Groups sue EPA over air pollution from large farms

DES MOINES, Iowa — A coalition of environmental, humane and community organizations said Wednesday they have filed two lawsuits against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, claiming the federal government has done too little to protect residents from air pollution leaving large animal confinement facilities.

The groups claim large pig, cattle, dairy and other facilities contribute to asthma and heart attacks as well as climate change, regional haze and other environmental problems.

The lawsuit could have broad ramifications in Iowa, the nation's largest pig producing state in the nation with about 20 million animals.

"When the emissions are at their worst, we have had to leave our home for days at a time," said Rosie Partridge, a resident of rural Sac County whose home is surrounded by more than 30,000 hogs within 4 miles.

The coalition says the nation has about 20,000 farms that confine billions of chickens, hogs and other animals and emit air pollutants, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds, methane and particulate matter.

The groups including the Environmental Integrity Project, the Sierra Club, the Humane Society of the United States and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

The Environmental Integrity Project and the Humane Society said they filed petitions with EPA in 2009 and 2011, asking the agency to address confinement pollution, but the agency has failed to act.

The groups say that the EPA's delays in responding to the petitions is "unreasonable under federal law." The groups ask EPA to answer the petition within 90 days.

An EPA spokeswoman said the agency would review the litigation.

Ron Birkenholz, a spokesman for the Iowa Pork Producers Association, said he disagrees that confinement facilities are degrading the health of workers or nearby residents.

"We believe the barns are safe or we wouldn't continue building them," he said.

The association, Birkenholz said, is funding research at universities such as Iowa State to improve operations, including reducing odor.

"We're working to be a good neighbor in rural Iowa," he said. "Yes, at times, there may be odor. But the activists think it's a constant problem, but that's just not the case."