A 2017 Clean Water Act amendment aimed at more effectively regulating concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) was rejected by the Environmental Protection Agency this week.
The EPA rejected a 2017 petition filed by dozens of co-petitioners, including Food & Water Watch and the Center for Food Safety. The petition called for stronger water pollution controls on factory farms under the Clean Water Act.
The petition may have suggested a solution to a food safety problem caused by cow barns contaminating nearby leafy green fields.
The EPA also announced the creation of a Federal Advisory Committee subcommittee to investigate CAFO contamination issues and make recommendations to the EPA. The process is expected to begin in 2024 and last 12 to 18 months, meaning the current administration may miss an opportunity to tighten regulation of factory farms.
“Factory farms pose a significant and growing threat to clean water,” said Tara Heinzen, legal director at Food & Water Watch. It’s because they haven’t,” he said. The EPA’s deeply flawed response has led to further delays and missed the moment entirely.
“For more than 50 years, the EPA has deliberately evaded its explicit obligation to regulate factory farms under the Clean Water Act. “But the fight for clean water is not over. We are considering all options going forward.”
“We know that animal factories are a major source of water pollution and that our fresh water is at risk, but the EPA has not fulfilled its obligation to protect our environment from this industry,” the petition said. Amy Van Thorne, Senior Attorney at the Human Rights Center, said. Food safe. “We have a right to clean, safe water and we cannot afford to wait any longer to stop the flow of animal factory pollution.”
According to environmental groups, CAFO pollution threatens or impairs more than 14,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 90,000 acres of lakes and ponds across the country, yet one-third of the nation’s largest lakes and ponds. less than 21,000+ Largest Factory Farms It is National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
of 2017 petition sought to increase the quantity and quality of CAFO permits by regulating more factory farms and tightening pollution permits for facilities. The 33 petitioners include six national advocacy groups and 27 state and community-based organizations representing millions of members and supporters.
“Industrial animal feeding operations should be treated like any other industrial polluter,” said Abel Russ, senior attorney at the Conservation Project. “Unfortunately, the EPA continues to give this industry special treatment.”
Petitioners are represented by Food & Water Watch and Earthrise Law Center.
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