E-M:/ harassment of water monitors

[Janet Kauffman <jkauffman@emich.edu>]

Title:

ECCSCM condemns vandalism,
harassment 
of volunteers monitoring animal factories 

     A recent grisly incident has prompted Environmentally
Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan (ECCSCM) to denounce all intimidation
tactics against citizen volunteers who monitor air and water near Confined
Animal Feeding Operations in Hillsdale and Lenawee Counties.  Four dead and
bloodied animals were placed on the property of an ECCSCM volunteer who conducts
routine monitoring of CAFOs, documenting the spraying of liquid manure, contamination
of waterways, and potential air quality violations. Dead animals were placed
in the family's mailboxes, another splayed on the family's car, and another
set at their doorstep.   

      "The trespass and vandalism will not deter ECCSCM from its ongoing
monitoring programs,” said John Klein, President of the Hudson area organization. 
"Our philosophy is to observe, record, and inform, while our continued goal
is to help stop this ongoing environmental disaster we are experiencing from
the CAFO discharges." 

     ECCSCM has one of Michigan's most effective volunteer water monitoring
programs, documenting persistent pollution from animal factories.  In the
last four years, their monitoring programs have helped state, local, and
federal officials identify the serious issue of liquid manure discharges
through field drainage tiles.  Discharges of manure and other agricultural
wastes into Bean Creek Watershed and the River Raisin Watershed led to more
than 60 citations from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality against
eleven CAFOs for violations of the Clean Water Act and Michigan's water protection 
laws.   

       In the last month alone, with spring thaws, ECCSCM monitoring identified
numerous sites where liquid manure applied to frozen ground was running off
or draining through tiles to streams.  The DEQ investigated and cited several
CAFOs for multiple violations.  

         ECCSCM has recently begun a project of air monitoring for hydrogen
sulfide, a major air emission of animal factories.  Details on ECCSCM's on-going
monitoring programs can be found on the group's website, www.nocafos.org. 
        
       The trespass and vandalism are not the first incidents of harassment
of ECCSCM volunteers.  In the last two years, a volunteer's car has been
blocked on the road by two large manure-hauling tanker trucks, volunteers
have been followed and verbally harassed, frivolous police complaints of
reckless driving and trespass have been filed against volunteers.  "Strong-arm
tactics by polluters won't stop volunteer monitoring of animal factories,"
said Janet Kauffman, ECCSCM volunteer. "Not here, not in Ohio, not Indiana,
not anyplace neighbors care about kids wading in streams or fishing in lakes." 

                                                       # 

CONTACTS: 
John Klein, President, ECCSCM 517-383-2234 
Janet Kauffman, Water Monitoring Project, ECCSCM 517-448-4973