Ind. bill targets manure transport across state lines

Indiana could be in deep trouble.

The Indiana House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee had a hearing Feb. 8 concerning House Bill 1134. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Tom Saunders, R-Lewisville, and aims “to amend the Indiana Code concerning agriculture and animals.”

More specifically, the bill targets interstate manure transport into Indiana.

Richmond, Ind., Environmental Activist Barbara Sha Cox said it is crucial for eastern Indiana counties to take a stand.

“This should be of special interest to those in Richmond who drink water from the reservoir and everyone in the counties who have private wells,” Cox said in an Indiana Living Green press release. “As it stands now, they can dump piles of manure near waterways with no runoff protection.”

According to the press release, Ohio has been shipping and dumping excess manure into Indiana border counties.

The problem is that runoff from stockpiled manure can pollute lakes and water sources. This is exactly what happened in Ohio and caused toxic algae to develop, according to the press release.

Indiana residents remain concerned about the effects the excess manure will have on their water.

The bill requires all manure shipped from outside the state to be mixed in with soil as opposed to being stockpiled. The bill also designates that manure be placed away from property lines, public roads and residential buildings.

The bill highlights water sources, specifically stating that manure must be placed away from water wells unless runoff is controlled or away from standing water or floodplains.

- Colleen Sikorski