04/07/06 Opposition to new dairy

New dairy apposed. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. A proposed large scale dairy operation is being opposed by 3 cities in Oregon. The application by Premier Dairy is for a 7500 head dairy operation in Umatilla County. The cities of Echo, Stanfield and Hermiston have asked the Oregon Department of Agriculture to stop the proposed operation. The opponents say that manure and waste water would create an unpleasant odor and degrade water supplies. Peter DeHaan is the owner of Premier Dairy and he is surprised at the city's attitudes. He says he's been very open and accommodating. DEHAAN: We're not opposed to talking with the people of the cities, we're not. We have nothing to hide. You know I talked with the cities lawyer here last week and they were asking for some information. He was told, if you want to talk to him, he's more than happy to give you the information and he never called me. So I called him because I found out that he had went around us and got the information through the Department of Ag. He said I didn't feel it was appropriate to call you, I figured you had legal counsel. I said what do I need legal counsel for, I haven't done nothing wrong. Hermiston City Manager, Ed Brookshire says that the cities have a valid opposition. Not only in the size and odor impact on the cities but environmentally. BROOKSHIRE: It's substantial and significant. This is a 7500 cow dairy which is as best as we can tell is of a density that is of an unprecedented level in the state of Oregon. It is immediately upwind of our city and we believe this will have negative effects on public health and of the future economic development of the community. And finally we believe there are significant environmental issues associated with this project. The site is in a state designated, critical groundwater area which already has problems with high nitrate levels. And it empties into Butter Creek which in turn in a short distance empties into the Umatilla River which is a critical habitat for endangered salmon. So you couldn't pick a more environmentally and inappropriate site for something like this. Brookshire adds that the they have made it clear to the ODA and Premier Dairy that they are willing to work with them on finding and alternate site. Since farms are exempt from Oregon's air-quality laws, complaints about the smell will not be considered. Bottom line is the decision will come down to a waste disposal, environmental issue.