Paul F. Bohn, Esq.
The
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced a change to its
permits for large farms as part of the state’s efforts to better protect
Michigan waters from agricultural runoff. Confined Animal Feeding Operations
(CAFO) were already limited in when and where they could spread manure, but the
permit change applies those limits to operations receiving that manure as well.
We
have written previously on Ohio’s efforts to combat the “harmful algae blooms”
plaguing Lake Erie, and this effort by MDEQ is certainly part of Michigan’s
response to protect Lake Erie.
CAFOs
are not allowed to spread manure on frozen or snow-covered grounds except under
very strict, limited circumstances, but they were previously allowed to
transfer their excess manure to other operations not specifically prohibited
from “winter spreading.”
Now,
large farms are not permitted to transfer their farm waste to other operations
from January through March unless the recipient follows the winter spreading
standards. Witnesses at the hearings on the CAFO permit renewal said that the
transferred manure, which was spread onto the recipients’ lands, was running
into streams and drains as the snow was melting during the spring thaw.
“The
change is expected to further minimize incidents of farm runoff to surface
waters during spring melts, and will safeguard Michigan's valuable water
resources while providing a reasonable regulatory framework for farmers,"
said MDEQ in a press release.
This
permit change has been in the works since December of last year, and a public
hearing was held in January. The final product includes revisions based on
public comment. Both the permit and the summary on public comments can be
viewed on MDEQ’s website here:
Paul Bohn, partner at Fausone Bohn, LLP,
has established a strong reputation in Michigan as a leading practitioner in
environmental law. Mr. Bohn has been selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer since
2010 and was named one of the Top Attorneys in Michigan in 2014 by Crain’s
Detroit Business. The team at Fausone Bohn, LLP has extensive experience
dealing with MDEQ matters. If you need consultation, don’t hesitate to contact
us at (248) 468-4536 or online at www.fb-firm.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment