|
Mick Hinton
The rules now go to Gov. Frank Keating, who is expected to sign them soon. The board approved the rules without discussion, although they have been aired at three hearings.
State Sen. Paul Muegge, D- Tonkawa, endorsed Thursday's action, saying the rules would not have been necessary if the hog industry had stuck to an agreement made with the Legislature.
"In 1998, when we passed the original ... swine regulations, we had a gentlemen's agreement with the industry that we would not mandate specific technologies to them and they would use the necessary tools to avoid becoming a problem to their neighbors," Muegge said. "They have failed to act."
Roy Lee Lindsey, spokesman for the Oklahoma Pork Council, said those in the industry cannot support the rules because they go too far.
However, Suzette Hatfield, spokeswoman for the Family Farm Alliance, said she supports the rules in the version approved because they only go after those who have prompted complaints by neighbors.
The rules would require that when a large farm -- defined as an operation with more than 2,500 hogs -- has received three complaints, the owner/operator must work with the state Agriculture Department to design a plan to abate the odor.
The hog farmer also must agree to halt application of hog effluent onto the land during weekends, on state holidays or when the wind speed is more than 20 mph.
If neighbors living within two miles of a hog farm sign a total of three complaints, the operator can be required by the Agriculture Department to make changes.
|
