Local state senator takes on CAFO’s
As part of its week-long series covering new legislation in the Indiana legislature from the perspective of a local lawmaker, the Pal-Item gives coverage today on efforts to bring confined animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) under tighter regulation by IDEM:
From his kitchen window Al Hutchison can see the first building of a 1,650-cow megadairy going up.The dairy and its 7-acre manure lagoon will be only about 2,200 feet from Hutchison’s home. The lagoon will hold about 21 million gallons of manure.That’s why Hutchison testified last week in favor of Senate Bill 123 authored by Sen. Allen Paul, R-Richmond.
The bill would force the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to penalize confined feeding operations that violate environmental laws. Dutch-owned megadairies like the Union-Go Dairy planned for Randolph County have become controversial in Indiana because many of them have been cited for violating clean water rules through manure spills. Neighbors say the state imposes few or no penalties on those operations for their violations. Paul said he was approached about a bill by Randolph County residents in his district who want more state control over confined animal feeding operations.
“It’s unusual to have people come to you with bills. Usually we’re approached by lobbyists. It’s time to talk about this issue. You can’t let these things blow in the wind,” Paul said.
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