Farmers wouldn't have to report emissions from animal waste under an Environmental Protection Agency proposal.
The public has until March 27 to comment about the proposal.
The plan, announced Dec. 28, would allow emergency-response authorities to better focus on hazardous-substance releases that require their response and would reduce reporting burdens on farms, the EPA said.
"EPA is proposing that these reports are unnecessary because there is no reasonable expectation that federal, state or local emergency responders would respond to such reports," officials said in the proposed rule.
Notification of other non-manure emissions, such as from ammonia tanks, would still have to be made to emergency officials.
The EPA estimates the rule would save farmers 3 million hours and more than $160 million over 10 years.
The Wisconsin Dairy Business Association supports the proposal.
The rule would allow farmers to better use time and money to protect human health and the environment, DBA executive director Laurie Fischer said in a news release.
To submit comments by March 27, e-mail [email protected]; fax (202) 566-9744; or mail Superfund Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail code: [2822T], 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, D.C. 20460.
Identify comments by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-SFUND-2007-0469.
For expanded coverage, see the next edition of The Country TodayThe Country Today
