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March 31, 2005 May 1 Deadline to Sign EPA Air Compliance Agreement Livestock producers have until July 1 to decide if they wish to sign an Environmental Protection Agency air compliance agreement. The increased size and consolidation of agricultural operations, in recent years, have resulted in an increasing number of citizen complaints about possible health impacts. A report by the National Academy of Sciences called on the EPA to improve its method of estimating emissions from animal feeding operations. For the next two years, researchers will try to quantify the emissions produced by different types of livestock operations. “Researchers are looking at the amount of hydrogen sulfide, nitrous oxides, ammonia, dust and volatile organic compounds produced by animal feeding operations,” says Bridget Johnson, North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center livestock nutrient management specialist. “Some producers signing the agreement will be asked to participate in the two-year study.” “The agreement is voluntary and provides producers with legal protection from violations of the Clean Air Act if their operation is found to be out of compliance after the two-year study and they take action to come into compliance when notified,” according to Ron Wiederholt, NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center livestock waste management specialist. “Producers who sign the agreement will not be admitting any guilt and will be exempt from any past violations, but they will have to pay a fee of $200 to $1,000, depending on the size of the farm,” he said. “Those signing the agreement also will be exempt during the study period.” In the past, the EPA was using information gathered on a case-by-case basis. Once the research is completed and quantified, the EPA will be able to set uniform emission standards. After the standards are set, all producers will have to comply with the rules. Johnson and Wiederholt say livestock producers should become familiar with the agreement to make an informed decision. A fact sheet is available on the Web at www.nppc.org/hot_topics/airemmissions.html. Johnson can be contacted at (701) 483-2306 or e-mail at mjohnson@ndsuext.nodak.edu. Wiederholt can be reached at (701) 652-2951 or e-mail at rwiederh@ndsuext.nodak.edu. ### Source: Bridgett
Johnson, (701) 483-2306, mjohnson@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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