Section 7 Emissions Studies

• Library: Environmental Law 2002 Supp Replacement chs

Until recently, little attention had been paid to air emissions from animal feeding operations. These operations historically have not been highly regulated under the CAA or the Missouri Air Conservation Law. Within the last few years, however, EPA, other governmental agencies, and private researchers have begun studying the types and quantities of pollutants emitted from livestock facilities in an effort to determine whether these facilities require air permits or are subject to other air pollution requirements.

On December 15, 2000, the EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards issued a draft report entitled “Estimation of Air Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations.” The report was subsequently issued in revised form on August 15, 2001. In this report, EPA provides estimated emissions of ammonia, nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds from beef, dairy, veal, swine, and poultry animal feeding operations. EPA developed these emissions estimates by reviewing existing literature for emission factors and applying these factors to 23 “model” farms that were intended to reflect the majority of animal feeding operation configurations. The...