State lawmakers have amended a bill on industrial-scale agriculture, adding new provisions that would overhaul regulations for large livestock farms if the bill succeeds.
On May 23, the Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to amend Senate Bill 85, adding proposed limits on permits issued for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.
Examples of CAFOs include one current and two proposed chicken ranches near Scio, Jordan and Stayton that together could produce 12.5 million broiler chickens annually for Foster Farms.
SB 85 originally directed the Oregon Department of Agriculture to study CAFOs and present recommended changes. Sen. Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), who proposed the amendment, argued lawmakers do not need to wait for a study in light of the environmental disaster caused by Lost Valley Farm. The now-defunct mega-dairy near Hermiston received a CAFO permit in 2017 through the current process but failed to manage millions of gallons of animal waste. Efforts by regulators to mandate a cleanup had little-to-no effect.
No new regulations were passed at that time, though the Oregon Department of Agriculture adopted new rules requiring waste management measures to be complete before a CAFO can operate.
The amendment to SB 85 would codify the changes and establish a permitting process emphasizing environmental precautions.
The amendment would require CAFO applicants to submit a water supply plan. Stock water exemptions would be capped at 12,000 gallons per day, and water meters would be required. If the limit is exceeded, farms would need to acquire additional water through a permit or lease. The stock water exemption would sunset in 2027.
The new process would also require CAFO applicants to obtain a land use compatibility statement from local governments confirming the proposed farm complies with local zoning. Cities and counties may also require that new large CAFOs build a bern, setback, vegetative barrier or other buffer to block the production area.
SB 85 has been referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee. As of press time, no new hearings were scheduled.
