Congress expected to lift liability on manure

Oklahoma City, Okla.-Supporters see a good chance for passage by Congress, in what’s remaining of the current session or by early next year, of legislation to clarify that the intent of CERCLA legislation was never to classify agriculture manure as a hazardous waste. Ericka McPherson, director of national affairs for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and a key booster of the exemption, told Green Markets that bills in both the House and the Senate have broad bipartisan support. HR4341, introduced in the House by Rep. Ralph Hall, D-Tex., has 180 co-sponsors, while 36 others in the Senate have signed on to S3681, introduced by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. McPherson explained that as the law was originally written, it could have serious consequences for farmers who use manure as a fertilizer or those who sell or trade litter. The two bills seek to clarify that Congress never intended to jeopardize American agriculture by imposing such liability on farmers for carrying out what are only traditional practices, McPherson insisted.