Generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture

Feedlots are the focus of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture, along with the broader environmental, social and economic factors surrounding animal agriculture. Funded by the 1998 Minnesota Legislature, the study is being conducted because of the recent debate over the livestock-raising industry and will be used to shape future policy options.

• Principal documents
• Technical work papers
• Literature review
• Press releases
• GEIS update newsletter
• Committee minutes and agendas
• Committee members
• Enabling legislation

Principal documents:

• Archive of general animal agriculture documents: Notes, budgets, and ancillary documents to the animal agriculture generic environmental impact statement (10 MS Word files, 6.2M, ZIP archive)

Technical Work Papers:

The Environmental Quality Board contracted with various experts through a competitive bidding and interview process to produce 10 technical work papers exploring major topics raised in the generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture.

This information was intended to explore the complex topic areas of Animal Agriculture in Minnesota in greater depth than the Summary of Literature document released by EQB in 1999. These individual subject area experts were hired through a competitive bidding process and after interviews with EQB staff and members of the Citizen`s Advisory committee (CAC), each of the TWP consultant`s presented their preliminary and draft findings to the assembled CAC and responded to questions and comments from the group during document preparation. The final TWP documents are posted exactly as they were received from the contractors. The documents are intended to be a factual inferences and recommendations contained in the reports are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of EQB or the CAC.
 

• Archive of technical work paper documents: Drafts, notes, and ancillary documents to the animal agriculture generic environmental impact statement technical work papers (43 MS Word files, 28M, ZIP archive)

Literature Review:

• Summary of literature related to animal agriculture health: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (158p., 625K, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to land use: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (51p., 251K, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to the role of government: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (176p., 628K, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to industry structure and competativness and profitability and economic viability: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (176p., 628K, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to external benefits and costs: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (176p., 628K, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to water resources: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (261p., 5.2M, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to air quality and odor: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (10p., 839K, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to soils: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (62p., 280K, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to manure and crop nutrients: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (142p., 272K, PDF) | Report details
• Summary of literature related to the effects of animal agriculture on human health: generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture: Bibliography of literature related to the effects of feedlots and animal agriculure, September 1, 1999.   (125p., 499K, PDF) | Report details
• Archive of literature review documents: Drafts, staff reports, and ancillary documents to the animal agriculture generic environmental impact statement literature reviews (48 MS Word files, 6M, ZIP archive) 

Press releases:

• Animal Agriculture Generic Environmental Impact Statement is approved by EQB: Announces the culmination of over four years of study on feedlots and animal agriculture, September 19, 2002. (Media release)
• Public meetings slated for final GEIS on animal agriculture study: Announces August and September public meetings regarding feedlots, July 26, 2001. (Media release)
• Public comment sought on draft outline for animal agriculture study: Announces a series of public meetings, October 22, 1998. (Media release)
• Feedlots are subject of July public meetings: Annouces meeting times and places, July 1, 1998. (Media release)
• Public invited to comment on feedlot issue: Annouces a public meeting, February 9, 1998. (Media release)

GEIS update newsletter

This newsletter was distributed by the Environmental Quality Board to communicate recent developments and other news about the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on animal agriculture and feedlots to people interested in this important state effort. 

• February 1999  
• July 1999
• October/November 1999 | EQB version
• July 2000
• January 2001
• July 2001
• January 2002
• August 2002

Citizen`s Advisory Committee meetings

The purpose of the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture is to advise the Environmental Quality Board on the scope and content of the statewide study on animal agriculture.  Minutes are listed below; agendas are also available.

• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - May 8-9, 2001: Discussion on Policy Recommendations, May 8, 2001.   (146K, PDF) | Minutes details
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - April 10-11, 2001: Discussion on Policy Recommendations, April 10, 2001.   (40K, PDF) | Minutes details
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - March 13-14, 2001: Technical Working Paper Discussion, March 13, 2001.   (39K, PDF) | Minutes details
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - February 13-14, 2001: Technical Working Paper Discussion, February 13, 2001.   (88K, PDF) | Minutes details
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - January 9-10, 2001: Technical Working Paper Discussion, January 9, 2001.   (66K, PDF) | Minutes details
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - December 12-13, 2000: Technical Working Paper Discussion, December 12, 2000.   (15K, PDF) | Minutes details
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - November 15, 2000: Technical Working Paper Discussion, November 15, 2000.   (16K, PDF) | Minutes details
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - October 10, 2000: Geographic Information System (GIS) Feedlot Inventory, October 10, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - September 12-13, 2000: Policy and recommendations of development, September 12, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - August 8-9, 2000: Contractor Selection, August 8, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - June 27-28, 2000: Contractor Selection, June 27, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - June 13-14, 2000: Reviewed contractor bids received, June 13, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - May 9-10, 2000: Toured Perham, Minnesota, May 9, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - April 11 and 12, 2000: Finalized RFP for 10 technical work papers, April 11, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - March 14-15, 2000: Approved study workplan, March 14, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - February 8-9, 2000: Discussed study workplan, February 8, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - January 12, 2000: Discussed study workplan, January 12, 2000.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - December 14-15, 1999: Discussed study workplan, December 14, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - November 9-10, 1999: Discussed study workplan, November 9, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - October 12-13, 1999: Prioritizing needs for further analysis and research on various topics; discussed extent to which study questions were answered by literature review, October 12, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - September 14 and 15, 1999: Updates on literature summary, inventory plans and GEIS goal and vision; discussed plan for next phases of GEIS process and research needs for social, economics, air and odor topics. Committee toured two dairy farms in SE Minnesota, September 14, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - August 10 and 11, 1999: Discussed draft literature summary reports on land use and role of government, goals and vision for the GEIS and pilot projects to test various approaches to feedlot inventory, August 10, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - July 14, 1999: Highlights of nine finalized chapters of the literature summary; discussed next phases of GEIS work and additional research needs, July 14, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - June 28, 1999: Special meeting for presentations on literature review topics, June 28, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - June 8-9, 1999: Discussed literature review reports and committee review process, June 9, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - May 11-12, 1999: Discussed draft literature reports on air, odor and soils; discussed inventory; committee agreed on top proposers for second RFP, May 11, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - April 13-14, 1999: Reviewed ground rule on consensus; second RFP selection process finalized; reports on the regulatory program audit and feedlot rulemaking; inventory discussion, April 13, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - March 9-10, 1999: Agreed on top proposers for first RFP and next steps for selection process, March 9, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - February 9-10, 1999: First literature review RFP process finalized and committee ground rules evaluated, February 9, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - January 6-7, 1999: Discussed process for conducting a literature review and feedlot inventory, January 6, 1999.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - December 3-4, 1998: Agreement to forward recommendations on the final scoping document, December 3, 1998.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - November 16-17, 1998: Reviewed public and agency comments on the draft scoping document in preparation for recommendations in December, November 16, 1998.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - September 21-22, 1998: Introduction and review of draft scoping materials, September 21, 1998.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - September 10, 1998: Completed recommendations to the Environmental Quality Board on the GEIS draft scoping document, September 10, 1998.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - August 27-28, 1998: Continued to discuss main topics to include in the GEIS draft scoping document, August 27, 1998.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - August 17-19, 1998: Established ground rules for their work and began to discuss the scope, or the main topics that the GEIS should cover, August 17, 1998.
• Meeting notes, Citizen Advisory Committee for the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture - June 25, 1998: Orientation to the process of developing a Generic Environmental Impact Statement and an overview of the committee`s role in the process, June 25, 1998.

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Citizen`s Advisory Committee Members

Appointed in 1998, the citizen advisory committee guided tje statewide study of the economic, environmental and social impacts of the changing livestock industry in Minnesota.  The citizen advisory group helped identify issues examined by the study, the extent to which each issue was addressed, and the accuracy and adequacy of each phase of the study.

• Ken Albrecht, Nicollet County farmer, North Mankato
• Gary Allen, Gar-Lin Dairy Farms, Inc., Eyota 
• Pat Bloomgren, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul
• Myron Just, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, St. Paul 
• Robert Ferguson, Jackson County commissioner, Heron Lake 
• John Fraser Hart, University of Minnesota, geography department, Minneapolis 
• Larry Schultz, Izaak Walton League, Osakis 
• Troy Gilchrist, Minnesota Association of Townships, St. Michael 
• Dennis Bottem, Cattleman`s Association, St. James 
• Ed Hegland, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Appleton 
• Patricia Henderson, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 
• Jim Sullivan, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul 
• Galen Lisell, Roseau County farmer, Roseau 
• Helen Palmer, League of Women Voters, Rochester 
• Tom Dunnwald, Minnesota Lakes Association, Richville 
• Dave Preisler, Minnesota Pork Producers Association, North Mankato
• George Raab, The Turkey Store Company, Faribault 
• Chris Radatz, Minnesota Farm Bureau, St. Paul 
• Tina Rosenstein, Environmental Services Department, St. Peter, Nicollet County 
• Mark Schultz, Land Stewardship Project, Minneapolis 
• Kristin Sigford, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, St. Paul 
• Harold Stanislawski, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Fergus Falls
• Andy Steensma, Minnesota Farmers Union, St. Paul 
• Tim Tracy, Farm Credit Services of Southern Minnesota, Mankato 

Environmental Quality Board, 658 Cedar St., Suite 300, St. Paul, MN 55155