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Project: Generic Environmental Impact Statement for animal agriculture

Contact: , 651-757-2873; Environmental Review

Feedlots are the focus of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture, along with the broader environmental, social and economic factors surrounding animal agriculture. Funded by the 1998 Minnesota Legislature, the study is being conducted because of the recent debate over the livestock-raising industry and will be used to shape future policy options.

Principal documents:

Technical Work Papers:

The Environmental Quality Board contracted with various experts through a competitive bidding and interview process to produce 10 technical work papers exploring major topics raised in the generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture.

This information was intended to explore the complex topic areas of Animal Agriculture in Minnesota in greater depth than the Summary of Literature document released by EQB in 1999. These individual subject area experts were hired through a competitive bidding process and after interviews with EQB staff and members of the Citizen`s Advisory committee (CAC), each of the TWP consultant`s presented their preliminary and draft findings to the assembled CAC and responded to questions and comments from the group during document preparation. The final TWP documents are posted exactly as they were received from the contractors. The documents are intended to be a factual inferences and recommendations contained in the reports are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of EQB or the CAC.

Literature Review:

Press releases:

GEIS update newsletter

This newsletter was distributed by the Environmental Quality Board to communicate recent developments and other news about the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on animal agriculture and feedlots to people interested in this important state effort.

Citizen`s Advisory Committee meetings

The purpose of the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture is to advise the Environmental Quality Board on the scope and content of the statewide study on animal agriculture. Minutes are listed below; agendas are also available.

  • May 8-9, 2001
  • April 10-11, 2001: Discussion on Policy Recommendations
  • March 13-14, 2001: Technical Working Papers Discussion
  • February 13-14, 2001: Technical Working Papers Discussion
  • January 9-10, 2001: Technical Working Papers Discussion
  • December 12-13, 2000: Technical Working Papers Discussion
  • November 15, 2000: Technical Working Paper Discussion
  • October 10, 2000: Geographic Information System (GIS) Feedlot Inventory
  • September 12-13, 2000: Policy and recommendations of development
  • August 8-9, 2000: Contractor Selection
  • July, 2000: No meeting
  • June 27, 2000: Contractor Selection
  • June 13-14, 2000: Reviewed contractor bids received
  • May 9-10, 2000: Toured Perham, Minnesota
  • April 11-12, 2000: Finalized RFP for 10 technical work papers
  • March 14-15, 2000: Approved Study Workplan
  • February 8-9, 2000: Discussed Study Workplan
  • January 12, 2000: Discussed Study Workplan
  • December 14-15,1999: Discussed Study Workplan
  • November 9-10,1999: Discussed Study Workplan
  • October 12-13, 1999: Prioritizing needs for further analysis and research on various topics; discussed extent to which study questions were answered by literature review.
  • September 14, 1999: Updates on literature summary, inventory plans and GEIS goal and vision; discussed plan for next phases of GEIS process and research needs for social, economics, air and odor topics. Committee toured two dairy farms in SE Minnesota.
  • August 10-11, 1999: Discussed draft literature summary reports on land use and role of government, goals and vision for the GEIS and pilot projects to test various approaches to feedlot inventory.
  • July 14, 1999: Highlights of nine finalized chapters of the literature summary; discussed next phases of GEIS work and additional research needs.
  • June 28, 1999: Special meeting for presentations on literature review topics.
  • June 8-9, 1999: Discussed literature review reports and committee review process.
  • May 11-12, 1999: Discussed draft literature reports on air, odor and soils; discussed inventory; committee agreed on top proposers for second RFP.
  • April 13-14, 1999: Reviewed ground rule on consensus; second RFP selection process finalized; reports on the regulatory program audit and feedlot rulemaking; inventory discussion.
  • March 9-10, 1999: Agreed on top proposers for first RFP and next steps for selection process.
  • February 9-10, 1999: First literature review RFP process finalized and committee ground rules evaluated.
  • January 6-7, 1999: Discussed process for conducting a literature review and feedlot inventory.
  • December 3-4, 1998: Agreement to forward recommendations on the final scoping document.
  • November 16-17, 1998: Reviewed public and agency comments on the draft scoping document in preparation for recommendations in December.
  • September 10, 1998: Completed recommendations to the Environmental Quality Board on the GEIS draft scoping document.
  • August 27-28, 1998: Continued to discuss main topics to include in the GEIS draft scoping document.
  • August 17-18, 1998: Established ground rules for their work and began to discuss the scope, or the main topics that the GEIS should cover.
  • June 25, 1998: Orientation to the process of developing a Generic Environmental Impact Statement and an overview of the committee`s role in the process.

Citizen`s Advisory Committee Members

Appointed in 1998, the citizen advisory committee guided tje statewide study of the economic, environmental and social impacts of the changing livestock industry in Minnesota. The citizen advisory group helped identify issues examined by the study, the extent to which each issue was addressed, and the accuracy and adequacy of each phase of the study.

  • Ken Albrecht, Nicollet County farmer, North Mankato
  • Gary Allen, Gar-Lin Dairy Farms, Inc., Eyota
  • Pat Bloomgren, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul
  • Myron Just, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, St. Paul
  • Robert Ferguson, Jackson County commissioner, Heron Lake
  • John Fraser Hart, University of Minnesota, geography department, Minneapolis
  • Larry Schultz, Izaak Walton League, Osakis
  • Troy Gilchrist, Minnesota Association of Townships, St. Michael
  • Dennis Bottem, Cattleman`s Association, St. James
  • Ed Hegland, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Appleton
  • Patricia Henderson, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
  • Jim Sullivan, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul
  • Galen Lisell, Roseau County farmer, Roseau
  • Helen Palmer, League of Women Voters, Rochester
  • Tom Dunnwald, Minnesota Lakes Association, Richville
  • Dave Preisler, Minnesota Pork Producers Association, North Mankato
  • George Raab, The Turkey Store Company, Faribault
  • Chris Radatz, Minnesota Farm Bureau, St. Paul
  • Tina Rosenstein, Environmental Services Department, St. Peter, Nicollet County
  • Mark Schultz, Land Stewardship Project, Minneapolis
  • Kristin Sigford, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, St. Paul
  • Harold Stanislawski, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Fergus Falls
  • Andy Steensma, Minnesota Farmers Union, St. Paul
  • Tim Tracy, Farm Credit Services of Southern Minnesota, Mankato

Resources

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

Technical problems? Contact: andrew.koebrick@state.mn.us