Oregon is already home to one of the nation’s largest industrial-scale dairy operations. Located near Boardman, Threemile Canyon Farms houses 70,000 cows and is a major source of ammonia and other pollution emissions. On March 31, despite unprecedented public opposition, the state issued a Clean Water Act permit to another 30,000 head industrial dairy operation called Lost Valley Farm, located near Threemile Canyon. This decision highlights a gaping loophole in Oregon law: the state exempts large dairies like Lost Valley and Threemile Canyon from monitoring and reducing air pollution it generates.
On this episode of Locus Focus we talk with Kendra Kimbirauskas, with the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project, about the environmental and public health concerns raised by mega dairies, and how the Oregon Legislature can fix this loophole by passing legislation that would end unchecked pollution from mega dairies.
- KBOO