Rural communities in Missouri will receive increased power to limit the development of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) if a bill filed this week by former Democratic leader Jeff Harris becomes law.
The bill would instate an initiative petition process to allow local residents to put proposed CAFOs to a public vote prior to their construction in Missouri communities.
Reports from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources show that in July 2007 Missouri had 498 established CAFOs, including 58 CAFOs with more than 3,000 animal units. The highest concentrations of CAFOs are in the southwest and central regions of the state (see map below).
“It currently is up to folks in Jefferson City to decide whether a CAFO will be allowed to move in next door your home,” Harris said. “This legislation will give the people forced to live with the smell, pollution and waste caused by a nearby CAFO a powerful voice in the licensing process.”
The effects of CAFOs are not completely understood, but scholars have linked increased illnesses and numerous environmental problems to hormones used in CAFOs and toxins released from waste products at the facilities.
“CAFOs can lead to increased illness in those who live nearby, especially children,” said Harris. “Additionally, CAFOs ruin the property values of those who find themselves living next to one. Missouri must give local residents some of the power to decide where these corporate livestock factories are going to be allowed.”
A press release issued by Harris stated that records from the Environmental Protection Agency show that a single CAFO can produce as much waste as 16,000 humans which can lead to tremendous problems if the waste is not treated appropriately.
“This legislation is a good step toward ensuring local control and democracy for our communities,” said Rhonda Perry, a livestock and grain farmer from Howard County and program director of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center. “It only makes sense to provide family farmers and rural property owners a course of action by which to defend their property rights and the health of their families and communities.”
Harris also filed a bill for the second year in a row that would prohibit CAFOs from being established near state parks and sites of historical interest.
“Representative Harris’ proposed legislation is government at its best – in the hands of the people of Missouri, who have for too long been ignored in their desires to have a stronger say in CAFO locations and regulations,” said Arrow Rock resident Julie Fisher.
The CAFO petition bill is HB 1931 and the bill limiting the placement of CAFOs near state parks is HB 1932. Both bills are co-sponsored by a small contingent of Democratic legislators including one of Harris' opponents in the Attorney General race, Rep. Margaret Donnelly.
The third Democratic candidate for Attorney General, State Sen. Chris Koster, filed a bill last year under the auspices of the Republican Party that would have effectively prevented local control of CAFO zoning and placement.
"We don't need to study it more to understand it. We know all the issues surrounding this matter," Koster said at the time asserting that CAFOs posed no risk to human health.
Koster's bill, which failed in the Senate, was opposed by numerous environmental organizations in the state.
"Given that there are no meaningful state-wide standards, it is critical that local government officials retain the right to govern CAFOs as their local constituents see fit," a representative of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment said of Koster's bill last year.
Related Links:
Missouri DNR's CAFO Website
Harris for Missouri Campaign Website
Related Stories:
MPN: Senate guts Koster's CAFO bill
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Harris bill would provide for local control of CAFOs
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1 comments:
Sounds like a good idea to me.
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