Below is Environmental Defense's press release on EPA's new CAFO regulations.

We are especially disappointed in this rule given
1) The significant increase in federal funding for livestock operations through USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program and
2) The National Academy of Science's new report on air emissions from livestock operations. I have included our press release on that new report below the press release on EPA's new CAFO rules.

You can find the new CAFO regulations on EPA's website at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/cafofinalrule.cfm

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CONTACT:  Dan Whittle 919 881-2601

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CRITICIZES EPA FACTORY FARM RULES
New Regulations Fail To Protect Air And Water Quality From Dangerous Emissions

(16 December 2002 -- Raleigh, NC)  Environmental Defense criticized new regulations expected today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to control air and water pollution generated by industrial livestock production.  The group said regulations due to be
announced today are expected to do little to offset environmental and public health impacts from major air emissions and wastewater runoff from factory farm operations. 

"Factory farms discharge a staggering amount of contaminants into the atmosphere, and the EPA regulations fail to seriously address air emissions and their well-documented impacts on public health and water quality," said Dan Whittle, senior attorney with Environmental Defense. 
"The new rules are a major step backward."

"The federal technology guidelines and permitting rules announced today allow the continued use of rudimentary open-air lagoons and the land application of animal waste, despite the fact that North Carolina and other livestock producing states have banned these outdated waste
systems on new farms.  The real solution to air and water pollution caused by factory farms lies in requiring owners and operators to use better waste treatment technologies, which are readily available and affordable.  The new EPA regulations fail to recognize this basic issue in controlling factory farm pollution." said Whittle. 

A report on industrial livestock production issued by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on December 12 identified ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane, particulate matter, nitrous oxide and odor as significant contributors to air pollution.  Atmospheric deposition of ammonia nitrogen into waterways is also a major source of pollution, especially in coastal waters such as North Carolina's. The NAS report called on EPA to make immediate reductions in atmospheric emissions.

New CAFO regulations are on the web at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/cafofinalrule.cfm

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CONTACT: Joe Rudek 919 881-2601 / 919 931-9677
   Suzy Friedman   202 387-3500 / 703 231-4412

REPORT CONFIRMS SEVERITY OF AIR POLLUTION FROM FACTORY FARMS
Environmental Defense Calls On EPA And USDA To Take Immediate Action To Protect Public Health

(12 December 2002 -- Raleigh)  Environmental Defense today praised a new report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that confirms the need to reduce air pollution generated by factory farms to curb serious public health and environmental impacts.  The group called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to follow the report's recommendations and take immediate action to reduce dangerous emissions of major air pollutants.  On December 16, EPA is scheduled to release new regulations for livestock production, which are unlikely to address air emissions.  USDA is also handing out hundreds of millions of dollars to factory farms to manage their manure better, but these funds have so far done little to control air emissions. 

"The NAS report confirms that factory farms are polluting the air we breathe and the waters in which we swim and fish and provides a scientifically sound method to measure environmental impacts," said Joe Rudek, senior scientist with Environmental Defense, who reviewed the
report for NAS.  "In the past, industry has hidden behind claims of insufficient science to delay action.  Now the industry's excuse for inaction has evaporated."

"Unfortunately, both EPA and USDA have done almost nothing so far to address air pollution, a huge part of the factory farm problem," said Rudek.  "Because the pollution that evaporates from factory farms comes back down in rainfall and contaminates our water, it makes little sense
for EPA to issue new water rules for factory farms that do nothing to curb air pollutants.  If EPA's rules only focus on spills and the use of manure on land, they could actually encourage factory farms to increase air pollution.  That would mean more noxious odors and unhealthy air for downwind neighbors."

"USDA may spend as much as $2 billion in the next few years to help livestock operators deal with manure," said Suzy Friedman, staff scientist with Environmental Defense.  "In the past, almost none of this money has helped control air pollution and odor.  USDA has instead focused too much on bigger lagoons that are a part of the problem.  This report should spur USDA to help farmers manage manure more comprehensively.  The good news is that some of the technologies to control air pollution and odor can also turn manure into electricity and help farmers with their bottom lines."

Questions or comments: Contact Suzy Friedman, sfriedman@environmentaldefense.org