E-M:/ Another idea

[jmgear <jmgear@acd.net>]

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Enviro-Mich message from jmgear <jmgear@acd.net>
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While you're on novel experiments, how about this idea as a method of 
causing interest in "doing it right:":

1) For each CAFO, we define an "impact zone" around the CAFO where the 
effects of its operation are felt (smelt, dealt ...).

2) Then we require that those persons holding a controlling interest in 
the business must maintain their primary residence within within a few 
miles (downwind in the direction of prevailing winds) and must draw 
their water from local wells or water supplies within the impact zone.

This would mean, for example, if a business wants to own a CAFO, then 
people holding the majority of the ownership shares would have to live 
and take their water from within the impact zone.

I imagine that this would be challenged under the commerce clause 
(because it pretty much rules out distant corporate ownership of CAFOs), 
but there's a good argument that this falls under the state's police 
powers because it would promote the most effective form of health and 
safety regulation there is (self regulation).


> Instead, how about a novel experiment? How about if we actually give 
> DEQ the staff, the funding, and the authority to actually properly 
> regulate and enforce the law to prevent pollution from industrial 
> livestock operations???? Why not clean up existing ones, help prevent 
> real water and air pollution from these facilities, shut down the ones 
> that fail and not build any more until we know how to do it right?? 
> Why don’t we try that first! Wouldn’t it be amazing to actually find 
> out if CAFOs could operate without destroying the lives of their 
> neighbors and downstream communities?
>
> Just a thought -- a heck of a lot more practical than what Farm Bureau 
> proposes below.
>
> Also, I hope we’ll get some clarification on the idea of “streamlining 
> regulations” attributed to the Governor below.
>
> Anne Woiwode, State Director
>
> Sierra Club Mackinac (Michigan) Chapter
>
> * *

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