Where the rubber meets the road AGRICULTURE & WATER QUALITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Washington Association of Wheat Growers – Ritzville, WA December 10, 2014 The last meeting for the first session of the Ag and Water Quality Advisory Board was held December 10, 2014 at in Ritzville at the Wheat Growers office. Director, Maia Bellon (Ecology) and past WCA President Vic Stokes (Washington Cattlemen’s Association) presided as co-chairs. We had already decided at the last meeting that the group would continue to meet, with the next meeting in February at DOE headquarters in Lacey, WA. The agenda for this meeting was the shortest agenda, and it really showed that we have narrowed the scope of work, rolled up our sleeves, and started to try and resolve issues that the group was meeting to resolve. Use of manure as fertilizer on farm fields: Many already were aware that our Washington governor has determined that the use of manure to fertilize fields needs to be governed in a more stringent manner. Ag groups have opposed this proposed bill as manure application is already governed. Recordkeeping requirements exist for land application of manure. Under the farm plans and CAFO requirements, enforcement, inspection and reporting requirements already exist, making this proposed bill redundant. Ag has opposed this proposed bill and will continue to oppose it, as it is unnecessary and burdensome. DOE and the WSDA were told of this opposition at the meeting during the presentation. The other issue with the bill is that it has been fast tracked, is poorly planned and thought out, and has not been adequately vetted by ag groups because of the timing. The proposed bill is only targeting three counties due to ongoing water quality issues, with Yakima being targeted due to their high nitrate levels in the water. Special areas have been designated as having high-risk water concerns. DOE states that only ten CAFOs can be governed under current law, therefore more oversight is required. Again, ag disagrees with this contention and sees not basis for this bill. Ag is already over regulated and more regulation is unnecessary. Ecology’s Watershed Work: Assessments are expected to be done in Eastern Washington in 2015. Those areas of assessment include Blue Mountain streams, Whitman County Snake River tributaries, North and South Forks of the Palouse River, Hangman Creek and Walla Walla River. There will be follow-up to the site visits from 2014 and 2013 to see if problems have been remedied. In 2016 those waterways being assessed will include South Stevens County, Rock Creek and Middle Fork of the Palouse River. An outreach meeting with CD Board and supervisors was recommended so that discussion of 2016 assessments might take place, possibly in early spring of next year. DOE should partner with stakeholder groups that wishes to meet, including CDs, Cattlemen groups, etc. Part of what the DOE advisory group has asked for is consistency and transparency in DOE actions. Improvement of the program operation was discussed, along with the need for collaboration with local forces, which is always overseen by the DOE. Development of voluntary programs supporting these efforts was also discussed with Heather Bartlett and Maia Bellon responsible for accountability. It was also noted that three to four workshops will be necessary to discuss the changes planned regarding watershed and related impairment. It is important to remember that this is not livestock specific, but concerns general water quality progress. DOE was very open to the suggestions of the Advisory group on what the group expects DOE to change with the assessments. One of the biggest changes is that the Advisory group wants DOE to call and talk to the landowners or Lessees prior to sending out the letters demanding change and threatening the fines if change does not happen. Communication with local groups such as CDs, Cattlemens, Farm Bureau, Wheat Growers, etc should also occur prior to DOE sending out letters. The Advisory group also wants DOE to treat citizen complaints differently as at the current time DOE does not use any discretion and investigates all complaints, even if those complaints have no basis and may be made due to an agenda by the complaintee. The Advisory group has said from the beginning that DOE must change the way it handles the watershed assessments. The most important change is that DOE must deal with citizens of Washington state in a respectful and takes into consideration the impacts DOE action has on landowners. DOE currently treats landowners as guilty until proven innocent, which is not acceptable in todays society. This meeting is where the rubber met the road. No longer are we discussing a hypothetical assessment by DOE on an unsuspecting landowner. DOE agents will be out in the spring of 2015 and it is time for DOE to change the procedures to allow for a much more landowner friendly system of dealing with perceived water quality issues. The Advisory group has made very firm requests for DOE change and those requests were met with acceptance by Director Bellon. Director Bellon has also said she will be accountable for those changes. DOE must treat landowners with respect and transparency. Expect it. If you receive a DOE letter or call, please keep in mind that you should still seek help. DOE must be asked to use sound, peer reviewed science in water quality assessments. Change will not be immediate, but hopefully change will occur.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:08:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015