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Report continuous air releases from livestock and poultry operations to EPA by Nov. 15

  • 10/31/2017 3:07:00 PM
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**Note: Continuous releases must be reported to the National Response Center, not the Iowa DNR. Please refer questions about the requirements to CERCLA103.guidance@epa.gov; press@epa.gov; or Jodi Harper at 913-551-7483 or Scott D. Hayes at 913-551-7670 at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VII.

Last Thursday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released interim guidance for livestock and poultry producers who must report ongoing air releases of hazardous substances, typically ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, to EPA by Nov 15.

Since 2008, EPA had exempted all but larger farm facilities from reporting continuous air releases of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. An April 2017 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court struck down that exemption. 

Unless the DC Circuit Court takes further action, the court’s decision takes effect Nov. 15 for all livestock and poultry facilities--such as swine, beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, horses--and will require facilities to report ongoing air releases that equal or exceed the reportable quantity of 100 pounds of ammonia or hydrogen sulfide within any 24-hour period.

Those facilities that emit reportable quantities must make an “initial continuous release notification” by calling the National Response Center at 800-424-8802. The facilities can then follow up with a written “continuous release report” to the EPA Region 7 office

DNR will not be collecting this information, so there is no need to call DNR or your local emergency management office.  

Find out more about who must report and how to estimate emissions, including examples, on EPA’s web page at www.epa.gov/epcra/cercla-and-epcra-reporting-requirements-air-releases-hazardous-substances-animal-waste-farms.

EPA is accepting comments or suggestions on the guidance through Nov. 24 at CERCLA103.guidance@epa.gov. Find EPA’s press release at www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-guidance-reporting-air-emissions-hazardous-substances-animal-waste-farms. 

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