Concentrated animal feeding operations : EPA needs more information and a clearly defined strategy to protect air and water quality from pollutants of concern : report to Congressional requesters / United States Government Accountability Office

Corporate Author: United States. Government Accountability Office
Additional Titles: Concentrated animal feeding operations : Environmental Protection Agency needs more information and a clearly defined strategy to protect air and water quality from pollutants of concern and EPA needs more information and a clearly defined strategy to protect air and water quality from pollutants of concern
Published: [Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2008]
Physical Description: iii, 79 pages : digital, PDF file

Access Online

purl.fdlp.gov

Availability

Finding items...

Restrictions on Access

Free-to-read Unrestricted online access

Summary

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are large livestock and poultry operations that raise animals in a confined situation. CAFOs can improve the efficiency of animal production but large amounts of manure produce can, if not properly managed, degrade air and water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulating CAFOs and requires CAFOs that discharge certain pollutants to obtain a permit. This report discusses the (1) trends in CAFOs over the past 30 years, (2) amounts of waste they generate, (3) findings of key research on CAFOs' health and environmental impacts, (4) EPA's progress in developing CAFO air emissions protocols, and (5) effect of recent court decisions on EPA's regulation of CAFO water pollutants. GAO analyzed U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) data from 1982 through 2002, for large farms as a proxy for CAFOs; reviewed studies, EPA documents, laws, and regulations; and obtained the views of federal and state officials.

Report Numbers

GA 1.13:GAO-08-944
GAO-08-944

Subject(s)

Note

Title from title screen (viewed on Sept 25, 2008).
"September 2008."
"GAO-08-944."

Bibliography Note

Includes bibliographical references.

Technical Details

Mode of access: Internet from GAO web site. Address as of 9/25/08: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08944.pdf; current access available via PURL.

Action Note

committed to retain. Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). For information on our retention commitment, please contact Microforms and Government Information.

View MARC record | catkey: 4912192