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 Based on a past inspection, the cattle operation has an outdated and inadequate manure management system.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!
We need your help today to pass a bill that will
strengthen oversight of factory farms in Illinois !
- Dairy cows inside a factory farm
Prairie Rivers Network, Environment Illinois, and Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water are supporting a bill to establish a fee for water pollution permits issued to factory farms.
Factory farms are the only major industry not subject to permit fees, leaving the taxpayers, not the livestock industry, to foot the bill.
If passed, the fee will cover the cost for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to administer both their livestock permitting and inspection programs.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency supports our bill, and will use the fees to improve their inadequate livestock program so it meets the standards of the federal Clean Water Act.
Members of the House and Senate Environment Committees need to hear there is public support for House Bill 3504 and Senate Bill 2209. And they need to hear soon, before the bills come up for committee vote.
Please take any or all of the following steps today:
Thank you for your actions to make a difference! And please contact Stacy James * sjames @ prairierivers.org * at the Prairie Rivers Network office if you are interested in participating in Environmental Lobby Day on March 30.
Prairie Rivers Network, Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water, and Environment Illinois have created a new IL Factory Farm Factsheet. Also known as CAFOs, factory farms can pose a number of risks to the streams and lakes of Illinois. Please see the factsheet for more information, including solutions that citizens can implement to make a difference.
Prairie Rivers Network will be passing out these factsheets at the following upcoming presentations on factory farms. These presentations are being hosted by local Sierra Club groups and are open to the public:
March 22, 6:30pm, Lincoln Library Carnegie Room, Springfield
March 23, 6:30pm, Fairview Heights Library
March 28, 7:00pm, Robeson C, Champaign Public Library
