New regulations may not affect Rosebud hog farms Posted by ErthAvengr to NDN AIM
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com
Dec.21,2002
By Steve Miller, West River Editor
The two huge hog farms on Rosebud Sioux tribal land in Mellette County might
not be affected by the new federal rules for confined animal-feeding
operations.
The two farms, each designed to feed about 100,000 pigs a year, haven't been
required to have federal Environmental Protection Agency permits in the past
because they have demonstrated that they don't have the potential to
discharge waste into surface water, according to Debra Thomas of the Region 8
EPA office in Denver. Both farms have enclosed, sewer-type manure-management
systems.
The EPA on Monday issued new rules for confined animal-feeding operations, so
the farms now will have to either seek permits or again ask for an exemption
by showing that the farms still don't have the potential for discharge, T
homas said.
The farms, one six miles west of White River and the other six miles north of
Cedar Butte, are operated by Sun Prairie Partnership of Nebraska under an
agreement with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Sun Prairie is an affiliate of Bell
Farms of Wahpeton, N.D.
Thomas said she hasn't heard from Sun Prairie yet but anticipates that it
will seek an exemption.
The Journal was unable to reach Sun Prairie or Bell Farms officials for
comment.
Thomas said EPA would use the same criteria for granting an exemption that it
has used in the past.
She said neither farm has had a discharge of pollutants into surface water.
The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources administers EPA
waste rules for most private feeding operations in South Dakota.
But because the Sun Prairie hog farms are on tribal land, environmental rules
are administered directly by EPA, as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe also has oversight.
Thomas said another large feeding facility in South Dakota under direct EPA
purview is the McLaughlin Livestock Auction on the Standing Rock Indian
Reservation. That facility
already has applied for a permit, which likely will be granted, according to
Linda Himmelbauer, environmental scientist with Region 8 EPA.
The auction's sale barn can hold 7,000 head of cattle, and its feedlot can
hold 5,000 head.
Contact Steve Miller at 394-8417 or steve.miller@rapidcityjournal.com
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