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Crowd expected for hearing about CAFO

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By Ted Pennekamp

 

A public hearing on July 12 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. regarding the proposed Roth Feeder Pig II Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) is expected to draw a huge crowd, with many Crawford County residents speaking for and against the CAFO.

The hearing is scheduled to be held in Suite 236 of the Crawford County Administration Building in Prairie du Chien. The hearing is so that the Crawford County Land Conservation Committee can receive public testimony on whether or not to approve of a livestock siting permit applied for by Roth Feeder Pig II of Harvest Lane in rural Wauzeka. Input received will be used by the committee to make its final decision on the application. 

County Conservationist Dave Troester said the application was received on May 13. After additional requested information was received, the application was deemed complete on June 7. Troester said the committee has 90 days from June 7 to approve or deny the application. Troester said the Land Conservation Committee may look to make their decision at the Aug. 9 committee meeting. 

“If the standards in ATCP 51 and our county livestock siting ordinance are met, the committee shall approve the permit,” said Troester. The committee’s decision must be issued in writing.

Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter ATCP 51 is an enactment of statewide concern for the purpose of providing uniform regulation of livestock facilities. If the farmer completes the application properly, the local government must approve the proposed livestock facility unless it finds, based on clear and convincing evidence in the local record, that the facility fails to meet the state standards.

At the last Land Conservation Committee meeting, it was mentioned that, if approved, owner AV Roth may begin construction this fall.

Roth Feeder Pig II will house 2,981 animal units and generate approximately 9.4 million gallons of manure and process wastewater. Roth Feeder Pig II has a total of 1,455.3 acres available for land application of manure and process wastewater. Of this acreage, 67.4 acres are owned and 1,387.9 acres are rented. The site will consist of three barns and a composting area. The gilt development unit barn and gestation barn each will contain underfloor waste storage facilities. The farrowing barn will have underfloor reception tanks that drain to the gestation barn waste storage facility. The gestation barn and farrowing barn will have 251 days of liquid storage capacity. The gilt development unit barn will have 299 days of liquid storage capacity.

Roth Feeder Pig II received its Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on May 6. The WPDES permit became effective on June 1. The date of expiration is May 31, 2027.

Roth Feeder Pig II has been controversial with numerous groups and individuals speaking both for and against the proposed CAFO at various public meetings over the last few years and in comments to the DNR during the public comment period regarding the WPDES permit.

There is also a written public comment period underway regarding the livestock siting permit application to the Crawford County Land Conservation Committee. This comment period ends at 3 p.m. on July 11.

Hundreds of people are anticipated at the July 12 public hearing, attending virtually or in person. Virtual attendance will be possible for the first 100 people to register. If attending virtually, people must register by noon on July 11.

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