A spokeswoman for Dakota Rural Action says their group and other ag and environmental organizations are not being asked to participate in the State DENR’s updated general permit plan for CAFOS. DRA’s Kathy Tyler says it’s important their input is sought because the plan is being rewritten for the first time since it expired in 2008.

She says the new plan is a very detailed one that covers the confined animal feeding operations for all species. She says the numbers of those operations has been growing recently due to the state’s efforts to grow the livestock industry.

Tyler says DRA, Farmers Union and several environmental groups along with private citizens have concerns about water quality and just where the State DENR is going with the rewrite.

Tyler is hoping that there will be public hearings on the new plan and that their concerns will have a chance to be addressed.