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Hog farm bill in trouble?

DENVER -- The demise of a bill calling for more enforcement of odor standards at eastern Colorado swine-feeding operations could spell trouble for another delayed measure giving hog farm operators more flexibility in controlling the smells.

Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Wray, has been waiting more than a month to lead debate on Senate Bill 114, which would sanction the use of anaerobic alternatives to synthetic covers of waste lagoons at the hog farms. It passed the Senate Feb. 14 and was endorsed by the House Agriculture Committee March 20.

House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, who sets the schedule for floor debate, denied holding up debate on SB 114, but admitted she was looking for another bill that called for stronger enforcement measures in keeping with voter-approved mandates.

Amendment 14 was approved by more than 60 percent of Colorado voters in 1998 in response to the growth of commercialized hog feeding operations on the eastern plains.

"Without enforcement, which is coming over in (Senate Bill) 226, 114 could be dangerous," Madden said. "Enforcement is where the real problem lies. I couldn't vote for a bill that is seen as diminishing what the people voted for."

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Source: Fort Morgan Times

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