KDHE Home - News 2000 - News Release

Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 4, 2000
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
KDHE TO REQUIRE SWINE FACILITY TO MONITOR AIR QUALITY
Test project will study air quality around swine facility
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a permit for the Maple Creek Farm's Bergkamp swine facility in Wichita County with new requirements for monitoring ambient air quality. This permit is the first swine permit issued by KDHE to include the development and implementation of an air quality monitoring plan for a confined animal feeding operation. KDHE initiated the air monitoring process through an agreement with Seaboard Farms, which contracts with Maple Creek Farms.
"Air monitoring at this facility will assist our state in identifying future needs for air quality assessments at such facilities," said Clyde Graeber, Secretary of KDHE. "This will allow us to gather emission information concerning any potential effect of ambient air quality from swine facilities on public health."
The air monitoring program and procedures will be implemented after approval by the department, prior to the population and the start of feeding operations at the facility. The details of the monitoring plans are currently under development, but not yet finalized.
-30-