Document Actions
Oklahoma AG decries bill to limit regulation on poultry waste
Tulsa World, Feb. 19, 2006, issue talks about two poultry issues before lawmakers this session. Animal waste is not a hazardous waste and we support Senate Bill 1703. On the surface, it appears that SB 1397 would make a "one size fits all" law concerning litter application. We would oppose that for all agriculture because all land and crops are not the same and shouldn't be treated the same with fertilizer applications.
Senate Roundup: AG decries bill to limit regulation on poultry waste
By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau
2/17/2006
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill that the attorney general says would derail the state's ability to regulate poultry companies was approved 14-4 in a Senate committee Thursday.
"Although there is serious competition, this may be the worst bill considered by the Legislature this session," Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.
Senate Bill 1703 by Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, would prohibit the state from classifying chemicals found in animal waste as "hazardous" to the state's water supply.
Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, the chairman of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, asked whether state regulation of animal waste could become so strict that a town could not have a rodeo parade because horses might leave manure on a street.
"Well, that's nuts," Edmondson said after the committee hearing. The problem is with chemicals added to feed that end up in animal waste, which can get into the groundwater, he said.
Edmondson said SB 1703 would not affect the lawsuit he filed in federal court against 14 poultry companies, alleging violations of the federal Solid Waste Disposal Act.
However, the attorney general said the measure would
hamstring all state agencies, including the departments of agriculture and environmental quality and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, from policing problems with animal waste in the water supply.
Under current law, chicken litter that is spread onto fields at acceptable levels would not be subject to the hazardous-waste definition, Edmondson said.
Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, proposed confining the bill to poultry waste, because waste from beef cattle has not been a problem.
However, Farm Bureau lobbyist Lori Peterson said problems have arisen in Texas because of allegations that cattle waste can be hazardous.
"Our goal is to exclude animal waste from hazardous waste, so property won't be (declared) a hazardous waste site," she said.
The committee also approved SB 1397 by Sen. Mary Easley, D-Tulsa, which would require poultry feeding operations to spread litter statewide at the same levels as required by a federal agreement between the city of Tulsa and Tyson Foods Inc.