DATCP Board Hears Preliminary CIG Report

By Joan Sanstadt News Editor
Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:34 AM CST

Members of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) board last week heard a preliminary report on a two-year study dealing with odor and air emission controls.

The Dec. 10 board meeting held in Madison included an update on the Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) study that was primarily funded by a grant from USDA, with matching funds from DATCP and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The project, began in 2006, studied odor control practices related to waste storage structures. These practices included both impermeable and permeable covers, as well as solids separator and aerators. Also participating were operators of two anaerobic digesters and another with a large animal feedlot.

The DATCP reported that the impermeable covers for manure storage do a very good job of controlling orders, but that rain water must be pumped off the cover.

The permeable covers do a good job of controlling odors and this type of cover allows rainwater through into the storage structure.

Cost of the covers can range from $100,000 to around $250,000.

Another part of the study n again this is only preliminary data n found digesters may not reduce odor as much as had originally been thought. Hence, the effectiveness of digesters in controlling odors may be less than what was believed when the study began.

Tests on air emissions were conducted by DNR staff and those tests took place at the property line (between 350 feet to 400 feet from the source). The DATCP testing was done at the source of the emissions.

Dave Jelinski, director of the DATCP’s Bureau of land and water resources, said this early report “appears we are in better shape than we’d thought.”

The interim summary presented to the board deals with the study’s early findings. A final executive summary will be incorporated into the report of findings due out in January, 2009, after all the results have been compiled and analyzed.

Jelinski said the DATCP would be working with ag groups and he expected the report would generate “a lot of discussion with those groups.”

Other business

The board acted on a number of action items which include:

- Approved a scope statement for revision of ATCP 29, Pesticides Use and Control. The revision will amend current pesticide rules, as necessary, related to aquatic pesticide applications, structural pesticide applications, and residential chemigation systems to ensure consistency with other rules. The revision will include other changes intended to clarify and update the rule as needed and will be based on input from an industry advisory committee. (Approval of a rulemaking “scope statement” allows the DATCP staff to begin drafting the proposed rule revision. The board must approve a hearing draft rule before the department may hold public hearings on the proposal. After the public hearings, the board must approve the final draft rule before the DATCP may adopt the rule.)

- Approved a scope statement for an annual atrazine rule update, which is based on the latest groundwater sampling data.

- Approved a final draft rule updating atrazine use restrictions for 2009. Based on new groundwater sampling data, this rule expands and joins two current atrazine prohibition areas in Columbia County and expands the statewide atrazine prohibition areas by approximately 1,830 acres. The rule will affect four or five farmers in the expanded prohibition area who currently use atrazine to control weeds in corn.

- Authorized for public hearing, a revised draft rule that reflects recent federal law changes related to safety standards for children’s products, including standards for lead in toys. The hearings are not yet scheduled.

- Heard a report on the DATCP’s Workforce Plan and the next steps the department will take to address anticipated turnover in key positions and occupations.

- Heard a report on the Madison Area Technical College Photo Project, “Color Photo 2,” that involves students making large format photography prints to be displayed in the DATCP building. The prints portray the activities and mission of the DATCP.

- Heard an update report on the Emerald Ash Borer and other pests.

Next

The board set tentative 2009 meeting dates. The next meeting, now scheduled for Jan. 14, may not take place. In that case, the next meeting will be on Feb. 11 in Madison.

Agri-View will keep readers up to date on these meeting dates.

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