Kuhn message: Need federal oversight of animal emissions
To The Press
On March 8, Floyd County supervisor, former Iowa state representative and family farmer Mark Kuhn will testify at a U.S. Senate hearing in Washington, D.C. on the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act (FARM).
The bill, S.2421, seeks to exempt animal waste from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs, or factory farms) from penalties and reporting hazardous air emissions requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Kuhn will testify for the need to continue air emission reporting requirements from CAFOs under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and reference past failed attempts in Iowa to establish air emission regulations for ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and odor.
“A preponderance of evidence shows that hazardous air emissions from CAFOs can adversely affect neighbors and nearby communities, but Iowa lawmakers refuse to act,” said Kuhn. “That’s why it is so important that federal requirements under EPCRA remain in place.”
Kuhn will also reference the long-term effects of toxic air emissions from CAFOs as told by Floyd County resident Gail Schwartzkopf, who lives next to a factory farm.
“We’ve never been able to get to the point where the state actually set regulation,” Kuhn said.
Kuhn will speak to a seven-member subcommittee, with four Republicans and three Democrats. The Republicans are the majority party.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is one of four majority party members on the Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee. Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey is the ranking member.
One of Booker’s aids contacted Kuhn to speak to the subcommittee.
The hearing will be conducted at 9 a.m. on March 8. The hearing will be live-streamed at:
Kuhn can be reached for comment after the hearing at 641-330-4910.
Facebook
Social Share