National Pork Producers Council Sues EPA
By: Chris Whited, KRBC News
Updated: January 21, 2009
A new mandated rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requiring livestock producers to inform state and emergency management officials of the amount of methane emissions is being challenged. The National Pork Producers Association (NPPC) is challenging the new EPA rule and has filed a lawsuit.The new rule that went into effect on Tuesday requires farmers to report estimated methane emissions by their livestock to state and local agencies by phone and in writing. In the lawsuit the group is asking that livestock operations be exempt and cites the EPA for delaying notification and not having a proper system for operations.
Farmers that fail to comply with the rule can face penalties up to $25,000 dollars a day. The group is asking a court to prevent enforcement of the rule until a proper compliance system can be developed by the EPA.






