The Environmental Protection Agency agreed with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and withdrew its proposed Livestock Reporting Rule late last week. Now, NCBA is hoping EPA will also agree on the dust standard.

NCBA testified at an EPA hearing in Philadelphia Tuesday in opposition to any attempt to lower the coarse particulate matter (PM) standard as part of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Every five years, the EPA is required to review scientific studies associated with “criteria pollutants” regulated under the NAAQS of the Clean Air Act to determine if the pollutant is regulated appropriately. One of the criteria pollutants is PM, which includes dust. PM in arid western regions is made up primarily of mechanically generated crustal material, including fugitive dust. The coarse PM emitted from cattle operations is fugitive particulate matter or fugitive dust, which is the result of windblown dust and cattle movements. Because rural coarse PM is largely a natural phenomenon, it is extremely difficult to ensure compliance with the standard in dry, arid regions where coarse PM predominates despite use of best management practices.

Ashley McDonald, NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel, said during the hearing that if the PM NAAQS is further reduced, it will be virtually impossible for current agricultural facilities, including feedlot operations, to demonstrate compliance. “NCBA believes regulations designed to protect the public health can only achieve that goal when they are based on a solid scientific foundation,” said McDonald. “Over the past 30 plus years, many experienced medical and public health experts in respiratory diseases, epidemiology, toxicology and clinical treatment have noted that coarse PM has never been demonstrated to have adverse health effects at ambient levels.”

NCBA supports the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, proposed by U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-S.D.). The legislation essentially would exempt farmers and ranchers from federal dust regulations if it is regulated at the state or local level.

Listen to an interview with Ashley after the hearing yesterday. NCBA's Ashley McDonald