Six Groups Sue EPA Over Toxic Farm Emissions Loophole

FRESNO, Calif. — Six environmental groups have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday over a new rule exempting dairies and other large-scale livestock operations from having to alert officials when toxic emissions are released.

Earthjustice filed the suit Thursday in a federal appeals court in Washington. It says the exemption threatens the health and safety of people living and working near lagoons that store farm animals' urine and feces, sources of dangerous ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.

Large-scale farms had been required to notify government officials when air pollution levels exceeded safety thresholds.

The EPA rule change goes into effect Tuesday.

A message left at the EPA office in San Francisco wasn't immediately returned.

Comments

[envi99]

Well there are ways to manage the waste. Dairy farms across the United States are becoming a part of a growing alternative energy program that converts the methane gas from cow manure into electricity that is sold to the power utility’s grid. For info: http://www.yellowsandblues.com/postDetail.php?id=87&catId=1

[TidalShadow]

Nice to see that at least some people are trying to do the work that the EPA was established to do. The EPA has an obligation to protect people from industrial pollutants, no matter what the industry. It is imperative that keeping people safe once again becomes the main objective of the EPA. Partisanship should never get in the way of the government serving the people.

[Belphegor]

Animal farming is by far the greatest crime in human history; to the environment, to the animals and to our health. Time to bring this industry into the 21st century