Local health and law enforcement officials would be obligated to enforce new manure-storage rules under a proposal circulated by the Washington State Board of Health. The board plans to rewrite an old regulation prohibiting “stable manure” from piling up in “populous districts,” possibly extending the rule to every dairy, feedlot and livestock owner in the state. According to a draft, the rule would prohibit storing manure within 100 feet of a drainage ditch or 35 feet of neighboring property. Manure would have to be contained or covered to control odors, flies, rodents and other pests. More >>
