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Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Environment - Still more on "Randolph County could zone 220,000 acres for CAFOs"

Updating this Dec. 28, 2007 ILB entry about a proposed new "intensive agricultural district " for Randolph County that would occupy 75.88 % of the county, which was approved by the Area Planning Commission, apparently the plan not only has been temporarily scuttled, but a moratorium on CAFOs has been instituted.

Joy Leiker reports today in the Muncie Star-Press:

WINCHESTER -- After rejecting an ordinance that would restrict where industrial farms can be built in Randolph County, commissioners approved a moratorium Monday, halting the expansion of confined feeding and concentrated animal feeding operations in one of the state's leading agricultural counties.

Farmers pledged to fight the moratorium, while opponents of CFOs and CAFOs called it a victory for those worried about the environmental effects of large, factory farms. * * *

Commissioners had just two options Monday -- either to adopt or reject the ordinance. Attorney John Tanner said the board couldn't change it and then vote on it. Any changes would have to once again go through the planning commission.

"All of these issues have been hammered out and cussed and discussed," said Drew Cleveland, a farmer who like Chalfant, was opposed to the longer setback.

Read the article for details on how the area plan may come up again, with revisions.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 8, 2008 10:20 AM
Posted to Environment