[Riverweb] CAFO Action Alert

[csmith at prairierivers.org]

ACTION ALERT

Take this action until February 27, 2008



Citizen action needed to stop construction of a huge dairy that will
generate over 90 million gallons of manure annually in
environmentally-sensitive Jo Daviess County, Illinois



The Illinois Department of Agriculture is considering whether to approve an
application to build a new confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) for
dairy cows in Jo Daviess County, east of the Apple River.  This CAFO will
have at least 10,000 cows and 70 acres of manure-holding ponds, and will be
the largest CAFO in the state.  This CAFO should be opposed for several
reasons:

*        the scientific literature and government reports document that many
manure-holding ponds leak or seep, which is a threat to groundwater and
nearby drinking water wells

*        the area has been characterized by the Illinois State Geological
Survey as prone to groundwater contamination

*        the manure will be spread on at least 4,000 acres of neighboring
farmland, which is likely to cause odor problems and stream contamination

*        contamination of waterways may kill fish and pose a health risk to
people recreating in the Apple River area



There are several ways that citizens can act to make a difference and stop
the trend of a green light for just about every CAFO application the State
receives.  Your actions will be a precedent-setting wake-up call to the
State that citizens are aware, watching, and in opposition to Illinois
becoming a safe haven to potential polluters.  Please take any of the
following actions:



*        Call the Office of the Governor (217-782-0244 or 312-814-2121), say
you are calling to register a public comment, and state that you want
Governor Blagojevich to know you are in opposition to the Jo Daviess County
CAFO.  (You actually don't need to state anything more, because the Office
is already aware of the issue).

*        Send a Letter to the Editor, Op-Ed, or other type of
opinion/commentary piece to the Chicago and Springfield papers.



More information on this CAFO, and CAFOs in general, is available at
www.stopthemegadairy.org <http://www.stopthemegadairy.org/> , which was
created by the residents of Jo Daviess County.  You may also call Stacy
James at Prairie Rivers Network (217-344-2371).

We apologise for any cross posting.

***PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS***

Cecily Smith
Interim Watershed Organizer
Prairie Rivers Network
1902 Fox Drive, Suite G
Champaign IL 61820
217.344.2371