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Senate committee delays DEQ rules to consider making swine CAFO moratorium in Buffalo River watershed permanent
Summary
DEQ proposed making a five‑year moratorium on large swine CAFO permits in the Buffalo River watershed permanent (Rule 5) and adding similar language to Rule 6 (NPDES). Committee members asked for more data and alternatives; committee voted to hold both rules for the next meeting for additional review and distribution of the proposed language to members.
The Department of Energy and Environment asked the Senate Public Health committee to make the temporary five‑year moratorium on certain large swine confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) permits in the Buffalo River watershed permanent and to add similar moratorium language in NPDES permitting (Rule 6).
DEQ representatives said numerous studies and appeals tied to swine operations in the watershed informed the proposal and that the Buffalo River conservation committee is examining related issues including sewer capacity and tourism impacts. The rule language limits the moratorium to swine operations meeting size thresholds (e.g., 750 swine weighing 55 pounds or more, or 3,000 under 55 pounds); DEQ said the language is verbatim from statute where applicable.
Committee members raised questions about urgency, current permit applications, and alternative actions such as sewer projects or other non‑regulatory remediation. Representative Wardlaw moved to hold Rule 5 until the next meeting so more members could review the full rule language; the motion carried. The committee then voted to delay Rule 6 to the next meeting as well. DEQ staff said they had previously provided markups and would resend full rule language to committee members.
