What should the performance standards be_

Last year, in NC House Bill 1480, the state established meaningful performance goals for any new hog operation that used innovative technology. These goals were agreed upon by the NC legislature, the pork industry, and environmental and citizen groups. Unfortunately, the standards still are not required of new or existing hog operations. North Carolina must require that new hog factories meet these same performance standards, and that the waste systems at all existing hog operations be replaced with technologies that meet these standards.

Performance Goals as defined by
North Carolina House Bill 1480 in October, 1998.

1. Eliminate the discharge of animal waste to surface waters and groundwater through direct discharge, seepage, or runoff.

2. Substantially eliminate atmospheric emissions of ammonia.

3. Substantially eliminate the emission of odor that is detectable beyond the boundaries of the parcel or tract of land on which the swine farm is located.

4. Substantially eliminate the release of disease-transmitting vectors and airborne pathogens.

5. Substantially eliminate nutrient and heavy metal contamination of soil and groundwater.