Washington - The National Environmental Dialogue on Pork Production is continuing to develop comprehensive recommendations to protect the environment and quality of life in agricultural areas of the country and will issue its final recommendations in December, despite the withdrawal of the local government representatives.
As the Dialogue engaged in its consensus building process, the proposal of the three local government representatives (2 from the National Association of Counties and one from the National Association of Towns and Townships) was a point of significant discussion and debate. Despite days of intense negotiation, Dialogue members representing USEPA, USDA, State environment and agriculture directors along with pork producers were unable to accept, in total, the unconditional language promoted by the locals.
This language called for the Dialogue, as a whole, to call upon the 50 State Legislatures and General Assemblies to "provide local governments the authority to adopt zoning regulations and ordinances addressing issues such as public health & safety, environmental protection, nuisance and traffic control. Within any zones established, including residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural, local governments shall be given the authority to set standards and regulations for various uses. An applicant should be required to obtain all required local approval or permits before seeking federal or state permits."
Roberta Savage, President of America's Clean Water Foundation said, "I am saddened by the decision of our local government colleagues to withdraw from the Dialogue's deliberations. Their input and involvement in developing the recommendations of the group has been thoughtful, pertinent and for the most part, accepted by the Dialogue. However, their proposal to have the Dialogue specifically instruct State Legislators on in-state institutional arrangements, particularly in areas other than environmental protection, was simply outside the scope of the Dialogue's mission and responsibility."
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