September 23, 2002 | Issue 39 | Volume 74 Hog Industry Insider, 9/23/02 BY MICHAEL HOWIE Feedstuffs Managing Editor Matrix presented The master matrix being developed by a technical advisory committee in Iowa was presented to the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) at a meeting last week in Clear Lake, Iowa. Through much difficulty and many meetings, committee reached consensus on most of the matrix but could not reach an agreement on two mitigating factors: non-therapeutic antibiotics and demonstrated community support within a radius equal to double the minimum separation distances to neighboring residents. In recommendations from the committee to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the committee said there was very strong support and opposition to the antibiotic issue, and without a consensus, it was not included in the final list presented to DNR. As for the second item, there was general committee support for its inclusion, but some members felt strongly that it should be included only if the demonstrated support represented 100% of those affected and that lesser demonstrations of support could be a deterrent to the community. Others felt strongly that something less than 100% support would still have a positive mitigation impact on the community. Since the issue couldn't be resolved, it was left off,too. The committee also discussed minimum thresholds for "passing" the matrix, but due to time constraints, the discussion was not adequate enough to reach a consensus. As a result, DNR made recommendations to EPC regarding minimum thresholds. DNR recommended that applicants obtain a minimum overall score of about 432 points of the current version, 50% of all points available. However, it also recommended minimum scores in air quality, water quality and community concern subcategories. To pass the matrix, an applicant must have 30% of available points in each of those categories. Robin Pruisner, coordinator of animal feeding operations with DNR, said, for example, if a proposed facility is remotely located, it may easily be able to achieve 432 total points, but meeting minimum air, water and community standards would still be necessary. That idea was supported by committee members Susan Heathcote, Iowa Environmental Council; Harlan Hanson, Iowa State Association of Counties; Aaron Heley Lehman, Iowa Farmers Union, and Mary Gilchrist, University of Iowa. Others did not agree with that approach. They included committee members Calvin Rozenboom, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; John Korslund and Joe Lafoon, on behalf of the Iowa Cattlemen's Assn., Iowa Dairy Products Assn., Iowa Pork Producers Assn., Iowa Poultry Assn. and Iowa Turkey Federation; Brent Halling, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, and John Lawrence, Iowa State University. In a statement presented to DNR, those committee members said they believe a single score from the matrix should be used, because that is what was outlined in the legislation. Some commissioners said at the meeting, however, that they believe requiring points in all three categories is fair and a good way to get producers to think more about how their operations affect the surrounding area. Next step EPC, which went through the proposed matrix line by line, has a month to mull it over and will address the matrix at its October meeting. In the meantime, Pruisner said, DNR will continue to hone the document. Prior to the EPC meeting last week, she said, DNR took a sample of 15 existing sites and ran them through the matrix to see how they would come up. She said that helped to determine initial thresholds. She said DNR believes minimum thresholds on the matrix should be above what has been done in the past because the intent is to improve hog facilities -- to set a higher standard. To help hone the document, she said DNR will run as many existing sites through the matrix so "good" and "bad" sites can be identified and to help fine-tune minimum thresholds. In addition, some subcategories need to be further developed and better defined. Once EPC agrees to a final version of the matrix, it will publish the document for public comments. The matrix, according to the legislation, must be in place by March 1, 2003. Although some of the intent of the matrix is to take the politics out of the approval process for livestock operations, there has been plenty of politics to get to this point, and there will likely be more before the final rule is published and takes effect. If producers feel the matrix is fair in the end, it would be a big help in negotiating the approval process. The interim matrix, approved earlier this year and already in use under an "emergency" rule, has made the process smoother for some proposed sites. Although county boards can still hold meetings and question operators, particularly on manure management plans, it does not have the final say on the proposal. Instead, DNR does -- although county boards can submit suggestions to DNR. Although this may frustrate county boards, it will also take the pressure off them. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]