Poisoning Pig Production

These CAFOs pose a significant threat to Sideling Hill Creek, a pristine Chesapeake Bay tributary that begins in Pennsylvania and flows through western Maryland into the Potomac River. Sideling Hill Creek contains endangered species that depend on clean water. Approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to construct these CAFOs would result in a permanent increase in nutrient/toxic matter in Sideling Hill Creek, not to mention the perpetual threat of a catastrophic lagoon failure event.

cafo To make matters worse, one of the two CAFOs proposed by the Taiwanese developer will reside nearby in the Town Creek watershed, itself a pristine stream that is currently unprotected but worthy of protection equal to Sideling Hill Creek. A third CAFO is proposed in the rural Monroe Township by another feed company which would drain north into the Juniata River (already a watershed threatened by other potential CAFOs). These CAFOs would exist within approximately a ten mile radius from one another! The permitting process has temporarily been put on hold due in part to the controversy that has surrounded the whole CAFO management issue. It is interesting that the developer would make such an investment without an advance guarantee of the approval to operate a CAFO in this area.

Pennsylvania rates the Sideling Hill Creek watershed as an Exceptional Value Watershed. As the home of Sideling Hill Creek's headwaters, construction of CAFOs should not be tolerated in Monroe Township.

Maryland and Pennsylvania Sierra Club members attended a Pennsylvania DEP-sponsored public hearing on July 18 at Northern Bedford Co. High School to
participate in the debate of the proposed Pennsylvanian CAFO regulations. In response to the federal Clean Water Act requirement for states to regulate CAFOs, the Pennsylvania DEP has drafted a proposed strategy for dealing with CAFO water quality issues as well as draft NPDES permit application instructions and draft Water Quality Management Part II permit application instructions (contains technical specs). These drafts as well as related environmental information are available on the internet at http://www.dep.state.pa.us--choose Information by Subject t pig hen Water Management then Electronic Forms then Wastewater & Stormwater).

Approximately 120 persons attended this intense 5+ hour event. Public sentiment was overwhelmingly opposed to CAFOs, the antithesis of the family farm. With the exception of the few "not in my back yard" speakers, the testimonials were impressive in that it was evident that these people did their homework. We were dismayed to learn that the Pennsylvania DEP, by their own candid admission, does not have a database about large-scale farming operations in their state. It became quickly apparent that there really needs to be a moratorium of new CAFOs until many issues in this complex matter can be resolved, including:

siting requirements

the inspection process (operators are trusted to self-monitor presently!)

the complaint / violation process

operator reporting requirements

the citizen involvement process

liability issues

the cumulative effect of CAFO watershed damage

ensuring appropriate budget / staffing at DEP to manage and enforce CAFOs.

The deadline for public comment to the Pennsylvania DEP on the draft CAFO regulations has been extended sixty days to 10/10/98.

It is clear to me that hogs are not the only thing "concentrated" in a CAFO; environmental damage becomes concentrated. Time is of the essence. Write to the persons listed below, especially your state and federal representatives, the Region III EPA office and the Pennsylvania DEP. Stress that the CAFOs should not be allowed. Use the following key points:

The proposed CAFOs in Monroe Township pose an acute threat to Sideling Hill Creek, one of Maryland's cleanest streams and home to endangered species.

The proposed CAFOs will degrade the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

CAFOs should not be allowed in any Exceptional Value Watershed.

Increased inter- and intra-state coordination is needed to mitigate the risk represented by existing upstream CAFOs.

A CAFO moratorium is needed until several key issues are addressed (see public hearing issues cited above).

Thank them for their past support for improving the quality of our water. Encourage them to continue supporting legislation that improves this most precious of all resources.

Perhaps you could stop eating pork as a minimal statement of opposition to CAFOs, but that would only hurt the family farmer even further because the pork produced in the proposed factory farms is pre-destined for overseas consumption! Please share this article with other interested organizations. Ask them to sign on to the Clean Water Network's (see listserv info below) letter to Pennsylvania DEP Secretary Seif (dated 7/30/98). If you would like additional information regarding efforts to oppose CAFOs, please send an e-mail to any of the following LISTSERVers, including the word "SUBSCRIBE" in the text of your message.