HB 376 -- CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS

SPONSOR:  Guest

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Agriculture Policy by a vote of 21 to 2.

This bill changes the laws regarding concentrated animal feeding
operations (CAFO) making Missouri's regulations consistent with
federal regulations.  The bill:

(1)  Requires the Missouri Clean Water Commission to promulgate
rules regulating the establishment, permitting, design,
construction, operation, and management of CAFOs;

(2)  Requires that regulatory or local controls imposed by any
form of local government concerning the establishment,
permitting, design, construction, operation, and management of an
animal feeding operation must be consistent with the provisions
of the bill;

(3)  Allows the Department of Natural Resources to designate an
animal feeding operation as a CAFO if it is determined to be a
significant contributor of pollutants to the waters of the state
and has an animal feeding capacity of Class II CAFO or greater;
and

(4)  Clarifies that the terms "point source" and "water
contaminant source" as defined for the purposes of the Missouri
Clean Water Law are not to include agricultural stormwater
discharges and return flows from irrigated agriculture.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2006, FY
2007, and FY 2008.  Estimated Effect on Other State Funds of an
Income of $150 in FY 2006, a Cost of $9,000 in FY 2007, and $0 in
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill places Missouri in
compliance with federal guidelines and includes recommendations
from the Governor's Task Force on Agriculture.  The bill is
friendly to the environment and to agriculture and establishes
uniform statewide concentrated animal feeding operation
requirements.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Guest; Missouri Pork
Association; Missouri Farm Bureau; Paul Hines; Missouri
Cattlemens Association; Missouri Ag Industries Council,
Incorporated; Farm Credit Services of Missouri; Department of
Natural Resources; Missouri Dairy Producers Association; Missouri
Egg Council; Missouri Soybean Council; MFA Incorporated; and
Missouri Poultry Federation.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the current law
works well, and local county control of concentrated animal
feeding operations and animal feeding operations is essential in
protecting human health, quality of life, property values, and
water quality.

Testifying against the bill were Missouri Farmers Union; Farm
Alliance of Rural Missouri; Margot McMillen; Missouri Rural
Crisis Center; Silvia and Rolf Christen; Missouri Association of
Counties; Sierra Club; and Office of the Attorney General.

Roland Tackett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:19 pm