GAO on CAFO’s
September 2008 report from the GAO says the EPA does not have the data to assess the risk posed by CAFO to human health:
Since 2002, at least 68 government-sponsored or peer-reviewed studies have been completed that examined air and water quality issues associated with animal feeding operations and 15 have directly linked air and water pollutants from animal waste to specific health or environmental impacts. EPA has not yet assessed the extent to which these pollutants may be impairing human health and the environment because it lacks key data on the amount of pollutants that are being emitted from animal feeding operations.
September 30th, 2008 09:46
One of the problems is that the CAFO operators generally do not cooperate with research into the impacts of their operations. I learned about this during discussions with a university based researcher studying groundwater contamination issues.
Possibly, operators don’t cooperate because they fear the research will provide data that could establish liability for contamination of aquifers on nearby properties. There may be some peer group pressure among CAFO operators involved too.
Requiring cooperation with research would be a good permit requirement. I think it is safe to say the current administration won’t do that unless it is mandated by legislation.