Tell the EPA to require animal waste disclosures from Big Ag!

Factory farms emit massive amounts of highly toxic air pollutants that are sickening communities across the country – including ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. But they are no longer even required to report these toxic air emissions.

The EPA is accepting comments about potential changes to these disclosure rules. With your help, we can restore these reporting requirements and stop agriculture corporations from hiding their pollution.

Comments

I urge the EPA to reinstate the rule requiring livestock operations to report hazardous air emissions from animal waste under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are a major polluter of the communities where they are located, which are disproportionately low-wealth communities and communities of color. Animal waste releases toxic air pollutants, including ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which degrade the nearby air quality. Even at low levels, these toxic emissions are dangerous to human health, and at high levels they can be deadly.   In fact, a 2021 study found that more than 12,000 deaths in the U.S can be directly linked to toxic air pollution generated by CAFOs.

When it comes to industrial animal agriculture pollution, the EPA has neglected its duty to protect the health and well-being of our communities and the environment at every turn. It has failed to enforce our bedrock environmental laws and hold CAFOs accountable for their pollution, allowing the water, ground, and air to be contaminated. The very least the agency can do is ensure that there is greater transparency for communities who have been fighting for protection against industrial animal agriculture pollution for decades. These communities deserve to have access to information that is essential to protect their environment and their health.

Reinstating the rule requiring livestock operations to report hazardous air emissions from animal waste under EPCRA has taken the EPA far too long – but it is not too late. In order to achieve its mission to protect human health and the environment, as well as its stated commitment to justice and equity principles, the EPA must revoke the reporting exemption for industrial animal agriculture currently in place.

Sincerely,

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