Source:  Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 1/17/11


The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted data from a two-year study of air emissions from animal feeding operations. 

The National Air Emissions Monitoring Study grew from a 2005 voluntary compliance agreement between EPA and the livestock industry. The study was funded by industry and conducted by Purdue University researchers with EPA oversight. It tested large livestock operations for emissions of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.

Researchers monitored a total of 24 sites in nine states that raised pigs and broiler chickens, were egg-laying operations or were dairies. A separate industry study monitored emissions from a broiler chicken operation in Kentucky.

EPA will use data from the studies to help develop improved methodologies for estimating emissions from such livestock operations. Such methodologies are commonly used to estimate emissions from industries where site-specific monitoring data are not available.

Call for additional information
At industry’s request, EPA also is issuing a Call for Information seeking data from other monitoring studies of air emissions from livestock operations. Submitting this information is not required; however, it will help the agency ensure that its emissions estimating tools are based on the best scientific data available. EPA is requesting quality-assured data on emissions of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds, along with information about how animals are housed or managed, and how manure is stored and treated at the monitored operations.

The agency is asking for this information for operations that raise pigs, chickens, turkeys and beef cattle, and for egg-laying and dairy cattle operations. Once the Call for Information is published in the Federal Register, there will be a 45-day comment period.

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