The Environmental Protection Agency is making data publicly available from a two-year study of air emissions from animal feeding operations. The study was funded by industry and conducted by Purdue University researchers with EPA oversight. Twenty-four monitoring sites were located in nine states. The operations studied housed large numbers of animals for production of meat, dairy products and eggs, and were monitored for levels of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.
The data from the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study are a result of a 2005 voluntary compliance agreement between EPA and the livestock feeding industry. A separate industry study monitored emissions from a broiler chicken operation in Kentucky. EPA also is issuing a call for information seeking data from other similar monitoring studies. EPA thinks the additional information will ensure that its emissions estimating tools are based on the best scientific data available.
EPA will use data from the studies to help develop improved methodologies for estimating animal feeding operations emissions. EPA expects to make draft methodologies available for public review and comment on a rolling basis, beginning this spring.
Powered by iNet Solutions Group ©2011 All Rights Reserved.