández, senior neighborhood organizer at Columbia Riverkeeper, mentioned on the briefing.
“Lots of people, as a result of they rely upon these jobs, they’re afraid to talk up,” Hernández mentioned. “Numerous these children have power issues due to fixed publicity to those contaminants.”
In Morrow and Umatilla counties, the Boardman and Hermiston areas are dwelling to the state’s largest dairies, with a collective 100,000 cows.
There are six dairies in Marion County that may very well be topic to the proposed guidelines: Dejager Dairy, AJ Dairy, Hesse & Sons Dairy, Platt’s Turner Dairy, BSP and Hazenberg Dairy.
There are three in Polk County: Diamond Valley Dairy, Platt’s Oak Hill Dairy and Rickreall Dairy.
And there are two in Lane County: Lochmead Farms and Brownsville Calf Ranch.
The teams that signed on to the petition symbolize environmental, public well being, sustainable agriculture, animal welfare and neighborhood pursuits.
They’re: 350 Eugene, 350 Deschutes, Animal Authorized Protection Fund, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Past Toxics, Heart for Organic Range, Heart for Meals Security, Columbia Riverkeeper, Comunidades Amplifying Voices for Environmental and Social Justice, Atmosphere Oregon, Humane Voters Oregon, Farm Ahead, Farm Sanctuary, Meals & Water Watch, Associates of the Columbia Gorge, Associates of Household Farmers, Mercy for Animals, Northwest Environmental Protection Heart, Oregon Physicians for Social Duty, Pendleton Neighborhood Motion Alliance, Public Justice Basis and World Animal Safety.
Tracy Loew covers the setting on the Statesman Journal. Ship feedback, questions and tricks totloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779. Observe her on Twitter at@Tracy_Loew
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