FARM Act

Bill: 115-s-2421
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2018-02-13
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution

Air quality

Aquaculture

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Livestock

Pollution liability

Solid waste and recycling
Latest action: action_date: 2018-03-08
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-237.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-02-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act or the FARM Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to exempt air emissions from animal waste at a farm from specified release notification requirements, recordkeeping requirements, and associated penalties. </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2421 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 13, 2018 Mrs. Fischer (for herself, Mr. Donnelly , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Roberts , Ms. Heitkamp , Mr. Coons , Mr. Carper , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Isakson , Mr. Warner , Mrs. Ernst , Mrs. McCaskill , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Manchin , Mr. Moran , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Wicker , Ms. Smith , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Casey , and Mr. Bennet ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to provide an exemption from certain notice requirements and penalties for releases of hazardous substances from animal waste at farms.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act or the FARM Act . 2. Exemptions from certain notice requirements and penalties Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9603 ) is amended by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following: (e) Applicability to registered pesticide products and air emissions from animal waste at farms (1) In general This section shall not apply to— (A) the application of a pesticide product registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.) or the handling and storage of such a pesticide product by an agricultural producer; or (B) air emissions from animal waste (including decomposing animal waste) at a farm. (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Animal waste (i) In general The term animal waste means feces, urine, or other excrement, digestive emission, urea, or similar substances emitted by animals (including any form of livestock, poultry, or fish). (ii) Inclusions The term animal waste includes animal waste that is mixed or commingled with bedding, compost, feed, soil, or any other material typically found with such waste. (B) Farm The term farm means a site or area (including associated structures) that— (i) is used for— (I) the production of a crop; or (II) the raising or selling of animals (including any form of livestock, poultry, or fish); and (ii) under normal conditions, produces during a farm year any agricultural products with a total value equal to not less than $1,000. . 3. Application Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act affects, or supersedes or modifies the responsibility or authority of any Federal official or employee to comply with or enforce, any requirement under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), other than the hazardous substance notification requirements under section 103 of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9603 ) with respect to air emissions from animal waste at farms.