A new rule to disclose details about animal waste was supposed to apply to ~250 large dairies in New York.
Instead of complying, farmers switched to a different permit, which is not subject to the federal Clean Water Act.
prospect.org/environment/ne…
Instead of complying, farmers switched to a different permit, which is not subject to the federal Clean Water Act.
prospect.org/environment/ne…
We know extraordinarily little about factory farms.
In years of legal battles, NRDC has compiled the best data. It's not much.
EPA says 17,000+ farms exist, but 1) enviros suspect that's a lowball and 2) NRDC could only obtain data on 7,595 facilities.
nrdc.org/sites/default/…
In years of legal battles, NRDC has compiled the best data. It's not much.
EPA says 17,000+ farms exist, but 1) enviros suspect that's a lowball and 2) NRDC could only obtain data on 7,595 facilities.
nrdc.org/sites/default/…
Further clouding the picture: EPA is supposed to monitor water pollution, like manure runoff.
But EPA lets states write the permits for farms to comply w the Clean Water Act.
Given the opportunity, @CenterForBioDiv's Hannah Connor said, agribusiness has “weaponized federalism.”
But EPA lets states write the permits for farms to comply w the Clean Water Act.
Given the opportunity, @CenterForBioDiv's Hannah Connor said, agribusiness has “weaponized federalism.”
The Clean Water Act, @p_lehner said, focuses on “very visible industrial pollution.”
One challenge w/ regulating farms: there’s no tailpipe or smokestack.
Manure management plans are dynamic & must adapt to weather conditions. So discharge limits are “narrative,” not “numeric.”
One challenge w/ regulating farms: there’s no tailpipe or smokestack.
Manure management plans are dynamic & must adapt to weather conditions. So discharge limits are “narrative,” not “numeric.”
Communities downstream of industrial dairies have written to DEC reporting water and air pollution, health symptoms & economic impacts.
earthjustice.org/sites/default/…
earthjustice.org/sites/default/…
Nearby towns have little authority to prevent (or even request information) about water contamination.
In an amicus brief the towns of Camillus, Ithaca, Lafayette & Ulysses argue that municipalities have few options to prevent industrial farm pollution, but must absorb costs.
In an amicus brief the towns of Camillus, Ithaca, Lafayette & Ulysses argue that municipalities have few options to prevent industrial farm pollution, but must absorb costs.
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