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Large intensive livestock operations in the Lake Huron region—Watershed impacts

Petition

Petition to the Commissioner of the Environment
and Sustainable Development, under section 22
of the Auditor General Act.

We the undersigned, hereby petition the Commissioner of the Environment for information from the Department of Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Whereas Lake Huron and its watershed is presently under threat from the growth of large, intensive livestock operations, particularly hog operations, that have continued to proliferate along the Lake Huron watershed area. And whereas there is a growing and accumulative amount of evidence (please see the accompanied articles and reports) that shows intensive livestock operations pose terrible environmental and health consequences for the surrounding human and animal communities, these operations continue to grow and expand along the Lake Huron watershed without stringent environmental safeguards that ensure water, both surface and ground, will he protected from the polluting effects of liquid manure.

These operations produce vast concentrations of liquid manure. For example, a four thousand head hog barn is similar to a town of 25,000 people in terms of nutrient waste production a massive generation of waste at single sites. From 1988 to 1996 in Ontario, 207 manure spills were reported (it's unknown what percentage of actual spills are reported). Of these spills, 14 percent resulted in fish kills, all but one were from liquid manure systems, 12 percent were caused by inadequate storage capacity, over 40 percent resulted from liquid manure irrigation with the remainder resulting from equipment and transfer problems and 60 percent involved tile drains. (Source: OMAFRA pamphlet, manure-farming and healthy habitat. September 1997)

In view of the fact that there is a lack of stringent environmental safeguards and controls placed on intensive livestock operations, in particular, their handling of liquid manure, and, in view of the fact that the Maitland watershed, which flows into Lake Huron, has been recently identified by a Stats Canada study as being the most manure contaminated watershed system in all of Canada, we the undersigned respectfully request of the Department of Environment Canada to inform us what steps they are taking to ensure Canadians that there are proper environmental safeguards to protect the health and the environment of those who live in the Lake Huron watershed area. Furthermore, we respectfully request of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to inform us on what proactive measures they are taking as opposed to reactive measures that might ensure the health and protection of the fish and their spawning grounds in the Lake Huron watershed area in view of the fact that liquid manure spills, leaks and runoffs frequently occur and do contribute to fish kills.

[Original signed by members of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Huron-Kinloss]

Concerned Citizens of Huron-Kinloss
[Spokesperson: John Welwood]
56 Vozka Drive
R.R. #1
Kincardine, Ontario
N2Z 2X3

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Minister's Response: Environment Canada

July 16, 2002

Mr. John Welwood
[Spokesperson]
[Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Huron-Kinloss]
56 Vozka Drive, R.R. #1
Kincardine, Ontario
N2Z 2X3

Dear Mr. Welwood:

I am writing in response to your petition, which was forwarded to me on February 20 by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, concerning large intensive livestock operations along the Lake Huron watershed area.

Environment Canada has been working with the agriculture industry and other federal and provincial agencies on a number of initiatives to reduce water contamination from agricultural operations, including those in the Lake Huron watershed.

In 1996, we initiated the Livestock Manure Pollution Prevention Project to promote better manure management practices. This project has focused on various issues relating to manure spills and is developing approaches to reduce spill numbers and better protect aquatic habitat and surface water quality. Educational brochures are being produced and distributed to livestock producers, communicating the potential effects of manure spills on surface waters and providing practical solutions.

We have conducted watershed wide inspections to address federal Fisheries Act violations in the agricultural sector and have taken enforcement actions where appropriate, including both warning letters and charges. We are also gathering data on watersheds with the greatest agricultural impacts so that we can better direct some of our resources toward issues of the highest priority. Because of the large concentration of intensive livestock operations in the Lake Huron watershed, it is likely that we will be working on further compliance promotion and enforcement there.

My department is leading a three year technology demonstration project funded under the Technology Early Action Measures component of the Climate Change Action Fund. This project, which is nearing completion, involves the operation and monitoring of a full scale commercial version of an innovative aerobic composting technology for liquid manure at a 3,000 weaner pig farm in Bruce County near Chepstow. The objective is to educate livestock producers in the merits of the composting system in reducing odours and preventing the contamination of surface waters and groundwater, as well as achieving greenhouse gas reductions through the transfer of a new technology.

My officials also sit on the steering committee of the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Initiative, a $10 million, three year national program under the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Fund, administered by Agriculture and Agri Food Canada. Ontario's share of the Stewardship Initiative is $2.475 million, which is delivered cooperatively by Ontario's Agricultural Adaptation Council and the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition. To date, federal funding has been allocated to more than a dozen new environmental projects across Ontario, dealing with water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. Several of these initiatives are in the Lake Huron watershed, including projects in the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's watersheds.

As you may know, the federal and provincial/territorial governments are developing an agricultural policy, with a comprehensive plan for accelerated environmental action covering all Canadian farms, that will help achieve measurable and meaningful environmental goals in the areas of water, air and soil quality, and biodiversity. In providing input to this process, my department is emphasizing the importance of dealing effectively with intensive livestock operations to ensure that the aquatic environment is protected.

Environment Canada is discussing how to work with our federal and provincial partners and our U.S. federal and state counterparts, to address priorities in the Lake Huron watershed, including the impact that agricultural activities have on water quality in the tributaries and nearshore areas. Key partners in our Great Lakes Program and the new Canada Ontario Agreement are Agriculture and Agri Food Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

I hope you will find this information useful.

Yours sincerely,

[Original signed by David Anderson, Minister of the Environment]

David Anderson, P.C., M.P.

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Minister's Response: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

July 16, 2002

Mr. John Welwood
Spokesperson
Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Huron Kinloss
56 Vozka Drive, R.R. 1
Kincardine, Ontario
N2Z 2X3

Dear Mr. Welwood:

This is in response to your petition of September 17, 2001, forwarded to me by Ms. Johanne Gélinas, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, expressing your concerns about the potential impacts of large hog operations in the Huron Kinloss area of Ontario. I appreciate and share your concerns for the protection of our environment.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada does not have regulations directly related to the designation, construction or operation of intensive livestock operations. The Department does, however, administer the habitat protection provisions of the federal Fisheries Act. Subsection 35(1) of the Fisheries Act states that no person can do work which could result in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat unless authorized pursuant to subsection 35(2). All projects referred to Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be reviewed to determine whether or not harmful alteration, disruption or destruction is likely to occur to fish habitat.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada supports the use of best management practices to reduce the impacts of agriculture on the environment. The pollution prevention section of the Fisheries Act (Section 36) is administered by Environment Canada on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Section 36 prohibits the direct or indirect deposit of deleterious substances, including farm runoff, into water frequented by fish. Accordingly, my colleague, the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of Environment, would be in a better position to address questions on the deposit of deleterious substances. I understand a copy of your letter and the associated petition has been forwarded to Minister Anderson.

In closing, I would like to assure you that Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to monitor the potential impacts of agricultural operations on fish habitat. Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention.

Yours truly,

[Original signed by Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Robert G. Thibault