Environmentalists Want Moratorium On 'Hog Farms (Continued from Pago A 24) She said people arc encouraged to review the strategy and send in their comments. The deadline for submitting comments is Jan. 19. Comments should be mailed to: Denise C. Coleman, Program Analyst, USDA Natural Resour cesw Conservation Service, ATTN: AFO, PO Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013-2890. Written comments were not accepted at the meeting, although manilla envelopes were provided so that those with written com ments could mail them to the prog ram address. Those who commented at the meeting were mostly from Pen nsylvania, although a representa tive of the New York Farm Bureau commented. Pennsylvania Farm Bureau held its annual convention at the same time, and a lay representative declined at the time to offer an opinion on behalf of the state farm organization. However, PFB comments are to be submitted prior to Jan. 19. An outline of some of the concerns of the PFB were provided last week. Comments made at the Union Deposit meeting seemed to reflect four different perspectives those of non-farm residents of the Bedford County area against con finement swine facilities being built in their area; professional rep resentatives of environmental groups with opposition to confine ment swine facilities, among other things; professional representa tives of agricultural and pro agricultural groups; and the indivi dual person, potentially subject to law. Scvfcral cdmnfcHtors’Vere’from the Bedford area and expressed opposition to allowing any permits foe any new facilities until research and federal regulations are According to many, it's the best hot water pressure washer in the world. • 2250 psi @ 4.5 gpm • Low fuel shut-off • -Maximum water temp. 285°F • Built-in scale inhibitor • Water cooled motor • 9096 efficient fuel burner • Automatic shut-off • Single piece powder coated frame • Steam stage • Direct-drive integrated motor/pump Buy before December 15, 1998 and get these Bonus items: >/ Pivoting hose reel and mounting kit / Dirtblaster (increases impact pressure by 10X) / Karcher "The Hawg" Melton/Leather jacket 9 this Great Jacket as a Bonus!" Kochel Equipment Co. 3030 Ridge Rd. (Rt. 23), Everson, PA 19520 (610)286-5519 1-800-922-9680 Fax (610) 286-2162 ' [H KKRfiIIER www.kochelequipment.com developed. The Bedford area has received some media attention this post year or more because of battles between residents of urban sprawl and fanning operators and businesses. Some who have been following that and other situations around the country have expressed the opin ion that the issue is mostly about odor that, in an attempt to keep new residential and existing deve lopments from being subject to malodors from farms (especially hog and poultry houses), opposi tion groups have become sup ported by those who either believe, or disingenously perpetuate, extreme claims of health concerns and water supply safety being caused by such farming operations. The Bedford controversy resulted in Senate Resolutino 91, an unenforceable request of the state Conservation Commission and others in state agencies to compile information about nutri : ent management, and confinement facilities and potential problems, and publish it for the general publ ic’s access. Some involved with nutrient management issues in Pennsylva nia said they considered such a document could only serve as a manual for battling proposed high density livestock operations. Others report that residents from the Bedford area have been travel ing the state to different meetings to voice opposition to hog facilities and confinement housing. The first speaker at the Union Deposit meeting was Karl Novak of Clearville. He expressed oposition to the Unified Strategy because it doesn’t go far enough in establishing site specific permitting and mandatory planning for all. He criticized Pennsylvania’s Nutrient Management Act (6) because it usurps local govern ment’s oversight of nutrient man agement planning for farms. Novak also said that confine ment hog facilities and high density farming arc not farms, but factories. “Let’s get one thing straight These hog factories are not farms,” Novak said. They are producers of massive quantities of toxic gases and mas sive quantities of waste laden with heavy metals, viruses and pathogens. “Hog factories demonstrate little regard to their neighbor’s BUY, SELL, TRADE OR RENT THROUGH THE CLASSIFIED ADS IN Lancaster Farming PHONE 717-626-1164 wg. water supply, quality of water and quality of the air they breathe,” Novak said. “Hog factories ate a blight on the environment and a massive threat to both the family farmer , and the quality of life in the rural America. “We must have federal regula tions ... that protect all the citizens of this nation, because the state of Pennsylvania and other states have been negligent in promoting and promulgating comprehensive and effective regulations.” Novak was followed by Dr. Dave Brubaker, framer executive Quality Assured Case IH Parts BEST PARTS,... BEST DEAL.... BEST VALUE eWhen You Need Parts, Call SALEM For FAST ipP Courteous Service. wL Express Service To Your Farm.... 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers