Don’t overregulate dairies

Got milk? New proposals from the Department of Ecology risk the demise of the dairy industry in Washington. While we can all agree that we want clean water, it should not be at the expense of providing milk for our children.

Once again, DOE is ignoring that part of the law stating, “The Legislature intends that agricultural activity consistent with good practices be protected from government over-regulation.” These new proposals will compel unreasonably expensive investments in lagoon liners and other engineered projects without demonstrable environmental benefits. The rules will force a majority of our dairy farms to quit or leave the state.

The public has until Oct. 2 to provide comments to DOE about its Preliminary Draft Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Permit proposal. Farmers want more time to work with DOE to make the proposed permit more workable for their dairies. Anyone can submit comments to DOE at jonathon.jennings@ecy.wa.gov.

Ask that DOE extend the comment period by 60 days, and that DOE conduct an economic analysis to ensure that permit benefits will exceed permit costs. Furthermore, DOE should produce a least burdensome alternative assessment. Keeping milk production in this state is important.

Robyn Meenach

Valleyford