Last year, the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in their report to the Environmental Protection Agency, identified poorly regulated farm runoff as the main source of South Dakota's water pollution.  We need to examine how to better protect our water and our own farmers before we market to big-business agriculture. If we aren't putting enough money or time into resolving the causes of our current problems, (manure runoff from feedlots, livestock using the river as a water source, and chemical misuse, which causes excess to run into waterways), we shouldn't be subsidizing out-of-state and international operations. 

Why would out-of-state dairies move to South Dakota? Because we are offering our air, land, and water at rock-bottom prices, with too few questions asked.

In the case of livestock runoff, bigger is not better. Animal waste flowing from the Mississippi River has helped create a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico the size of New Jersey.

In Milwaukee, water polluted by cow manure is believed to have contributed to the cryptosporidium contamination of public drinking water that killed more than 100 people and sickened hundreds of thousands more.

We should learn from their mistakes.

• Buy meat from local meat lockers and food cooperatives.

• Demand public participation in decisions to grant permits for new or larger CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations).

• Request a moratorium on new CAFOs until current cleanwater protections are enforced and the pollution from existing facilities eliminated.

• Demand phase out of open-air lagoons until the development of better technology to treat manure.

• Require frequent inspection of currently permitted CAFOs.

• Conduct monthly air and water quality monitoring programs near manure storage facilities.

An increase in mercury-contaminated water and fish, caused mainly by emissions from coal-fired power plants, is on South Dakota’s horizon. To date, the several mercury advisories in northeast South Dakota lakes are probably due to the poorly regulated plants in neighboring states, because South Dakota doesn't have any coal-fired power plants. But recently, energy companies began evaluating sites for South Dakota’s first coal-fired power plants. (Aberdeen American News, July 18, 2004)

Because of its volatile properties, mercury is absorbed into the muscle tissue of its host and, thus protected from excretion, it moves on up the food chain. "Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, causing learning and developmental disabilities in children. Eight percent of U.S. women of childbearing age have mercury in their bodies that may adversely affect their unborn child. . . women who may become pregnant and children should never eat large walleye or northern pike."  (South Dakota Lakes & Streams "Splash", vol. 2, issue 15, March 2004)

Anglers who come to South Dakota for toxin-free fishing may soon lose that luxury and South Dakota, in turn, will lose the revenue from fishing tourism.

Mercury contamination is harder to repair than farm run-off---like cleaning up mercury from a broken thermometer, it's hard to do.

Also, the costly burden of clean-up is too often on the State and local governments and not the polluter. Since mercury removal is often too much for state governments; it is easier to tell the public not to eat the fish.

Wetlands, protected by the Clean Water Act and prized as wildlife habitat, help filter mercury contamination. Urban development and the need for dependable cropland drainage account for the majority of South Dakota's loss of wetlands.

It’s about what you catch on the shore, not what you buy on the shelf. This is about the health of pregnant mothers and small children, that’s the primary focus of our concern.  (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Wednesday, August 25, 2004)

Mike Leavitt,
EPA Administrator

During a presentation to Edison Electric, on December 4, 2001, the EPA indicated that it was possible to reduce mercury emissions to approximately five tons (that’s almost a 90% reduction) by 2008.

We must call for the enforcement of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts and hold polluters accountable for cleaning up their mess.

Building more roads does not lessen the problem of traffic congestion. More roads just make room for more cars, more pollution (and the subsequent health problems of decreased lung capacity and asthma), and a greater dependence on oil. Building superstores on the edges of town doesn’t make for a vibrant city, but destroys wetlands and creates parking lots the size of small towns.

Sprawl spreads development out over large amounts of land; puts long distances between homes, stores, and job centers; and makes people more and more dependent on driving in their daily lives. Since suburban Sioux Falls extends all the way out to Tea, Hartford, Dell Rapids, Brandon, and Harrisburg, now is a good time to learn how our community planners are preparing for the long term.

SPRAWL RESULTS IN:

• Loss of productive farm land.

• Wetlands destruction.

• Increased drive time and traffic and, subsequently, more pollution.

• Greater dependency on oil products.

• Waterways affected by run-off from parking lots.

SPRAWL

• Don’t subsidize development that contributes to Sprawl.

• Reinvest in existing communities and neighborhoods.

• Purchase an existing homestead rather than a newly built home in the country.

• Urge public officials to provide walking and bicycling facilities around shopping areas and parks.

• Urge public officials to fund incentive-based programs for encouraging alternative transportation use, such as tax credits for public transit, walking, biking, or car pooling.

• Authorize zoning decisions that encourage mixed-use development. (such as building single family homes & apartments in the same neighborhood)

• Require developers to pay impact fees to cover the costs of new roads, schools, water and sewer lines.

• Require property tax impact studies on new developments.