Addressing Pollution from Industrial Agriculture
Document Actions
Three Mile Canyon Farms is one of the largest Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) in the county and is located in Boardman, OR near the PGE Boardman coal-fired power plant. Air pollution from agricultural sources leads to a variety of public health concerns and contributes to a host of environmental problems including reduced visibility, increased particulate matter and water pollution. Data shows that agricultural sources of air pollution (primarily made up of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide) contribute to haze in the Gorge and acid deposition in the Eastern Gorge during the winter.
Friends is concerned that many large agricultural operations, which qualify as major sources of air pollution under the Clean Air Act, are going unregulated as a direct result of Oregon’s illegal agricultural exemption. In response, Friends joined the Northwest Environmental Advocacy Center to craft a bill that would bring state law into conformance with the Clean Air Act. Friends is currently working with various other stakeholders to agree on a final bill that would allow the Environmental Quality Commission, the state policy and rulemaking body, to regulate ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from agricultural sources, both linked to air pollution in the Gorge.
Take Action!
Join our Email list