Concerns as New Rules Aim to Curb Manure Pollution

OLYMPIA  (AP) — Washington environmental regulators have released new permit rules aimed at reducing the amount of manure that gets into rivers and lakes as well as groundwater from animal feedlots.

The Capital Press reports that the rules will change the regulatory landscape for the state's 230 dairies with more than 200 cows, as well as other concentrated animal feeding operations.

The Department of Ecology says the rules include requirements about how and when manure can be spread onto crops to prevent the waste from running into rivers or seeping into groundwater.

The dairy industry has raised concerns about more regulations, paperwork and burdens. While environmental groups say the rules don't go far enough and fails to protect drinking water. Environmental groups had pushed for dairies to line manure lagoons with synthetic material and install wells to monitor groundwater.