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Monday, November 13, 2017

Wed. is deadline for big livestock and poultry farmers to file with EPA, which still doesn't have a good measuring tool; universities offer help

Wednesday is the deadline for livestock and poultry producers who emit more than 100 pounds of ammonia or hydrogen sulfide in a 24-period to file reports with the Environmental Protection Agency, even though EPA hasn't come up with a standard way to measure such emissions, as we reported in September.

Land-grant universities such as the University of Illinois and the University of Kentucky are helping farmers figure out whether they have enough hogs, chickens or whatever that they are likely to be covered by the rule. "For example, a grow-to-finish swine farm that uses deep pits for manure storage and has fewer than 2,703 head, or a turkey grower with fewer than 12,970 tom turkeys raised from 36 to 140 days old, would not need to take any further steps," Prairie Farmer reports.

EPA has asked a federal appeals court to delay the deadline, but the court has not acted. “Livestock and poultry farmers should know this issue is evolving daily,” UI livestock engineer Richard Gates told Prairie Farmer. “It is prudent to prepare for the requirement to report, if necessary, under CERCLA,” the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.

Katie Pratt of UK writes, “Operations that meet the air emissions requirements should email NRC-CERCLA-EPCRA-REPORT@uscg.mil to report an initial continuous release notification. Farm owners should use the language 'initial continuous release notification' in their email. They will need to follow up within 30 days with a short, written notification” to the EPA regional office.

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