The 2008 Legislative Session is officially underway. Last year big hog and big chicken and their allies introduced a flurry of bill that would have rolled back regulations that protect, clean air, clean water and wildlife from the wastes generated by confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). They were stunned by the rebuff they received when legislators heard from their outraged constituents. This didn’t just happen without a lot of work by the Sierra Club and environmental leaders in the state.

Well, they are back and this session promises to be one of the smelliest. A partial lineup of the polluters include; The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma; Seaboard Farms; Seaboard Foods; Tyson Foods; Oklahoma Pork Council with 4 lobbyists; Monsanto; Oklahoma Farm Bureau with 5 lobbyists; American Farmers and Ranchers with 2 lobbyists. On the other side, representing the environment and the public interest, Billy Brown of the Sierra Club. As daunting as this is we have a big factor in our favor – Public Opinion. Despite their titles, our opponents don’t represent rural Oklahoma or the majority of Oklahomans, most of whom have a family history with the land.

While defending against these bills that weaken CAFO regulations, the Sierra Club is strongly backing a bill that would strengthen protection by phasing out swine waste lagoons. A similar bill was passed into law in North Carolina that would provide incentives to hog operators to implement effective technology for waste management systems.

The Club is actively working to pass several energy efficiency bills including a “Green Buildings Bill” that would require new public buildings meet cost effective energy saving standards. Another bill, based on a Texas bill passed last year, would set energy efficiency standards on single and multifamily homes, lighting standards in public building and energy efficiency standards for heating and air equipment and home appliances. It is clear that other states have already taken energy and climate change seriously and have taken the lead. Will Oklahoma be the last state to take responsible action or be a leader?

Charles Wesner, Chair
Oklahoma Chapter Legislative Committee
c.wesner@sbcglobal.net