The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published proposed wastewater discharge standards in the February Register on January 23rd. The intent of the upgraded standards will be to improve water quality and reduce pollutants discharges. The EPA is now soliciting comments that are due before March 25, 2024.
The standards would apply to egg-packing facilities, meat and poultry processing plants and would address levels of chlorides, phosphorus, nitrogen in waste streams. The rule will mandate pre-treatment and establish production thresholds.
In a statement following release of the Federal Register Julie Anna Potts president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute requested an extension. The Institute challenges the EPA the annual cost of $232 million for implementation. Knowledgeable experts affiliated to industry consider that EPA has underestimated compliance costs taking into account fixed costs associated with capital expenditure and variable expenses for operation.
It is considered ironic that the USDA in an attempt to create an alternative to large-scale efficient meat and poultry processing plants has funded small units with a collective give-away of $1 billion. The Meat Institute considers that many of these facilities will be forced to close based on non-compliance with the new standards.