Environmentalists say out-of-state manure is leaving a foul stench in Indiana

Indiana is trying to avoid a stinky situation. State environmental officials and farm lobbyists say they are preparing to adopt new rules to govern satellite manure-storage structures—which are facilities that accept livestock waste from off-site farms until it can be used as local crop fertilizer, Ryan Sabalow reports for The Indianapolis Star. The problem with the facilities is that millions of gallons of livestock manure in the state's three storage operations are stored in vast lagoons, where they foul waterways and produce an unbearable stench. There are currently no regulations for storage. (Star photo: Out-of-state manure held in a storage pond)

"The goal, state officials say, is to apply the same rules to the satellite facilities as to large confined livestock farms that handle their own waste," Sabalow writes. "Next week, the Indiana Environmental Rules Board will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, which regulates 'a building, lagoon, pad, pit, pond or tank,' storing at least 1 million gallons or 5,000 cubic yards of manure."

But some say the proposed rules don't go far enough, Sabalow writes. "The Hoosier Environmental Council warns that the regulations under consideration are so lax that rural areas across Indiana might become dumping grounds for out-of-state manure 'without much notice or consent from the community.' The environmental group says the proposed rule only regulates the largest facilities, and doesn't adequately address concerns about seepage or spills into drinking water."

"Environmentalists say they're particularly troubled that the proposed rules would allow in-ground lagoons larger than a football field," Sabalow writes. "Aside from manure, environmentalists say the stored waste also could include dairy parlor 'wash,"' blood and cow afterbirth."

"Environmental groups have been critical of state efforts to encourage large-scale confined livestock operations in Indiana by taking it more difficult for local governments to use ordinances to prohibit new operations due to smells and other concerns," Sabalow writes. "State lawmakers also have passed laws that make it difficult for a neighbor to win a nuisance lawsuit against a large confined operation, some of which have so many thousands of confined animals they produce more sewage than the closest town." (Read more)