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Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Environment - Survey of CAFO bills pending in General Assembly

Seth Slabaugh of the Muncie Star-Press has a good survey article today titled "Bills aim for CAFO trust: Inspections, training and buffer zones under debate." It begins:

MUNCIE -- Several bills seeking to increase public confidence in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are making their way through the Indiana General Assembly as the 2007 session reaches the halfway point.

The bills would increase CAFO permit fees to pay for more inspections; prohibit CAFOs within a mile of a school, city or town; establish good-character disclosure requirements; require not only state permitting of CAFOs but also the approval of local health departments and zoning authorities; broaden public notice of permit applications, and make other changes.

"With more animal feeding operations statewide, the public needs to have confidence that they are being regulated as they should be," said Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield. "With the number of facilities coming in, we need to beef up IDEM's regulatory program, particularly inspections, to ensure public confidence and weed out the bad actors."

The story includes a sidebar listing the bills introduced on the topic. The three that are moving are:
Bill: H.B. 1197
# Author: Rep. Phil Pflum, D-Milton. Co-authored by Tom Saunders, R-Lewisville, and Dennis Tyler, D-Muncie.
# Summary: Prohibits CFOs and CAFOs within a mile of a public school, nursing home, child-care center or municipality. Requires civil penalties for various categories of violations relating to CFOs and CAFOs. Requires IDEM to inspect each CFO and CAFO at least once a year. Applies an annual inspection fee on CFOs and CAFOs to fund inspections. Requires the state chemist to establish a training program for CFO and CAFO manure applicators and haulers.
# Status: On Feb. 21, passed the House 62-36. Referred to Senate.

Bill: S.B. 431
# Author: Sen. Bev Gard, R-Greenfield.
# Summary: Establishes good character disclosure requirements for CFOs and CAFOs. Sets fees for more CFO and CAFO inspections. Requires the state chemist to adopt rules relating to CAFO and CFO manure application and storage.
# Status: On Feb. 20, passed Committee on Energy and Environmental Affairs. Scheduled for second-reading amendments and third reading in Senate this week. [ILB-the bill passed 2nd reading yesterday, 2/26, with two amendments, which are available at the above link.]

Bill: H.B. 1308
# Author: Dave Cheatham, D-North Vernon, David Niezgodski, D-South Bend.
# Summary: Allows the state to approve CFOs and CAFOs only if the construction has been approved by the local health department and the local zoning authority.
# Status: On Jan. 16, passed by Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. [ILB-passed 2nd reading with one amendment 2/23.] Scheduled for third reading in the House this week.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 27, 2007 08:20 AM
Posted to Environment