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"Deadline" for Livestock Operations to File Air Releases Report is Misunderstood
DES MOINES – A supposed federal deadline to file a report of air releases from large livestock and poultry operations is actually the date a new exemption for smaller livestock operations became effective. Larger livestock or poultry operations that emit more than 100 pounds of hydrogen sulfide or ammonia from manure during 24 hours continue to be required to report those releases. The announcement of the new federal rule last week had livestock producers keeping the phone lines busy at the Iowa DNR. The count is not final, but more than 1,400 calls were logged at DNR offices this week. “Those producers who called the DNR recently will need to follow up within the next 30 days,” said Wayne Gieselman, administrator of the DNR’s environmental services. Within 30 days of calling the DNR, producers must complete and submit a continuous release form to the DNR – Emergency Response, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319, and to the county emergency management coordinator. The form is available at http://www.epa.gov/.../Continuous%20Release%20Form.pdf or a producer-friendly version is available through an Iowa State University Web site at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/airquality/. Instructions for the EPA form can be found at http://www.epa.gov/.../faciliti.htm. Larger producers will need to continue to report air releases under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) according to the rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These larger producers would include large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) — generally those with more than 2,500 finishing hogs, 700 mature dairy cows or 1,000 cattle. Farrowing operations with more than 10,000 hogs weighing less than 55 pounds and facilities with 500 or more horses are also affected. For poultry producers, those with more than 125,000 broilers or 82,000 layers on dry litter, 30,000 broilers or layers on wet litter, or 55,000 turkeys are affected. The DNR estimates that about 2,000 Iowa livestock or poultry operations that fall within the definition of a large CAFO could be required to report under EPCRA if their releases exceed the reportable quantity of hazardous substances. Those producers who have not yet reported should call the DNR at (515) 281-8694 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Producers are encouraged to initiate the call as soon as possible and complete the follow-up report within 30 days of the call. There is no new deadline according to the EPA. The latest guidelines for reporting have been in effect since 1997. More information on the rule can be found on the EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/.../a30003.htm. Information on how to calculate releases can be found on the following Web sites:
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