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Comments sharpen WA’s debate over manure lagoons

October 2, 2015, Union Gap, WA — The Washington Department of Ecology has yet to fully digest comments on its proposal to regulate manure lagoons, but a few key issues are emerging.

The issues include soil-testing mandates, reporting requirements and whether DOE rightly assumes unlined lagoons pollute groundwater, Heather Bartlett, the department’s water quality manager, said.

Manure lagoons figure prominently as DOE revises water-pollution controls for wherever livestock are gathered to feed at least 45 days in a year. READ MORE