The agency said it has approved 2,568 such agreements, representing 1,856 swine, 468 dairy, 204 egg-laying and 40 broiler chicken operations at almost 6,300 farms. Feeding operations can include more than one farm. Beef cattle were excluded because they generally are raised out of doors.
"This approach will achieve compliance with environmental laws much faster than any other enforcement mechanism," the agency said. Environmental groups have said the actual result will be to delay enforcement of air pollution rules on factory farms.
However, once the agency publishes it emissions-estimating methodology, feeding operations that committed violations would have to pay penalties from US$200 to US$100,000 based the number of animals they maintain and then assure compliance with relevant federal clean air rules.