Therefore, realistic setback distances would be arbitrary and would not guarantee zero odor impact on the community. Basing setback distances solely on the size of facility does not take into consideration odor control technologies and management practices that significantly reduce the amount of odor generated from a facility. With proper management and odor control technologies in place, a large facility may generate less odorous emissions than a small facility. Another problem with a standard setback distance is the fact that all impact areas may not be the same. This issue may be resolved by land use zoning.
Hypothetical setback distances based on facility size.
Policy based on odor emissions modeling This method of regulation is used for industrial air quality regulations. Gas emissions are measured or predicted for each source at a facility. Air modeling programs then predict the concentrations of gases surrounding the facility. These modeling programs have been modified to predict odor intensities around a livestock facility based on odor emissions. With this system, setback distances could be determined for each site based on the predicted odor impact area.