Senate GOP looks to exempt animal waste from EPA rules

“While naturally occurring, organic manure and poultry litter were never intended by Congress to be regulated under CERCLA,” they wrote. “Despite this, some have worked to increase the law’s reach by attempting to convince courts that livestock and poultry producers should be subject to CERCLA liability for storm water discharges associated with the use of animal manure and poultry litter as fertilizer on farmland.”

“Our nation’s farmers and ranchers have long been leaders in efforts to protect the land and water of rural America,” they added. “It is time that we restore the original intent of Congress under CERCLA and EPCRA and give livestock and poultry producers the certainty they need in these difficult economic times.”

The EPCRA is the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, and the bill is S. 1729.