Senate Farm Bill Will Include CAFO Study

Date: November 8, 2007

Source: News Room

Senate agriculture committee leaders will attach a requirement in the pending Farm Bill that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study the cost of using animal manure as a feedstock in bioenergy production. Supporters of the waiver argue that the cost of bioenergy production would be prohibitive if not exempt from Superfund liability. At issue are long-standing agriculture industry concerns that concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are subject to Superfund liability. Although Superfund law exempts "normal field application of fertilizer," industry officials are seeking legislation that would also exempt manure storage and waste management practices from the Superfund liability system.

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