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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? Sept. 14, 1998
98-161
Contacts: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager, (360) 407-6157;
pager (360) 534-8590
Phil KauzLoric, Dairy Program Coordinator, (360) 407-6413
OLYMPIA - Nearly 80 percent of Washington state's 791 dairies have registered for water quality inspections, as called for under a new law adopted by the state legislature earlier this year. The revisions to the state's dairy-waste management act require all licensed dairy producers to register with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) by Sept. 1, 1998.
"The registration process is the first step toward preventing and stopping water pollution caused by some dairy farms," said Megan White, Ecology's Water Quality Program manager. "We're very pleased with the response rate from dairy farmers. We think it gets the management program off to a good start."
The registration process will provide baseline information about the number of farms, animals and overall data on how well dairies are managing waste.
"With the registration information, Ecology is now ready to launch its inspection program on Oct. 1," said White. "We will visit all dairy farms to determine which operations are causing pollution and need to make changes to protect water quality."
Dairy pollution is a serious problem. In Washington's streams with pollution problems, agricultural practices, including dairies, account for 60 percent of the pollution.
When animal manure and contaminated runoff get into surface and ground waters, it can make the water unhealthy for swimming, drinking and shellfish harvesting. Current estimates show that fewer than one-fifth of all dairies in Washington adequately manage manure and contaminated runoff so that the operations protect surface and ground waters.
Ecology will formally notify dairies that have not registered that they have until Oct. 1 to register, or face a $100 penalty that is required under the new law. Farms that don't register will be among the first that Ecology inspects.
The new law calls for Ecology to inspect all farms by October 2000, while providing a more efficient and streamlined approach. The law also requires all farms to have an approved and implemented plan to manage dairy waste by Dec. 31, 2003.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
