http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-19-07.html+TNRCC+water+cattle+2000+bosquehl=en
--
Title: Environment News Service: Texas Leads United States in Animal Farm Wastes
This is Google's cache of http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-19-07.html.
Google's cache is the snapshot that we took of the page as we crawled the web.
The page may have changed since that time. Click here for the current page without highlighting.Google is not affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content.
These search terms have been highlighted:tnrccwatercattle2000bosque
Free Internet Access - Find it - Talk about it - Shop for it
Lycos HomeNewsEnvironment
Top News Headlines
Environment News Message Board
Personalize Your News
Environment Websites
News Web Guide
Current Events Chat
Science News
E-WireInstant Updates
Environment News Index
Environment Events Calendar
ENS Features
EcoTravel
EDF Scorecard
Shopping Green
SustainableBusiness
Cartoons
Environment
Texas Leads United States in Animal Farm Wastes
By Cat Lazaroff
WASHINGTON, DC, May 19, 2000 (ENS) - Texas produces more animal waste than any other state and is creating a public health and pollution hazard, concludes a new report released Thursday by the Sierra Club and Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office. Unlike many other livestock producing states, Texas provides little oversight or regulation of these facilities, the report finds.
Texas livestock operations produce more wastes than those of any other state (Photo courtesy USDA)
"Animal Factories: Pollution and Health Threats to Rural Texas," shows that Texas produces about 220 billion pounds of animal wastes each year, and this number is rising. Current estimates show that Texas is producing 280 billion pounds or 40 pounds of manure per Texas resident per day.
"We already knew that Texas leads the nation in toxic air pollution from manufacturing industries, and now we have the dubious honor of holding the number one spot in manure production," said Ken Kramer, director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club in Texas.
California holds the number two spot in manure production, but produces only half of the amount - 110 billion pounds of waste - that Texas does.
The report describes how weak state environmental regulations and lax enforcement allow Texas' factory farms to pollute, often for years, before any enforcement action is taken.
Cattle eating at a stockyard (Photo by Brian Prechtel, courtesy Agricultural Research Services)
The pollution is taking its toll on local waterways - impairing 388 miles of streams and more than 23,000 acres of lakes. Stretches of Wright Patman Lake, Black Bayou, and the Upper North Bosque River are so polluted from industrial livestock waste that they cannot support aquatic life.
Areas of the North Bosque River and Leon River are contaminated to the point that they can no longer support recreation.
Air pollution from factory farms is also taking its toll on human health. Air testing near cattle feedlots shows sporadic, high particulate levels above state and federal standards. Air testing downwind of hog, cattle and chicken farms indicate strong, offensive odors and ammonia levels in excess of the state's health based effects screening level.
The report cites one child living next to a cattle feedlot who had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital because of severe respiratory distress caused by the large amount of fecal dust emitted from the facility. This family and others have moved from their homes rather than live with the constant odor and dust.
Governor George W. Bush is blamed for many of the poor environmental policies in Texas (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
"While Texas residents suffer from manure pollution, Governor [George W.] Bush and Texas agencies refuse to keep factory farm waste out of Texas' air and waterways," said Ed Hopkins, senior Washington representative of the Sierra Club. "Other states have addressed environmental concerns and implemented effective solutions. Texas should follow in their footsteps and protect our environment."
Once known primarily as a beef cattle state, Texas is now also home to thriving dairy, chicken, egg, and hog production facilities, ranking among the top 10 or 15 states for each category of production.
"Our public officials have been negligent in their duty to keep factory farm waste out of Texas' air and waterways," said Reggie James, director of the Southwest Regional Office of the Consumers Union which publishes the widely read magazine "Consumer Reports."
"While other states have addressed environmental concerns and implemented effective solutions, Texas has stood still and even regressed," James said.
Texas is home to a thriving poultry industry (Photo by Scott Bauer, courtesy Agricultural Research Services)
"Weak existing state environmental regulations
