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Protect our water from industrial animal feeding operations
Large scale animal feeding operations produce tremendous amounts of waste – often more than the human waste generated by a small city. Although the manure from these facilities can be used as a beneficial fertilizer, these wastes can contain a dangerous mix of nutrients, chemicals, antibiotics, and microorganisms that can pollute groundwater and streams. These pollutants pose threats to our drinking water if storage and land application of manure is not regulated properly.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) has been monitoring and enforcing water pollution permits for these facilities. The EPA’s job is to protect human health and Ohio’s environment. No other government agency has that same mandate.
Unfortunately, the state of Ohio has taken away the authority of Ohio EPA to watch over these facilities.
The state instead granted authority to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to take over this critically important responsibility. According to ODA, its mission is to provide regulatory protection to producers, agribusinesses, and the consuming public. While this is an important role to fill, it is not the same job as safeguarding Ohioans’ health and the environment.
Please tell the U.S. EPA, which is monitoring the transfer process, to ensure protection of our water.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Protect our water from industrial animal feeding operations
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Thank you for the strong and thoughtful effort put forth by the U.S. EPA in the process of transferring the pollution control (NPDES) permits for Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's) from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
I am concerned that Ohio Department of Agriculture's current regulation and enforcement procedures are not meeting minimum Clean Water Act standards.
Although I think that this transfer is unfortunate, the goals of regulating these facilities is the same -- safeguarding Ohio's water resources, our drinking water supply and human health.
As the Ohio Department of Agriculture takes on this responsibility, please help ensure that it requires minimum Clean Water Act standards, and that those standards are based on sound science. We can not compromise on protecting Ohio's waterways and drinking water.
Sincerely,
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