Oregon: Factory Farming Is Causing Air Pollution in Your Community!

Establish Dairy Air Emissions Regulatory Program

ASPCA Position: Support

Update—November 10: Thank you, Oregon, for speaking up! The October 23 deadline for comments has passed. The public overwhelmingly supported the petition’s goal of creating a program to control and reduce mega-dairy air emissions in Oregon; 95% of the over 1,600 public comments received strongly supported the petition.

Despite its support, on November 9, Oregon commissioners voted to dismiss the rulemaking, citing a lack of state funding and resources and pending further study of toxic air emissions from factory farms.

Our work continues; we now turn to the Oregon Legislature to support a moratorium on the construction or expansion of new factory farms in 2023. Stay tuned for ways to get involved!

Learn More

Over the last two decades, Oregon has seen a sharp increase in large industrial farms, also known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) or factory farms. In addition to cruelly crowding thousands of animals in unnatural, harsh conditions, these operations emit vast quantities of air pollution, damaging the environment, exacerbating climate change and jeopardizing the health and wellbeing of farmed animals, employees and people living in and around the community.

Recently, the ASPCA collaborated with 22 organizations to file a petition with the state's government, demanding that it take immediate action to address dangerous pollution emitted by mega-dairies across Oregon.

Advocacy Alert

Your Message

Subject I support adoption of Dairy Air Emissions rules

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality,

Message

I strongly support the petition for rulemaking to adopt Dairy Air Emissions rules for the State of Oregon. If adopted, the proposed rule will improve the air quality and living conditions for farmed animals, farm workers and residents living in nearby communities.

Recent research reveals that Oregon’s factory farms collectively release over 17 million kilograms of methane every year, equivalent to the emissions of 318,000 cars. They also emit ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter, all of which can cause chronic respiratory disease and death.

Nationwide, studies show that emissions from industrial livestock operations cause 12,400 deaths every year, killing more people than pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Raising animals in crowded, unnatural conditions indoors surrounded by their own waste affects air quality inside and around the facilities, negatively impacting the animals’ welfare and causing issues like respiratory diseases.

These emissions disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. Factory farms are usually situated in lower-income areas, forcing residents to suffer some of the highest air pollution burdens in the state.

I encourage the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to recommend that the Environmental Quality Commission move forward with this essential rulemaking.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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