Air Quality                            Odor

Air Quality Consent Agreement Participant News

EPA Collaborates with Farmers on the First Nationwide Study of Air Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations

Contact: Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 / ryan.dave@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - June 14, 2007) EPA today announced the beginning of the first-ever nationwide study of air emissions from poultry, dairy and swine animal feeding operations (AFOs).
    "Farmers are not only the stewards of the land, they are vital partners in the Bush Administration's efforts to accelerate the pace of environmental progress, while growing our nation's economy," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "This is a new day for cooperation between agriculture and EPA. Working together to expand our scientific understanding of air emissions from livestock operations, we can do what's good for agriculture, good for our environment, and good for the American people."
   With EPA oversight, researchers from eight universities will take part in the 21/2-year, $14.6 million study to measure levels of hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter, ammonia, nitrous oxide, volatile organic compounds and other gases from livestock facilities. The research officially begins today at 24 sites in nine states. Full story

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EPA Takes Next Step in Gathering Air Emissions Data from Farms 
(Washington, D.C. - August 22, 2006) EPA has just gotten approval to take the next important step to gather air emissions data from agricultural animal feeding operations (AFOs) and to ensure compliance with environmental laws. This step consists of certain AFOs voluntarily taking part in a nationwide monitoring study to evaluate their air emissions. 
EPA's Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) just  approved the two final voluntary agreements, making a total of 2,568, representing 1,856 swine, 468 dairy, 204 egg-laying, and 40 broiler chicken (meat-bird) operations. These 2,568 agreements represent 6,267 farms (an AFO can include more than one farm).  Now the industry-led monitoring survey can proceed; it is expected to begin this winter.
Within 18 months following the monitoring study's conclusion, EPA will evaluate all data and publish emission-estimating methods for AFOs.  These methods will allow AFOs to estimate their emissions and comply with applicable federal regulatory requirements as appropriate. 

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On Monday, May 15th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice in the Federal Register indicating intent to disclose farm names and addresses that were included as confidential business information (CBI) in Consent Agreement applications.  EPA is proposing to disclose participating animal feeding operations' name and address and is requesting comments from the affected animal feeding operations (AFOs).  EPA clearly indicated that it has no intent of disclosing to the public any other information listed as CBI.  

As part of the approval process, Consent Agreements are submitted to the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) for final review and approval.  As EPA's filings with the EAB are public information, farm names and addresses will become part of the public record, regardless of whether EPA discloses this information directly.  Again, no other information claimed as confidential business information is to be disclosed to the public by EPA.   

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EPA Appeals Board Approves Agreements For Livestock Farms to Fund Emissions Study
The Environmental Appeals Board April 17 approved agreements between the Environmental Protection Agency and 702 animal feeding operations (AFOs) in which the farms will help fund a study to evaluate air pollution emissions from livestock operations. In exchange, EPA will agree not to sue the operations for air pollution violations during the duration of the agreements. "The approval of these agreements is another important step forward towards implementing a nationwide study of air emissions from AFOs," EPA said April 20 in a statement. EPA said it expects that the monitoring study will begin later this year. Approximately 2,700 AFOs signed up to participate in the voluntary agreement by Aug. 12, 2005. These included poultry, pork, and dairy operations. The 702 agreements comprise 48 for operations that raise egg-laying birds and 654 for swine-raising operations. EPA announced the Environmental Appeals Board approval of the first 20 agreements Jan. 27 (20 DER A-18, 01/31/06) . EPA said it is reviewing the remaining agreements and plans to submit those that qualify to the EAB for review over the next few months. The two-year study will provide EPA with data needed to develop emissions-estimating methods and tools, which will assist the industry and EPA in determining the air compliance status of AFOs. According to EPA, the study will help the agency develop methods to estimate emissions and help the agricultural industry and the agency determine AFOs' emissions levels. This will help the industry and EPA determine AFOs' compliance status under the Clean Air Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, the agency said. The agreements have encountered strong opposition from some states and environmental groups, which say that it lets participating operations escape liability for what may be serious air pollution violations. From BNA reporter, 4/24/06

Odor Management

PA Odor Management Regulations
Under Act 38 of 2005, the State Conservation Commission (SCC) is required to develop odor management regulations that outline requirements for addressing odor impacts associated with new barns or new manure storage facilities being built on existing or new CAOs and CAFOs. 

These regulations are to be developed with input from the Nutrient Management Advisory Board and will be subject to the public comment and regulatory review processes.  Proposed regulations are expected to be published for public comment in June, with final regulations anticipated for August 2007.

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