From: Mike Birr
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 11:57 AM
Subject: EPA's proposed CAFO rule change
Hello Supporters: The EPA and DNR are working on proposals that will
significantly weaken existing CAFO regulations. The letter below to Senator
Feingold explains these proposals and offers a sample letter. Our elected
officials need to hear from as many of us as possible.
Look up your federal and state elected officials and use the info below to
create your own emails or letters:
www.senate.gov/ www.legis.state.wi.us/senhome.htm
www.house.gov/
www.legis.state.wi.us/asmhome.htm
Dear Senator Feingold,
I am writing to you regarding the EPA's proposed CAFO rule change. As you may know, the EPA is proposing a rule that would significantly weaken existing CAFOs regulations in two ways. First, the rule would allow CAFOs to file a "no discharge certification" which would remove the requirement to even get a permit if the CAFO planned to have no discharge to surface waters. And second, the rule would allow permitted CAFOs to make significant changes to its NMP and other operational processes without notifying the agency or the public.
If the EPA finalizes this rule, there will be pressure on the Wisconsin DNR
to weaken NR 243 so that it is "no more stringent than" the EPA rule.
DNR hasn't thought about this possible outcome, and though the agency would
continue to require permits in the short term they'd have to address the
industry's pressure somehow.
At the present time the Wisconsin DNR is considering a proposal to go to CAFO
General Permitting which would eliminate the individual permit process with its
opportunities for environmental assessments due to differences in local
conditions. It may also limit opportunities for public scrutiny of these
applications.
If the EPA rule change is passed it will only further weaken opportunities for
local citizens to actively demand enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
We urge you to consider opposing this rule change in any way possible.
And again thank you for your recent efforts to oppose concentration in the
livestock industry.
Thank you for considering this matter.
Sincerely,
Jennifer M. Nelson
Crawford Stewardship Project
Crawford County, Wisconsin--
Crawford Stewardship Project
PO Box 284
Gays Mills, WI 54631
608-735-4277
http://www.crawfordstewardshipproject.org