MOTION FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS WHEN ACTING ON CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS AND/OR ORDINANCES RELATED TO A HOG CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION (CAFO)
We know, Polk County Board of Supervisors adopts resolutions and enacts ordinances and regulations that protect public health, safety and general welfare;
We believe, CAFO developers plan to build a hog industry in Polk County to supply the Chinese-owned Smithfield and Brazilian-owned JBS processing plants;
We know, the American Public Health Association enacted a policy statement on November 2, 2019, advising federal, state and local governments and public health agencies to impose a moratorium on all new and expanding CAFOs until additional scientific data has been collected and associated public health concerns, such as air and water quality are addressed;
We know, the National Association of County and City Health Officials issued a Statement of Policy in 2018 regarding the consideration of continuing research initiatives and enacting legislation to manage the human and environmental risks of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s). https://www.naccho.org/uploads/downloadable-resources/18-06-Concentrated-Animal-Feeding-Operations.pdf;
We believe, Polk County will incur many expenses permitting CAFOs, including staff time, legal services, engineering services and other expert consulting services.
We know, that Polk County’s ground water data is out of date. We also know that nitrogen level in our ground water is increasing. Because we have limited and very dated groundwater data, we do not know the true impact of scope a CAFO could have on ground water and subsequent public health. This information should be gathered proactively.
We know, The Health and Human Services Committee had adopted the Health in All Policy approach to assessing and developing policy. This Health in all Policy impact session has not been completed yet and its public health impact results should be factored in when developing any CAFO permitting process.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT THAT, the Polk County Health and Human Services Board supports the Environmental Services Committee to consider the above information when taking action on Conditional Use Permits and/or ordinances related to CAFO’s.