Opponents of a concentrated animal-feeding operation (CAFO) within a mile of Roaring River State Park are seeking relief from Missouri’s Administrative Hearing Committee to stay the operating permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources. They also have appealed the construction permit for the site, which could house up to 65,000 chickens when the farm is up and operating.
Critics worry about the odor and potential for water pollution from such an operation so close to one of Missouri’s most popular and scenic state parks. They have good reason, we believe. Allowing a large poultry farm so close to the park simply is ludicrous and we are disappointed that Missouri lawmakers haven’t stepped forward with legislation controlling the issuing of such permits.
What Missouri needs is a legislator or group of legislators to step forward in championing bills that would set no-CAFO zones around state parks, which, by the way, are owned by all the people of Missouri and are an investment that deserves and requires protection from unwanted incursions. Such legislation would cover hog, cattle and poultry CAFOs.
Furthermore, lawmakers should give counties greater authority over the location of CAFOs, particularly if the operation threatens the property values of its rural neighbors and their quality of life. Concentrated animal-feeding operations may be the face of the future for Missouri agriculture. But there needs to be state and local controls over their size, their growth and, above all, their long-term impact on the environment and those living near them.
Opinion
In our view: People need a champion
- Opinion
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Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.
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Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
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Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
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Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
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Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
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Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
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Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
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Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
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James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
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Our View: Meaningless in Missouri
Missourians have an opinion about who should be the Republican candidate to run against Barack Obama in November. Too bad it won’t matter.
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