Harkin Proposes Federal Law
To Control Manure Handling

DES MOINES, Iowa — U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin said he will seek national environmental standards for large livestock producers and handling of animal wastes.

Harkin said his measure would set "strict technical standards" for construction of manure lagoons, and would regulate application of manure to farmland as fertilizer.

In a step that would have wide effect on the livestock industry, Harkin said his new standards would apply not only to new construction, but also to facilities already in use, which would be given "a reasonable phase-in period to meet appropriate standards."

"National standards for animal waste are necessary because this is a national issue," claimed Harkin, in a conference call with Iowa reporters.

"This takes aim at opportunists and the big operators who can move from state to state," said Harkin. "This bill would put a halt to any bidding-down among states of environmental standards."

While the measure would apply to livestock and poultry production, much of the controversy has focused on hog production where animals are increasingly grown in giant mega-farms housing thousands of pigs at a time.

"We haven't seen any of the details," said Charles Harness, of spokesman for the National Pork Producers Council.

Harness said his organization was involved in a series of environmental efforts, including research programs aimed at reducing odor problems at big hog farms.

"We hope to work closely with the senator on those and other issues," said Harness. He said the Pork Producers hadn't been consulted as Harkin drafted the legislation announced last Thursday.

Controlling big livestock producers is emerging as one of the hottest issues in the Midwest, and in other states with a large livestock industry.

Backers argue that developing technology and efficiencies of scale make it inevitable that livestock production will come on a larger and larger scale. States that resist that trend will lose the industry, they argue.

But critics claim that the giant production facilities are "factories" that produce millions of gallons of animal waste that foul air and water and destroy the pristine character of rural living.

Harkin said he's studied the issue for months, and decided it's time to set standards that will protect the environment and apply nationally. States could set their own tougher standards if they decided, Harkin said.

The measure would apply only to what Harkin calls "large" producers, and one of the hottest debates will be over deciding the size of facility to regulate. The initial proposal would regulate hog farms with more than 1300 animals at any given time.

Similar standards would be set for poultry and other livestock, he said.

"I expect there will be an ongoing discussion about where this national threshold will be set," said Harkin in a classic understatement.

Harkin said he's heard increasing complaints about woes associated with big livestock producers.

"I am proposing this bill in response to increasing concerns about the environmental impact of animal waste, particularly from intensive livestock and poultry operations," he insisted.

The legislation is almost completed, and should be introduced within two weeks, Harkin said. He conceded there's no time to push the measure during the current session of Congress, but said it would be a priority next year.

"By setting national environmental standards, livestock producers are required to bear the true cost of production," said Harkin. "In other words, the cost of handling the environment is no longer free. You can't just dump things out there as they used to."

Under the measure, farmers being regulated would have to get approval for a waste management plan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Major provisions in the legislation include:

— Defining large producers, and requiring approval of a waste management plan that includes "contingency measures to contain accidental waste spills."

— Setting construction standards for new lagoons, and setting a timeframe for bringing existing lagoons to that standard.

— Setting limits on manure application to farmland.

— Holding owners of the animals responsible for compliance with a management plan.

— Requiring that waste which can't be applied to land be treated, and not allowed to sit indefinitely in a lagoon.