HCS SB 187 -- CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS

SPONSOR:  Cauthorn (Guest)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Agriculture Policy by a vote of 16 to 4.

This substitute changes the laws regarding concentrated animal
feeding operations (CAFO).  The substitute:

(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
CAFOs must be consistent with the provisions of the substitute
except, local controls may be more restrictive if they are
justified by a regulatory impact report.  The regulatory impact
report must prove that state laws and regulations are
insufficient to protect human health and the environment and
contain a description of the costs imposed on CAFOs;

(3)  Requires that by January 1, 2007, certain counties having
more restrictive controls than those provided in the substitute
prepare a regulatory impact report justifying their controls or
be consistent with the statutory provisions; 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 state funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is friendly to the
environment and to agriculture and establishes uniform statewide
concentrated animal feeding operation requirements.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Cauthorn; Missouri Pork
Association; Missouri Cattlemens Association; Missouri Ag
Industries Council, Incorporated; Missouri Egg Council; Missouri
Corn Growers Association; 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 is essential in protecting human health,
quality of life, property values, and water quality.

Testifying against the bill were Missouri Farmers Union;
Concerned Citizens of Platte County; Missouri Rural Crisis
Center; Missouri Association of Counties; Missouri Association of
County Commissioners; Missouri Farm Bureau; 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 1:21 pm