For immediate release: November
29, 2004
For more information contact:
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement at 515-282-0484,
iowacci@iowacci.org, http://www.iowacci.org
State field study documents emissions
Des Moines:
The Department of Natural Resources’ air monitoring field
study near large-scale concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
recently recorded high levels of ammonia, well-above the safe health
standard of 150 parts per billion (ppb) recommended in the 2002
joint University of Iowa/ Iowa State University CAFO air quality
study.
According to DNR records, the highest hourly
averages since June at homes near factory farms included the following
readings:
• 1,751 ppb near the Iowa Select
‘Winniger’ hog factory in Hamilton County. There were
six additional readings over 600 ppb at the same site.
• Nine readings over 300 ppb near the Iowa Select ‘McCutcheon’
hog factory in Wright County, with one reading topping 900 ppb.
• 13 readings over 300 ppb near the Iowa Select ‘Stockdale’
hog factory in Hardin County, with one of those readings topping
600 ppb.
“High ammonia levels can be a serious
health problem," said Iowa CCI member and Radcliffe farmer
Earl Sime. “In our opinion, these results are just further
proof that factory farms are polluting our air with toxic gases.”
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
members have been calling for strong clean air rules for factory
farms for more than four years. The joint University of Iowa/ Iowa
State University CAFO air quality study called for standards on
ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and odor.
The DNR's Environmental Protection Commission
passed an ammonia standard of 150 ppb in April 2003, but the rule
was killed by the state legislature about 2 weeks later. The DNR
is not moving forward with an ammonia standard at this time, despite
pressure to do so.
"In all other arenas of setting standards
for the good of the public, the worst violators are made accountable.
Why not the factory farms?” said Iowa CCI member and Fremont
farmer Ron Kielkopf. “When will the Department of Natural
Resource's and Iowa's legislators quit looking (and smelling) the
other way?"
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