Environmental organizations have taken legal action by filing a lawsuit in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, aiming to compel EPA to increase its oversight of large livestock feeding operations. The lawsuit was initiated after EPA declined two petitions submitted in 2017, which had called for more stringent regulation of major hog, cattle, and chicken feeding operations in the U.S.
The legal action seeks a reconsideration of the proposed changes outlined in the petitions, including the types of farms subject to regulations and which discharges are exempt from oversight.
In response to the rejected petitions, EPA indicated it would conduct an assessment of its existing programs governing these operations and determine if revisions were necessary. Additionally, the agency pledged to create a panel consisting of representatives from agriculture, environmental groups, and researchers to further investigate the matter over the next 12 to 18 months. More from Pro Farmer.
