Regulate pollution from major livestock operations

Obama targets large-scale livestock farms

Updated: Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 | By Catharine Richert

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations -- known as CAFOs in farming parlance -- became a target during President Barack Obama's campaign.
 
As a candidate, Obama said that under his watch the Environmental Protection Agency would strictly regulate the large-scale ranching operations, the largest contributor of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution in Chesapeake Bay, according to the EPA.
 
Obama has taken some initial steps.
 
On May 12, 2009, Obama signed an executive order recognizing the bay as a national treasure and laying the groundwork to clean up the polluted body of water.
 
In part, the executive order required a draft report from the Environmental Protection Agency outlining how the government might tighten regulations to protect the bay. The report, released in September 2009, singled out CAFOs as a primary source of pollution and represents an early step in a long federal rulemaking process meant to clean up the body of water.
 
Regulating pollution from CAFOs should be included in the strategy, the document said. New regulations could include expanding the definition of CAFOs to bring more operations under EPA oversight and strengthening CAFO permit requirements.
 
So, Obama has taken the first steps in making good on his promise to impose stricter regulations on CAFOs. But the process is far from over. For now, we'll rate this one In the Works.

Sources: The Environmental Protection Agency, The Next Generation of Tools and Actions to Restore Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay , accessed Dec. 4, 2009