Denver, CO - A group of environmentalists, ranchers and farmers handed in petitions for a ballot issue to put restrictions on large Colorado hog operations whose waste matter they say harms the environment.
Hog producers filed petitions for their own voter initiative, calling for an amendment to the state constitution that says any restrictions on hog operations should also apply to other livestock.
Both groups have handed in enough extra signatures to insure that the battling initiatives will be on the November ballot, the groups said.
The coalition called "Protecting Colorado's Water and Economy" argues that large hog confinement operations face less regulation in Colorado than in other states and that fecal matter from them will destroy the groundwater.
"This is not a civil rights issue that says all fecal matter should be treated the same," Carmi McLean of Clean Water Action told a news conference outside the Capitol building before the group carried in 95,000 petition signatures.
The state Legislature in May failed to act on hog farm legislation, setting the battle for a petition fight between the producers who say the restrictions would put them out of business and the coalition saying they want to protect the environment.
The environmental coalition has paid for television advertising in the Denver area and has received support and money from billionaire Philip Anschutz who has property near a hog operation.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
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Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
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