Animal agriculture generic environmental impact statement law

Minnesota Laws 1998, Chapter 366

Section 86. [LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENTAL STEERING COMMITTEE.]

Subdivision 1. [COMMITTEE.] The environmental quality board shall establish the livestock industry environmental steering committee consisting of representatives of the livestock industry, environmental interests, and other stakeholders. The livestock environmental steering committee shall advise the environmental quality board on the scope and content of the generic environmental impact statement required in subdivision 2.

Compensation of members and reimbursement of their expenses is governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059. The committee expires upon completion of the generic environmental impact statement required in subdivision 2 and presentation of the final report to the legislature.

Subdivision 2. [GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.] A generic environmental impact statement must be prepared under the direction of the environmental quality board to examine the long-term effects of the livestock industry as it exists and as it is changing on the economy, environment, and way of life of Minnesota and its citizens. The study may address:

(1) the overall dimensions of animal agriculture in Minnesota, including species of livestock; an inventory of numbers, types, and locations of facilities; and the related support networks and economic activity involved in the life cycles of livestock;
(2) environmental issues associated with livestock production from growing feed to raising the animals to their shipment to their processing and sale to consumer; effects on air, groundwater, surface water, land, and other aspects of the environment both within and without the state examined and correlated to various management practices, facilities, and other variables affecting the environment;
(3) economic issues such as the various financial and ownership arrangements currently or potentially used in the industries, patterns of vertical integration, size, long-term sustainability of various forms of ownership and production methods, access to markets, current and anticipated financial trends, effects of governmental policies, and comparative economic impact of alternative means of production; and
4) the roles of various units of government in regulation of various aspects of feedlot operation including federal, state, interstate bodies, counties, townships, soil conservation districts, watershed districts, and others with planning, zoning, or environmental responsibilities.

Subdivision 3. [EXPIRATION.] This section expires on June 30, 2001.

Environmental Quality Board, 520 Lafayette Road North, Saint Paul, MN 55155