April 19, 2007

US senate committee approves bill to replace hog lagoons
 

A Senate committee has approved the permanent ban on hog lagoons and sprayfields to help the state of North Carolina's swine farmers use cleaner methods in eliminating hog waste.

The bill was first of the several proposals sponsored by Duplin County Senator Charlie Albertson.

New construction of the waste management systems has been blocked for a decade by a moratorium due to expire in September.

Albertson's bill calls for higher performance standards in dealing with hog-waste systems and urges the government to provide financial help for farmers who want to replace their lagoons with technologically advanced systems.