EPA Proposes Controls on Meat, Poultry Operations

February 27, 2002

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed what one industry organization says are "potentially far-reaching wastewater controls on red meat and poultry slaughter and processing operations." The proposed 350-page regulation, on which EPA has given industry 60 days to comment, includes new technology-based standards and discharge limits aimed at further reductions in nutrients and other loadings to rivers and streams.

EPA's estimated implementation cost to industry is $80 million. In contrast, the American Meat Institute's initial cost estimate for currently permitted facilities that discharge directly to surface waters ranges between $250 and $400 million. AMI is moving to challenge the regulation on several bases, including the rule's cost compared to the likely environmental benefits achieved and the new numeric limits imposed on facilities that will require more technology than EPA has estimated.

Furthermore, slaughterhouses and processing operations are already regulated effectively under the Clean Water Act permitting system, says AMI. Prior to proposal of the rule, AMI said it had succeeded in narrowing EPA's targeted industry universe from around 6,000 facilities to about 250 red meat and poultry operations. While EPA has decided for now to avoid regulating meat processing facilities discharging solely to local wastewater treatment plants, the agency has included what it argues is sufficient justification for ultimately bringing these operations back into the regulatory net by the time the rule is finalized in December 2003, AMI adds.

AMI has notified EPA it will be requesting an additional 60 days to respond to the proposal.