Groups Ask EPA to Regulate Air Pollution at Factory Farms

September 23, 2009

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A group of environmental and public health organizations have filed a legal petition with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for regulation of air pollution at factory farms, reports CommonDreams.com.

Spearheaded by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the 69-page petition includes scientific and legal information about the emissions of methane and nitrous oxide — two greenhouse gases — as well as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from factory farms, and how these pollutants have been shown to have negative effects on human health and welfare, including adverse effects on climate and the environment in the United States.

Other petitioners include the Association of Irritated Residents, Clean Air Task Force, Dairy Education Alliance, El Comité para el Bienestar de Earlimart, Environmental Integrity Project, Friends of the Earth, Waterkeeper Alliance, and the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment.

In particular, the petition details how reducing emissions of major pollutants from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) will improve human health, reduce suffering of farm animals, protect habitat for wildlife, and reduce the effects of climate change and other environmental problems.

The coalition charges that CAFOs emit air pollutants, including greenhouse gases, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, particulate matter and small particulates, and certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to climate change, acid rain, haze and ground-level ozone, cites Feedstuffs.

Dairy industry associations are ready to promise emissions cuts with the Sept. 24 signing of the Global Dairy Agenda for Action during the World Dairy Summit in Berlin, Germany. The document will be signed by seven international dairy associations.

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Reader Comments

Excellent piece. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is as dangerous as it is commonplace in both industry as well as the environment. It is critical new technologies be brought to bear in reducing this and other pollutants not often publicly attributed to global warming.
Evan Howell

Evan Howell | September 24th, 2009

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