EPA slaughterhouse rules facing new legal pushback

January 3rd, 2020 by Dakota Software Staff

An Environmental Protection Agency decision to not update its regulations regarding slaughterhouse pollution was recently met with a series of lawsuits from activists, according to reporting from The Hill.

Long standing requirements

The announcement, which came in October, focused specifically on federal water standards for slaughterhouse plants that discharge processed wastewater into waterways. A recent suit backed by several activist groups is asking for a judicial review of the announcement.

Current EPA regulations on slaughterhouse water pollution have remained unchanged for about 15 years. Many of the regulations have been on the books far longer. According to Alexis Andiman, one of the attorneys involved in the new litigation against the EPA, the rules don't reflect changes in slaughterhouse technology.

"Some of the EPA's technological requirements for slaughterhouses date from the mid-1970's. Technology has changed a lot since then, and EPA needs to catch up," said Andiman, speaking to The Hill.

The suit also alleged that excess runoff from plants adds too much nitrogen into waterways, creating algae blooms and harming plant and animal life.

The announcement follows a continued trend at the EPA towards deregulation in recent years. In June, the EPA weakened requirements for major farms to document their animal waste pollution.

The impact on businesses and individuals

The EPA's announcement, and any possible changes to it that the lawsuit might cause, will play out differently for slaughterhouses, nearby individuals and environmental groups.

While the EPA's announcement is clearly good news for slaughterhouses that don't want to invest in compliance with new regulations, the impact on individuals and the environment could be mixed.

According to the Texas Observer, one major poultry company has increased production in East Texas in the last few years, a trend that looks to continue. While the newspaper also noted that tax breaks and free land from local governments may have played a part in the expansion, current, more lax regulations, may have contributed as well.

While the EPA's announcement is clearly good news for slaughterhouses that don't want to invest in compliance with new regulations, the impact on individuals and the environment could be more mixed, according to activists involved in the litigation. The Texas Observer noted that the poultry company's discharge runs into the Sabine River, which is home to a threatened population of freshwater mussels. The river is also a source of drinking water for the city of Longview, Texas, which has a population of about 80,000 people. The timeline for the lawsuit is not currently clear.

Having the support necessary to improve and maintain adherence with ever-changing EPA rules is critical. Learn more about how Dakota Software can empower your company to achieve a consistently high degree of compliance, by getting in touch with us today.