Indiana Senate Bill SB0122

Indiana 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/4/22
• Refer: 1/4/22

Caption

Annual inspection of CFOs.

Impact

The legislation is intended to enhance oversight of environmental practices related to animal agriculture. By making the submission of annual reports mandatory, the bill aims to ensure that these operations comply with existing environmental laws and regulations. The state's environmental management department is tasked with conducting onsite inspections to verify the report details and compliance. This aims to prevent any adverse environmental impacts stemming from improper management of manure and agricultural waste.

Summary

Senate Bill 0122 introduces regulations for confined feeding operations (CFOs) in the state of Indiana. The bill mandates that owners or operators of CFOs, defined as operations housing a significant number of livestock, must submit annual reports concerning their operations. This includes reporting on any associated satellite manure storage structures. The reports need to follow a form specified by the state's environmental rules board, which ensures standardization and thoroughness in compliance reporting. This requirement is set to take effect by July 1, 2022.

Contention

While the bill is primarily presented as a measure to protect the environment, it may face opposition from stakeholders within the agricultural sector who argue that increased regulations could impose additional burdens on farmers. There are also concerns that the requirements could lead to stifled growth in the animal agriculture industry if compliance costs become prohibitive. Thus, the discussions around SB0122 will likely focus on balancing environmental protection with industry viability and economic considerations for farmers.