Posted Oct. 30, 2009
A non-profit group in Missouri is offering to assist pork producers prepare nutrient management plans and environmental assessments.
The Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC) is dedicated to water quality protection and improvement efforts and it’s using a $3.9 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to provide confidential technical assistance to livestock producers west of the Mississippi River at no cost.
The program is known as CLEANmp, or Comprehensive Livestock Environmental Assessment and Nutrient management plan. Any livestock producer is eligible to apply and participation is strictly voluntary.
ERC technical staff will conduct on-site visits at participating facilities and develop comprehensive assessments of nutrient-driven environmental challenges facing the facilities. Participating producers will receive confidential, written assessment reports and, if requested, a nutrient management plan or review and practical recommendations.
The ERC project is targeting special areas of concern or preference, especially those operations situated near bodies of water on the 303d list of impaired waters.
Producers do not need a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in order to participate. The results of the assessments are confidential and will not be sued to impose NPDES requirements, according to the ERC.
Interested producers must initiate the request for assistance and can do so by visiting
www.cleanmp-west.org. Additional information is available by calling the ERC’s Betty Wyse or Mark White at (573) 634-7078.
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