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Factory Farm Community Meeting

February 7, 2006
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Dear Folks,

If you can find the time and energy to add one more important issue to all the other important issues you're addressing, please consider adding your voice to opposing the 3500 head mega-dairy operation being proposed near Lakeville. ( Do a search at www.southbendtribune.com for "Bovine Battle Brewing" to see the 1/28 story.)

Please also contact County Commissioner Steve Ross and ask him to introduce a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) ordinance for consideration in the County Council so that such operations would have to receive a special use permit from the County.

Opponents in Marshall County are dealing with a similar issue -- a proposal for a 8000 head swine operation. (Do a Tribune search for "Will county decide to restrict CFO's, CAFOs?" to see the 1/28 story.)

Here are a few links on the dangers of CAFO's:

Best,

Joseph Miller

Chair
Dept. of Psychology
51 Madeleva
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Office Phone: 574 284-4532 (4534)
Fax: 574 284-4716

All-

I am one of the neighbors of the proposed dairy CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) on Riley Road in southern St. Joe County. There is currently no county process to have a say in the establishment of these operations. And IDEM just rubber stamps their applications, and they're in.

We have a huge battle ahead of us. We have 100% support from the county commissioners, but now our task is to convince the sjc council since they're the ones who will vote on this.

We meet with Commissioner Ross' task force on Weds. to draft up ordinance changes regarding CAFOs. For example: require a special use permit for CAFOs which would trigger a public hearing; 1/2 mile setback between CAFO buildings/waste containment structures and pre-existing private residence (currently it's a 30 foot setback!); minimum 2 mile distance to state and federal highways; 1/4 mile setback between CAFO buildings/waste containment structures and private wells, wetlands and open waterways.

Our own councilman, Dennis Schafer, thinks this is the greatest thing to hit his area in a longtime. His constituents couldn't disagree more. So our big task is to convince the other 8 councilmen of the need for local controls on the siting and establishment of these farm factores.

Please help us get the word out to your members! We need as many letters to SJC councilmen as we can get.

Thank you for your help.

K. Neal

St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN