Misuse Of Law Could Be Toxic To Farmers
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Reference Education -> subcategory Legal.
Misuse of Law Could Harm Farmers
Summary
Imagine if your home was suddenly deemed a toxic waste site. Sounds unbelievable, right? Yet, in today’s world, this is precisely what some propose for farmers.
Article
Imagine if your home was suddenly labeled a toxic waste site. This scenario might sound outlandish, but it's a reality that some are pushing for. If your land hosts horses, cattle, chickens, or other livestock, this issue could affect you directly.
Major environmental organizations are advocating to bring farm and rural properties under the Superfund law, originally designed to clean up industrial waste sites. They argue that animal manure is a "hazardous substance," meaning any property with livestock should be treated like an industrial waste site. Such a shift could impose overwhelming costs on farmers, potentially driving thousands from their land.
The 1980 Superfund law was never intended to target farmers or animal waste. It was focused on cleaning up sites like Love Canal. However, because farms weren't explicitly excluded, some environmental groups argue that the law applies to them, leading to lawsuits against farmers.
In response, major farming organizations have urged Congress to clarify that the law was never meant to include farms. A straightforward amendment could address this. However, environmentalists, trial lawyers, and some state attorneys general oppose this clarification. They prefer the ambiguity, which allows them to sue farmers and force settlements.
"If the activists succeed, farmers could face penalties in the millions, and countless small farmers could be forced off their land," warns columnist Steve Milloy, publisher of JunkScience.com.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau chief Steve Kouplen notes, "The domestic livestock industry would be driven from this country, the grain industry would be crippled, and farm families and communities would be devastated." Mike John, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, adds, "If animal manure is legally declared a hazardous substance, virtually every farm or ranch in the United States could be written off as a Toxic Superfund site."
This outcome is not what Congress intended. The critical question now is whether Congress will stand up to activists and lawyers pushing to maintain the status quo, preventing a much-needed clarification of the law.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Misuse Of Law Could Be Toxic To Farmers.
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