Environmental Groups Sue State Over Dairy Farm Regulations
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A coalition of environmental groups is suing the Cuomo administration over dairy farm regulations intended to bolster the state's growing yogurt industry.
Riverkeeper, Earthjustice, Sierra Club and other groups said the Department of Environmental Conservation overstepped its authority and violated the federal Clean Water Act when it eased waste-handling rules for farms with 200 to 299 cows. The groups said waste from the expected increase in dairy cows will cause more runoff that pollutes streams.
In formal comments on the proposed rulemaking in January, the environmental groups said the DEC hadn't adequately reviewed the human health, environmental and economic impacts the action would have. A team of experts in farm waste management hired by the environmental groups concluded that the rule changes would likely cause more degradation of water, soil and air quality.