State Agencies Work Together to Prepare Livestock Producers for
Foreign Animal Disease Outbreak

The state of Kansas has been planning for a potential outbreak of foreign animal disease (FAD) for several years through exercises and planning sessions. When trying to control the spread of an FAD, the prompt disposal of infected animal carcasses is a priority. In cooperation with the Kansas Animal Health Department (KAHD), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has designed workshops to assist the owners and operators of confined animal feeding operations in the pre-selection of appropriate sites for emergency disposal.

George Teagarden, Kansas Livestock Commissioner, will open each workshop with a presentation entitled “Why Your Facility Should Have A Pre-Selected Emergency Disposal Site.” KDHE staff will follow with presentations on general site considerations, site location, geology, and soils, site construction and operational considerations, and closure/post closure care considerations. Time will be available for questions after each of the presentations.

Workshops will be held on the following dates at the listed locations:

• January 13, 2004 - Garden City - Garden City Community College
• January 14, 2004 - Wakeeney - 4-H Fair Building
• January 15, 2004 - Concordia - Cloud County Community College
• January 21, 2004 - Hutchinson - Hutchinson Community College
• January 22, 2004 - Emporia - Ramada Inn

Sign-in for all workshops begins at 9:00 am and the workshops will run from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration is free and lunch is provided. The registration form can be completed online at www.kdheks.gov/waste/ or printed and mailed or faxed to KDHE.

For more information on these workshops contact Ken Powell at kpowell@kdhe.state.ks.us or by phone at (785) 296-1121.

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