IDEM “Clarifies” Statement on no CAFO Enforcement
Well, many folks on both sides of the CAFO debate locally were quite surprised when Brownfields reported that Tom Easterly, commissioner of IDEM told Indiana pork producers that “IDEM will suspend enforcement of Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CARO) permits until the EPA has cleared up the confusion surrounding CAFOs.” (See earlier post: CAFO’s: No State level Enforcement?).
Well the reported statement came across as being a broad abandonment of CAFO permit enforcement and this caused IDEM to get a bunch of excited contacts. Brownfields is now reporting that Easterly has clarified his earlier remarks:
A quote attributed to me in a February 2, 2006, Brownfield Agriculture Today news article has caused a significant public stir about the agency and its oversight of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Please allow me to clarify the meaning of comments made during the Indiana Pork Producers annual meeting.
Because of proposed deadline extensions in the CAFO National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) rule currently being considered by the Water Pollution Control Board, IDEM will not be enforcing the original deadlines for existing farms to file storm water plans, soil conservation plans, nutrient management plans and NPDES applications. It would not make sense for IDEM compliance staff to cite farms for violating deadlines that may change. But we will continue to hold all farms accountable to protect waters of the state. No variance will be given to farms for violating water quality standards. And my staff and I will continue working to educate, guide, assist and oversee confined feeding operations, statewide.Link (Brownfields story)
Okay, from not enforcing CAFO permits, to not enforcing deadlines on filing management plans. What a difference a week can make, although I am sure the news sound much better to the pig farmers last week.
(thanks to Ed Feigenbaum for the pointer)
