The Scientific Basis for Estimating Air Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations

Book excerpt: This is an interim report of the ad hoc Committee on Air Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations of the National Research Council's Committee on Animal Nutrition. A final report is expected to be issued by the end of 2002. The interim report is intended to provide the committee's findings to date on assessment of the scientific issues involved in estimating air emissions from individual animal feeding operations (swine, beef, dairy, and poultry) as related to current animal production systems and practices in the United States. The committee's final report will include an additional assessment within eight broad categories: industry size and structure, emission measurement methodology, mitigation technology and best management plans, short- and long-term research priorities, alternative approaches for estimating emissions, human health and environmental impacts, economic analyses, and other potential air emissions of concern. This interim report focuses on identifying the scientific criteria needed to ensure that estimates of air emission rates are accurate, the basis for these criteria in the scientific literature, and uncertainties associated with them. It also includes an assessment of the emission-estimating approaches in a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report Air Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations. Finally, it identifies economic criteria needed to assess emission mitigation techniques and best management practices.