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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Environment - More on: IDEM: No enforcement on CAFOs for next 3 years
Last Thursday the ILB posted this entry, quoting from the Brownfield Network (America's Ag News Source) that in turn quoted IDEM Commissioner Tom Easterly as stating:
IDEM will suspend enforcement of Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permits until the EPA has cleared up the confusion surrounding CAFOs. This is the result of a court decision that threw out previous EPA regulations on CAFOs. “Until we know what the federal rules are, it makes no sense to enforce them,” said Easterly. He said no enforcement action will be taken for at least the next 3 years.Today the Brownfield Network has an item headed "IDEM Commissioner clarifies position on CAFO moratorium." The Brownfield Network gives the background and then states that "On Tuesday IDEM released the following statement in an effort to clarify the situation."
A quote attributed to me in a February 2, 2006, Brownfield Agriculture Today news article has caused a significant public stir about the agency and its oversight of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Please allow me to clarify the meaning of comments made during the Indiana Pork Producers annual meeting.Because of proposed deadline extensions in the CAFO National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) rule currently being considered by the Water Pollution Control Board, IDEM will not be enforcing the original deadlines for existing farms to file storm water plans, soil conservation plans, nutrient management plans and NPDES applications. It would not make sense for IDEM compliance staff to cite farms for violating deadlines that may change. But we will continue to hold all farms accountable to protect waters of the state. No variance will be given to farms for violating water quality standards. And my staff and I will continue working to educate, guide, assist and oversee confined feeding operations, statewide. - Thomas W. Easterly
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 7, 2006 04:43 PM
Posted to Environment