Residents voice concerns about the proposed hog confinement at public informational meeting
In early June 2011, Prairie Rivers Network was contacted by a McDonough County resident facing the prospect of soon becoming the unwilling neighbor of 18,000 hogs. He was calling for help because he feared the air, streams, and wells in his rural community would become polluted by a proposed hog farm called Shamrock Acres. He was not alone in his fears; dozens of others shared his concerns and had banded together to form Rural Residents for Responsible Agriculture.
During June and July, we worked with Rural Residents, Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water, and Environment Illinois to strategize our opposition to the factory farm. Prairie Rivers Network was compelled to action because the applicant has a history of environmental violations: Illinois should not allow bad actors to construct more factory farms at the expense of public and environmental health. {Continue Reading »}
After months of intense activity, the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session came to a screeching halt May 31, 2011. Prairie Rivers Network and our colleagues worked until the end to pass S.B. 1682, a bill that would establish a permit fee for livestock operations that discharge pollution into a river or stream. Unfortunately, legislator absences prevented the bill from being called to a vote in the House.
Earlier in May, the bill had easily passed out of the Executive Committee on a 9-2 vote. But opponents of the bill distracted legislators from the core issue at hand by calling into question the need for permits. The political sway and lobbying power of agribusiness was evident.
We will continue working on this issue. It is completely fair for livestock operations to pay fees for their permits just like all other polluters. This bill came into being because Prairie Rivers Network was appalled to find out that livestock operations have this unique exemption. Illinois EPA needs fee income to cover the cost of their Clean Water Act regulatory program for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs or “factory farms”). A fee exemption is no longer appropriate now that over 28 operations have permits. As Illinois EPA discovers more livestock operations that discharge pollution, the associated regulatory burden is likely to grow in the coming years.
Prairie Rivers Network would like to thank the following organizations for working with us on this bill: Environment Illinois, Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water, Illinois Environmental Council, and Environmental Law & Policy Center. Max Muller of Environment Illinois led the lobbying effort and spent countless hours talking with legislators and other organizations about the bill. In addition, the bill was supported by Illinois EPA, Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies, Sierra Club, Food & Water Watch, Faith in Place, and Illinois Stewardship Alliance. One of our most important allies in this effort were the citizen members of Prairie Rivers Network and the above organizations who took the time to call their legislators. And finally, we want to thank the bill sponsor, Representative Michael Tryon of Crystal Lake, and co-sponsors (Cole, Gabel, Biss, Davis, May, Jakobsson, Cassidy, Currie).
Sample of stream water polluted by livestock waste; collection location was downstream of cattle operation
On May 24, 2011, a biologist working for Prairie Rivers Network observed an unpermitted discharge of livestock waste into a small stream. The waste appeared to be coming from a cattle operation located near the stream, which is on Illinois EPA’s 303(d) list of impaired waters.
Prairie Rivers Network staff immediately notified Illinois EPA and requested that an inspection be done as soon as possible to both catch and stop the discharge. Unfortunately, 48 hours after making this request, Illinois EPA had still not made it out to the site. With all the rain we have been having, speedy inspections are critical for documenting discharges before they wash away.
The Illinois EPA is familiar with this facility and previously recommended it seek technical assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Based on a past inspection, the cattle operation has an outdated and inadequate manure management system. Unfortunately, this operation is not alone – many others around the state likewise discharge because of inadequate waste storage capacity. If you know of a livestock operation that pollutes nearby waterways, please report it to the Illinois EPA by calling 888-372-1996.
Prairie Rivers Network will continue to follow this case and press for permanent changes that protect the stream.
Protect Clean Water from Factory Farms!
Please contact your state Representative and state Senator immediately!
Ask them to support the Clean Water Funding Fairness Bill
(S.B. 1682 - Rep. Tryon)
HOUSE VOTE MAY HAPPEN THURSDAY MAY 26, SENATE VOTE BY MAY 31!
Water sample collected from an Illinois stream polluted by livestock waste, May 24, 2011
We need your help because Illinois Farm Bureau and the livestock assocations have been lobbying against S.B. 1682. Delay tactics are being used to keep the bill from coming up for a floor vote. The bill passed out of the House Executive Committee on May 18, but still needs to pass the full House and Senate by May 31 when the session ends.
This Bill will help protect clean water by requiring livestock operations that pollute to pay their fair share of Illinois’ Clean Water Act program costs.
Currently all pollution dischargers have to pay an annual permit fee, except livestock operations. The Illinois EPA uses these fees to fund its regulatory program. The bill ends this exemption by establishing a permit fee, to be set by Illinois EPA in rulemaking and not to exceed $1200.
This bill is endorsed by the Illinois EPA and by numerous environmental groups including the Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water, Environment Illinois, and Prairie Rivers Network.
For more information on this issue, see our Factory Farm pages.
To send an email that automatically goes to your elected representatives, use this link.
Or, call your Senator and Representative at their Springfield office and tell them that you support the Clean Water Funding Fairness Bill. See here to find your legislators’ telephone numbers.
View Prairie River Notes – Spring 2011 Newsletter with the following articles.
- Innovative Paths to Cleaner Water: Prairie Rivers Network Uses Clean Water Law to Help Communities Reduce Pollution
- Greetings from Glynnis
- An Open Letter to Prairie Rivers Network Staff and Members: From Member Carol Wock
- Prairie Rivers Network Supports Bill to Make Factory Farms Pay for Their Permit to Pollute
- Heartland Coalfield Alliance Unites Groups Working to Move Beyond Coal
- Prairie Rivers Network to Sue Chicago Polluter
- Grassroots Groups Fight Coal Pollution
- 2010 Annual Report
- Stacy James speaks about factory farms at a press conference in the Blue Room of the Capitol Building. Joining her were University of Missouri professor emeritus John Ikerd, and Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water member Cindy Bonnet.
Prairie Rivers Network spent Environmental Lobby Day at the Capitol in Springfield. Working with Environment Illinois and members of Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water, we informed the press and legislators about the threats factory farms pose to Illinois streams and communities. We also urged legislators to vote for HB3504, which will end the free ride for factory farms with NPDES permits. This bill establishes a permit fee for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that discharge pollution. You can do your part to keep this bill alive. Please contact your State Senator and Representative and ask them to vote for this bill!
