The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the beginning of the first nationwide study of air emissions from poultry, dairy, and swine animal feeding operations.
With EPA oversight, researchers from eight universities will take part in the two-year, $14.6 million study to measure concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter, ammonia, nitrous oxide, volatile organic compounds, and other gases from livestock facilities. The research officially began in June at 24 sites in nine states.
The EPA concluded in the late 1990s that it did not have sufficient air emissions data for animal feeding operations, which made it difficult to determine the compliance status of the operations with existing air emissions requirements. The EPA began discussions with owners of animal feeding operations in 2001.
Ultimately, the EPA developed a voluntary consent agreement with the industry for farmers to participate in a monitoring study. More than 2,600 agreements were signed, representing approximately 14,000 swine, dairy, and egg-laying and broiler chicken farms.
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