BMPs To Mitigate Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions

The WDNR Air Management Program requested and received authority from the Natural Resources Board to address toxic air emissions from animal agricultural waste. On December 13, 2010, the Agricultural Waste Best Management Practices Advisory Group completed a report to WDNR outlining the beneficial management practices for mitigating ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from animal agriculture.

WDNR is seeking public comment on the report. Comments will be accepted through January 31, 2011.

The report focuses on two hazardous air contaminants: ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The report recommends a total of 30 beneficial management practices (BMPs) for mitigating hazardous air emissions from animal agriculture. The term best management practice was redefined by the Advisory Group as beneficial management practice, because what may be best for one operation may not be best for another. The term “beneficial management practice” also acknowledges that future practices and technologies may provide greater benefits than practices or technologies described today as “best.”

The beneficial management practices recommended by the Advisory Group are tailored to Wisconsin animal agriculture and many of the recommendations focus on ammonia, due to the greater volume of available literature, relative to hydrogen sulfide. Not all animals and animal production methods associated with waste from agricultural operations were considered with the development of BMPs. Particular focus included dairy and beef operations, poultry layers, poultry broilers and swine operations.

In a related topic, US EPA has recently proposed certain exemptions from reporting releases of hazardous substances associated with air releases from farm operations.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Wisconsin to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

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