Texas Leads United States in Animal Farm Wastes
By Cat Lazaroff
WASHINGTON, DC, May 19, 2000 (ENS) - Texas produces more animal waste than any other state and is creating a public health and pollution hazard, concludes a new report released Thursday by the Sierra Club and Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office. Unlike many other livestock producing states, Texas provides little oversight or regulation of these facilities, the report finds.
Texas livestock operations produce more wastes than those of any other state (Photo courtesy USDA)
"Animal Factories: Pollution and Health Threats to Rural Texas," shows that Texas produces about 220 billion pounds of animal wastes each year, and this number is rising. Current estimates show that Texas is producing 280 billion pounds or 40 pounds of manure per Texas resident per day.
"We already knew that Texas leads the nation in toxic air pollution from manufacturing industries, and now we have the dubious honor of holding the number one spot in manure production," said Ken Kramer, director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club in Texas.
California holds the number two spot in manure production, but produces only half of the amount - 110 billion pounds of waste - that Texas does.
The report describes how weak state environmental regulations and lax enforcement allow Texas' factory farms to pollute, often for years, before any enforcement action is taken.
Cattle eating at a stockyard (Photo by Brian Prechtel, courtesy Agricultural Research Services)
The pollution is taking its toll on local waterways - impairing 388 miles of streams and more than 23,000 acres of lakes. Stretches of Wright Patman Lake, Black Bayou, and the Upper North Bosque River are so polluted from industrial livestock waste that they cannot support aquatic life.
Areas of the North Bosque River and Leon River are contaminated to the point that they can no longer support recreation.
Air pollution from factory farms is also taking its toll on human health. Air testing near cattle feedlots shows sporadic, high particulate levels above state and federal standards. Air testing downwind of hog, cattle and chicken farms indicate strong, offensive odors and ammonia levels in excess of the state's health based effects screening level.
The report cites one child living next to a cattle feedlot who had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital because of severe respiratory distress caused by the large amount of fecal dust emitted from the facility. This family and others have moved from their homes rather than live with the constant odor and dust.
Governor George W. Bush is blamed for many of the poor environmental policies in Texas (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
"While Texas residents suffer from manure pollution, Governor [George W.] Bush and Texas agencies refuse to keep factory farm waste out of Texas' air and waterways," said Ed Hopkins, senior Washington representative of the Sierra Club. "Other states have addressed environmental concerns and implemented effective solutions. Texas should follow in their footsteps and protect our environment."
Once known primarily as a beef cattle state, Texas is now also home to thriving dairy, chicken, egg, and hog production facilities, ranking among the top 10 or 15 states for each category of production.
"Our public officials have been negligent in their duty to keep factory farm waste out of Texas' air and waterways," said Reggie James, director of the Southwest Regional Office of the Consumers Union which publishes the widely read magazine "Consumer Reports."
"While other states have addressed environmental concerns and implemented effective solutions, Texas has stood still and even regressed," James said.
Texas is home to a thriving poultry industry (Photo by Scott Bauer, courtesy Agricultural Research Services)
"Weak existing state environmental regulations and lax enforcement allow Texas' factory farms to pollute, often for years, before any enforcement action is taken," the report states.
According to the state's own environmental agency, the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC), just enforcing existing laws would have reduced water pollution from illegally discharged manure by more than one million pounds in 1999.
The report lists several problem areas:
- In 1995, Texas regulators streamlined the permit process for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), limiting the ability of neighboring property owners to contest new permits or major expansions.
- TNRCC does not consider the cumulative impact that a new CAFO will have when sited near many existing CAFOs, nor does it prohibit many of the practices that contribute to odor and water problems.
- Lax enforcement of regulations allows CAFOs to pollute, sometimes for years, before action is taken.
- Texas' recently amended "right to farm" law virtually eliminates the ability of neighbors to bring a nuisance action against most CAFOs even to protect their rights to use and enjoy their own property.
"In Texas, we're doing exactly the opposite of what common sense dictates," James said. "For example, while several states have placed moratoria on new CAFOs, Texas continues to welcome more facilities - particularly hog producers - to the state."
Hog parlor with hog waste lagoon in Georgia (Photo by Gene Alexander, courtesy USDA)
Other states have begun to make corporate farms jointly liable for pollution at their contract grower sites, but Texas has not done so. Some states have begun addressing air quality issues by applying stricter ambient hydrogen sulfide emissions standards to CAFOs, or defining feedlot dust as an emission for purposes of the Federal Clean Air Act. Texas has not.
"Unfortunately, Governor George W. Bush and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission have failed to protect Texas citizens from industrial livestock waste," Kramer continued. "While this animal waste pollutes our air and water, Governor Bush and the TNRCC are welcoming factory farms into the state and inviting them to pollute. They should be implementing tougher standards that would combat this pollution problem."
Many states are beginning to take necessary steps to protect the public from air and water pollution. Overwhelmed by the health and environmental threats posed by industrial livestock operations, officials in Mississippi, North Carolina and Oklahoma have placed moratoria on all new operations.
Kansas, Iowa and Georgia have all adopted new rules regarding waste application. Minnesota has applied air standards to safeguard neighbors from health threatening emissions.
Holstein dairy cows feeding (Photo by Scott Bauer, courtesy Agricultural Research Services)
Meanwhile, despite overwhelming evidence of the pollution problems Texas is merely studying the issue, allowing hog, chicken and cattle waste to continue polluting the state's air and water.
"It's time for Governor Bush and the TNRCC to take notice of the damage that has been caused by industrial livestock facilities in Texas," Hopkins said. "They should protect Texas' health and waterways and stop livestock factories."
The report offers recommendations on how to increase protections. It is available online at: www.consumersunion.org.
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