Public Policy Update March 21, 2008 March 21,
2008 NATIONAL
AFFAIRS The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a
rule that would provide an administrative exemption from specific notification
requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended, and the
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA),
together also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act, the provisions of which are commonly referred to as "EPCRA reporting requirements." This administrative proposal is limited to exempting a
facility's need to report emissions to the air of otherwise-regulated hazardous
substances, such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, where the source of those
hazardous substances is animal waste from farms. The EPA fact sheet on the EPCRA
reporting proposal is available at: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/epcra/cercla_dec07.htm. The Federal Register notice and text of the proposal is
available at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2007/December/Day-28/a25231.pdf. A sample comment letter designed for farmers and ranchers is now
available on the FBACT member website. IMPACT: If finalized, this proposed rule would reduce the burden on the
potentially regulated community of complying with EPCRA
reporting requirements. In fact, EPA goes so far as to suggest that this
reporting is unnecessary because there is no reasonable expectation that
federal, state or local emergency officials have responded or expect to respond
to such report(s) or find them helpful in responding to emergency events that
could occur on livestock facilities. EPA is also seeking public comment on the usefulness of
emergency release notification and written follow-up emergency notices that are
submitted to State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs)
and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) when
there is an emission to the air from animal waste at farms of any hazardous
substance at or above the reportable quantity (RQ)
for those hazardous substances. ACTION: AFBF will
submit public comments supporting EPA's proposal and encourages state Farm
Bureaus to do the same. Additionally, states are asked to have FBACT members submit comments to the EPA by accessing the FBACT Alert. The deadline for submitting public comments to EPA is Thursday,
March 27, 2008. STATE
AFFAIRS Farm
Bureau/Livestock Coalition to Host Candidates and Legislators May 6- Led by the Ohio Livestock Coalition, a one-day
conference geared to teach candidates for the Ohio General Assembly, as well as
current legislators, more info. about agricultural
issues is slated for May 6th in the Capital Club of Columbus. About 32 new
legislators will be seated next January due to term limits. Legislators will
receive a briefing book with details about agriculture in their districts, as
well as a series of briefings by OFBF and commodity group staff. For more
information, contact Keith Stimpert, Rocky Black or
Sandy Kuhn. Ag
Plate - Legislation sponsored by Rep. Bruce Goodwin to create an
agricultural license plate with
proceeds going for tuition for Ohio ag
students has passsed the House and is under review in the Senate Ag
Committee. Goodwin testified on his bill just before Easter break. OFBF and
other groups will weigh in to support the measure shortly. The Ohio Dept. Of Agriculture plans to try to amend the bill
to create a Farmland Preservation license plate administered by an ODA directed committee. OFBF has concerns about creating
too many ag plates for a
limited pool of consumers. We also are unsure of having ODA's
plate amended into our bill. SB 221 - The
deadline for sending cards or letters or making phone calls to legislators on
SB 221 (Schuler) was March 14, 2008. An Action Alert was sent to every
organization director and regional supervisor asking that they obtain 25
contacts per OD district to their state representative asking them to support
SB 221. Members were given the option of writing personal letter, making phone
calls, attending an in-district visit, sending an email through the Farm Votes
Matter Web page, or writing a personal message on a postcard. As of March 14, we
received 430 reported contacts with more results still being confirmed. This
information was relayed to the Governor's senior staff. With legislators on break for two weeks, work on the Governor's
energy initiative, S.B. 221, continued behind closed
doors. Gov. Strickland issued a set
of 12 principles he will insist on keeping in the
bill. Clearly, legislative Republicans are maneuvering to keep a plane of
competition in setting electric prices in the bill. Also, work continues on
whether costs associated with using renewable and advanced energy can be passed
through to consumers. House Utility Committee Chair John Hagan said that a bill
would likely be ready in late March. In Columbus, there appears to be growing
concern about whether a compromise can be reached this spring. Task
Force Meets to Boost BioFuels -
Separate task forces, established by SB 371 (Buehrer)
and HB 233 (Reinhard) will write reports by early summer spelling out new
strategies for boosting biofuels and bioproducts in Ohio. OFBF sits on both panels. The Fuel
Task Force heard testimony recently from the Ohio Corn Growers Assn. and the
Ohio Soybean Association. Dwayne Siekman with the
Corn Growers spelled out a series of recommendations for ethanol, including
renewing current retail incentives for consumers to purchase E85. Tom Fontana with the Soy Association explained that high bean
prices have driven the cost of soy biodiesel unreasonably high temporarily,
with fuel costing over $5.00 per gallon locally. An industry wide meeting is
slated to be held at OSU in late March to determine whether additional legislation
is needed to achieve more use of biofuels and bioproducts in Ohio. The Bioproducts task force has met once and heard from Stephen
Meyer from OSU/OBIC on the current state of
technology in the industry. Counties,
Business Groups Eye Support for Governor’s Jobs
Package - The County Commissioners Association of Ohio became the first major
statewide group to endorse Governor Strickland's jobs package. Several business
groups, including the Ohio Manufacturers, Retail Merchants and Ohio Chamber are
all said to be poised to back the ballot proposal. Gov. Strickland has launched
a grassroots ballot effort in case the legislative route fails. Two thirds of
the House and Senate must agree to put the initiative on the ballot. Upcoming
Events and Dates Dairy Labeling - Whether it's through e-mail, letter or a telephone call, let
your state representative, senator and members of the Joint Committee on Agency
Rule Review know how you feel about the Ohio Department of Agriculture's
proposed dairy labeling rules. Using talking points for reference, please
consider sending a personalized message to your state legislators and a member
of JCARR by March 31, 2008. Click here for talking
points. Forward to other farmers and invite them to
test-drive Farm Bureau - Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is currently offering new
members an opportunity to join the organization through 2008 for just $35. The
rate reflects a savings of up to 50 percent. "This is a fantastic
deal," said Janet Cassidy, director of membership marketing. "It's an
opportunity for new members to test-drive the organization at a reduced
rate." Cassidy said membership provides access to a variety of benefits
and savings, including:
For more information, or to join, contact your county Farm
Bureau office, visit http://GrowWithFB.org or call 888-GrowWithFB (888-476-9948). | |