The N.C. Senate today (June 29) voted 35-11 to accept House changes to S 605, the Farm Act of 2021. The House removed a section that would have weakened protections for whistleblowing workers but retained an environmentally harmful proposal to require general permits for biogas systems at factory hog farms.
The bill now goes to Governor Cooper, who can veto it, sign it into law, or let it become law without his signature.
Cynthia Satterfield, acting director of the N.C. Sierra Club, issued the following statement:
"This legislation will bring continued grief to people who live near factory hog farms and those of us who care about the air and water near them. The General Assembly gave minimal opportunity for farm neighbors to weigh in on the biogas permitting provisions, so we hope Governor Cooper will listen to them now and veto the Farm Act.
"The bill would lock in the harmful lagoon-and-sprayfield waste system used at large hog operations instead of encouraging installation of more environmentally friendly systems that are available and already being utilized. Also, burning biogas means methane emissions, an extremely potent contributor to climate change."