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Saturday, June 02, 2007
Environment - Closing the farm proves challenging to IDEM
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has an editorial today exploring the potential ramifications of IDEM's action to revoke the permit of the DeGroot dairy in Huntington County.
(For background, see this ILB entry from May 4th and this one from May 10th.)
Here are some quotes from the editorial:
Some Huntington area residents may feel pleased that DeGroot Dairy, the rural Huntington County dairy cited for environmental infractions, is in danger of losing its state operating permit. But the problems at the farm point to a larger dilemma and a need for firmer state guidelines for large animal-feeding operations.Decommissioning the 1,400-cow dairy creates a host of questions and concerns about how to care for the animals in a humane and environmentally sound manner if necessary. State leaders have made it a goal to grow agricultural business in Indiana, but rules to ensure the farms don’t harm the environment or neighboring property owners need to keep up with the growth. * * *
Amy Hartsock, a spokeswoman for IDEM, said the Office of Environmental Adjudication has scheduled a pre-hearing conference on the appeal for Monday. * * *
“This is the first time we have gone through the revocation process,” Hartsock said. “And because this is the first time we are taking this type of action we are taking it step by step. We anticipated that there was going to be an appeal.”
There are animal welfare as well as environmental issues involved with closing down the farm. If the DeGroots lose the appeal, something will have to be done with the cows. Dairy cows require special care and will continue to require feeding and will continue to produce large amounts of manure. Hartsock said ensuring the manure is handled appropriately during that process and long-term compliance with environmental regulations will remain the department’s focus regardless of the outcome of the appeal.
State environmental officials face a challenging problem in revoking the DeGroot Dairy permit. More comprehensive regulations for zoning and operating large animal feeding operations from state lawmakers could help prevent the need to close farms in the future.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 2, 2007 08:19 AM
Posted to Environment