Washington - The National Environmental Dialogue on Pork Production has completed its work on a Comprehensive Environmental Framework for Pork Production Operations and its final report is now available.
The framework provides a comprehensive set of guidelines that can
1) help to ensure enhanced environmental performance associated with pork production, and
2) provide producers more certainty and consistency in regulatory programs. This framework can be used to strengthen current federal regulations, establish more protective and consistent state regulatory programs, and ensure a constructive role for local government. Major recommendations provide that:
-- The environmental framework apply to all commercial pork production operations, regardless of size.
-- The framework be immediately applied to all new and expanding pork production operations. Existing operations should have five years to comply with the recommendations.
-- The siting of a new or expanded operations address the potential cumulative effects of concentration of pollution associated with pork production operations within a watershed.
-- The setbacks from pork production facilities protect homes, schools and hospitals from odor and surface/ground water pollution.
-- Reverse setbacks protect existing pork producers from urban encroachment.
-- The scope of current regulations be expanded to include land application of manure.
-- Manure be land applied only after nutrient testing and soil sampling are conducted, and only in accordance with approved nutrient management plans.
-- The rate at which manure can be applied to land be restricted on soils that exceed established thresholds of phosphorus in the soil.
-- The pork producers guarantee the full cost of closing all lagoons, basins, and of disposing of manure if the producer stops operating at that site.
-- All operators be certified and all employees and contractors should be trained.
-- The producers who fully implement and maintain the recommendations be shielded from frivolous nuisance suits.
Press Here for Info on Setting Your Own Web Site
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
Web Site: http://www.spcnetwork.com/mii