Agricultural News
J.D. Alexander Calls EPA Release of Private Information on CAFOs Irresponsible
Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:01:42 CST
Earlier this week the National Cattlemen's Beef Association was notified by the Environmental Protection Agency that the EPA had been collecting information from the states on concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. This information was requested by several extremist groups including Earth Justice, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Natural Resource Defense Council through a Freedom of Information Act request. And EPA granted that request yesterday.
According to the past president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, J.D. Alexander, who is a feedlot operator from the state of Nebraska, this is incredible.
"This action by the EPA is actually almost unbelievable. I just can't comprehend their irresponsibility in releasing this information to known ag opposition groups that could pose some very terroristic attacks on our industry."
According to Alexander, the EPA is, in effect, aiding and abetting those who do not like animal agriculture and would, basically, cause harm to CAFO operations.
"This action by the EPA, it really shows their irresponsibility. As a nation, we worry about our security from foreign attacks, but what this actually does is slap private business in the face. In no regards showing an attempt to protect us from terrorists."
"We've seen activities in California where the terrorists have actually damaged trucks and livestock , and really took claim for this and, really, it is almost unbelievable that our own Environmental Protection Agency would allow this type of thing to potentially happen."
Alexander says, as far as he is concerned, the EPA was simply compiling the information in a nice package of information for these groups-all on the federal dole. His question is with the government overspending and rumors from USDA saying that Secretary Vilsack is threatening to shut down meat inspection to control spending. "Why is EPA using valuable government resources to do the dirty work of extremists, activists, and terrorists?"
He says it's a real concern. Personal security for folks who are down on the farm as well as the food U.S. food security issue in general.
"Beef producers are usually pretty private people. And one of the things that is of biggest concern is when-I'll use myself as an example-my name, my address, pertinent things about my private business are out there for known terrorist groups to have access to. I'm actually quite concerned with our family, our employees, and so on now. With this information being out there, we've seen activity in the past that really causes great concern to our security, and not only my family's security, but also our food security for the future of our livelihood."
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