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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 7, 2018 11:04 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Michele Brooks |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Farm Animal Advisory Board |
| In the near future I will be introducing legislation that will replace the function and composition of the Nutrient Management Advisory Board with a newly created Farm Animal Advisory Board to give animal farmers greater input into environmental regulations. The Nutrient Management Advisory Board has served as the main forum for animal farm operators to engage collaboratively with state regulatory officials in developing effective but practical environmental standards and requirements. Farmers traditionally appointed to the Nutrient Management Advisory Board are highly regarded by their peers for their ability to understand the complexity of environmental challenges in the operation of animal farms and offer solutions that effectively overcome these challenges in practical ways. However, laws governing the Nutrient Management Advisory Board limit the types of regulations for which agencies must seek input from the board, and provide no opportunity for the board to help shape regulatory proposals. There is growing frustration among animal farmers about the serious lack of real opportunity for the board to provide significant input into regulatory proposals under current law. My legislation would provide greater incentive and opportunity for collaboration among farmers, industry representatives and state agencies. It would require the Farm Animal Advisory Board to be notified of proposed environmental regulatory, interpretation and enforcement changes impacting animal operations 150 days before they are formally initiated by the agency, giving time for the new board to offer more practical and viable solutions. My legislation would also allow this board to initiate and offer advice and expertise to state agency officials on matters being contemplated for future regulation. This legislative proposal has the full support of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. I hope that you join me in sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as SB1171