Toxic Effects of Industrial Farming in NY

From Jessie Lind
This from Eden, NY in Erie County - the latest in a growing list of communities affected by concentrated animal feeding operations. Sadly, this man has been told by his state DEC agent that ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from CAFOs will soon be regulated. Truth is, the EPA and the national lobbying groups for Swine and Egg and Milk producers have just negotiated a Safe Harbor Consent Agreement which will delay any enforcement of Clean Air Act regs for another 3-5 years, if not longer. If a similar situation of an expanding dairy were to occur in Tompkins County or another community in the Cayuga Lake Watershed (not to mention Airshed), we would be powerless to prevent or curtail the effects so long as the CAFO is in compliance with state Nurtient Management Plans devised by the Dept of Ag and Markets.

Please visit the link Friends of Rural New York for futher links and information on the problem in NYS. For the big picture, visit Sierra Club and Natural Resource Defense Council's websites. Click permalink for more...

Eden Neighbor Calls for Help- CAFO Model Fails Again

Add this one to the ever growing lists of citizens who are suffering from the effects of the failed model of agriculture called CAFOs- Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

I live in the town of Eden, NY. There is a dairy farm that has added many cows in recent months. He has close to 400 cows on around 5 acres. It is located less than a quarter mile from town center and is surrounded by residential housing. The stench is overwhelming and is actually penetrating the walls of my house and making me feel ill. This despite sub-zero temperatures.

I have filed a complaint with the NY DEC Buffalo office as of today (2-2-05) They say “odors” are not yet regulated but may soon be. He was not aware of EPA Clean Air regulations but said they are looking to regulate ammonia. The NY Farm Bureau web site says they are being enforced. The NY DEC guy said that it just so happened that they had someone coming out to TEST THE WATER at the West Church Street Dairy Farm on 2-3-05! I guess they’ve had several complaints about overflowing “lagoons” and ground water contamination from the heavy rains this summer. The owner has been spreading liquid sewage all over the fields for over a week. Not sure how this will affect the DEC test readings on Thursday but I can tell you one thing; the sewage melted the snow away despite very cold temperatures.

I am waiting for contact from the Town of Eden supervisor Glenn Nellis in regards to this issue. The stench has been constant since January 19, 2005. There is also a playground within 300 yards of this massive waste storage lagoon.

Also note: A residential development has been proposed and is expected to be approved . This development is a stone’s throw from this farm and it’s offensive lagoon. 24 lots of 1/2 acre each. I can’t imagine what the new owners will do when they buy these lots and realize that they are next to a toxic waste site.

I need help. My house stinks, my car stinks, my basement stinks, my clothes even stink. I can taste it in my mouth. I can’t imagine what the Mexicans who work on this farm feel like after a day in this Hell hole. Are they provided with respirators per OSHA requirements?

Gregg Kaczmarczk
Eden. NY
Erie County