ALEXANDRIA, VA, Aug. 8, 2005 -- The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) jointly announce "Animal Agriculture and Processing: Managing Environmental Impacts." Scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at the Hyatt Regency in St. Louis, the conference will address new EPA regulations for Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) and discuss its effects on public health and the environment.
Each year, AFOs produce more than 500 million tons of manure as well as odors and emissions such as particulates, ammonia, and so-called greenhouse gases. As a result, AFOs have come under increased scrutiny for their need to prevent adverse environmental and public health effects through the application of advanced technologies and sound management principles. In response, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Air Compliance Agreement which is designed to minimize air emissions from AFOs and ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act and other environmental protection laws.
The comprehensive program will feature an update on requirements of the AFOs rule; address federal, state, and local regulatory and policy developments for feeding and processing operations; and highlight effective management and technology-based approaches. Other topical areas include comprehensive nutrient management; EPA and USDA roles; social and economic issues; solid waste processing and management; successful and sustainable alternatives for manure treatment including retrofits and upgrades; litter management and ownership issues; manure management; technical solutions for odor and emissions control; measuring, monitoring, and modeling; water issues; new technologies; case studies; and alternatives to land applications.
The opening program on Wednesday, August 31, will feature a welcome and introductions by John Meyer, Tyson Foods, Inc. and Darrel Steiner, Ag-Chem Equipment Co., and a keynote panel discussion with environmental and industry professionals. Robert A. Kaplan, Director, Special Litigation and Projects Division, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, EPA, is expected to deliver the keynote address.
Those encouraged to attend include farmers, agronomists, agriculturalists, consultants, engineers, municipal water and wastewater treatment system managers, and local and state regulatory personnel.
For more information and to register, visit www.amwa.org/events.
The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional organization that provides training, information, and networking opportunity to thousands of environmental professionals in 65 countries.
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (www.wef.org) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 76 Member Associations in 30 countries.
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