Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
5/25/01
Contacts:
John Lawrence, Economics, 515-294-6290, jdlaw@iastate.edu
Angie Rieck-Hinz, Iowa Manure Management Action Group,
515-294-9590, amrieck@iastate.edu
Wendy Powers, Animal Science, 515-294-1635, wpowers@iastate.edu
Jeff Lorimor, Ag/Biosystems Engineering, 515-294-9806,
jclorimo@iastate.edu
Wendy Miller, Iowa Beef Center, 515-294-9124, wmiller@iastate.edu
New Web Guide Helps Producers Develop Comments
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and ISU Extension recently collaborated to develop a document to help Iowa livestock producers get their voices heard in Washington.
A Guide for Preparing Comments Regarding EPA's Proposed Rules for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) was written to assist livestock producers and others who wish to submit comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on proposed changes to Clean Water Act regulations. EPA recently proposed several changes to rules governing animal feeding operations (AFOs) and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
"These proposals are in a comment period that lasts through July," said John Lawrence, ISU Extension livestock economist and director of ISU's Iowa Beef Center. "At the conclusion of the comment period, all comments submitted to EPA will be reviewed, the proposed rules re-evaluated and the final rules issued along with an implementation schedule. Therefore, the earliest new regulations will take effect is 2003."
The guide is posted on the Iowa Manure Management Action Group (IMMAG) Web site at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/afocafo.html. The IMMAG committee recently created an entire page on the site devoted to information regarding the proposed CAFO rules. "The new page contains direct links to the proposed rules, fact sheets, supporting documents and the comment guide prepared by ISU," said Angie Rieck-Hinz, Agronomy Extension program specialist with IMMAG. "Additionally, the site has a link to a list of informational meetings across Iowa developed to help livestock producers better understand the proposed rules."
The deadline for submission of comments is July 30.
"The guide was developed to help producers prepare their own comments on the proposed CAFO rules," Lawrence, who is also one of the guide's authors, said. "The topics identified highlight major provisions of the proposed rules as well as tips on writing effective comments to EPA and a glossary of terms."
The guide provides references and page numbers on how to find the specific changes located in the Federal Register as well as questions livestock producers may want to consider when developing their comments.
The environmental regulations Iowa open feedlots currently operate under were drafted in 1972 as part of the Clean Water Act. Revisions occurred in 1987.
In the 1990s, EPA came under fire from citizen and environmental groups for not adequately reviewing and updating Clean Water Act regulations. The groups filed a lawsuit in federal court and won, forcing EPA to take action.
In light of the federal mandate, EPA began a review of clean water regulations and proposed changes. The complete text is available in the Federal Register and can be located at http://www.epa.gov/owm/afo.htm. The proposals will affect all livestock species.
For more information regarding the guide document or how to submit comments to the EPA, contact IMMAG at (515) 294-9590.
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