(First in Nation)Pollution Rules Targeting Manure (Dairies to Relocate?)

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBGGJYX0WD.html

(First in Nation)Pollution Rules Targeting Manure Could Force Dairies to Relocate
By Tim Molloy Associated Press Writer

CHINO, Calif. (AP) - Regulators trying to clean Southern California's infamously unhealthy air have long targeted factories and old buses. Now they're setting their sights on a different breed of offender - dairy cows.

Every year, the dairies east of Los Angeles and their roughly 300,000 cows produce a million tons of manure. The ammonia and other pollutants they generate mix with smokestack and tailpipe emissions blowing inland from the Los Angeles basin to create the dirtiest air in the nation.

Regulators said the situation has gotten so bad that they need to impose the first air quality rules in the country involving manure. Among other requirements, the plans ask farmers to dispose of the waste more frequently.<snip>

The district estimates the rules would cost the industry about $3.5 million a year, or $15,000 per dairy. Under the plan, the amount of ammonia and other pollutants in the area could fall from about 20 tons a day to less than 13 tons a day by 2010, officials said. <snip>

The proposed regulations would require that manure be (spread as fertilizer, or) collected every three months instead of the current six. Manure that doesn't become fertilizer would have to be disposed of in environmentally safe ways (such as an anaerobic digester that turns it into gas to fuel a plant).
<snip>

"For every cow that leaves this valley, you're gonna get two cars in return," Feenstra said.

[Trillo]

1. I don't understand the logistics of the increased costs.

If there are X cows creating Y amount of manure in time T, why does the frequency with which it is collected increase costs? It's still Y total amount. If collection is increased to 1/2T, then disposal is for 1/2Y, assuming X remains constant.

Edit: added T variable

[papau]

2. 2 truck trips fixed cost versus one truck trip in 6 months.

But you perhaps use smaller less costly trucks - so increase will not be "double"

[Trillo]

3. Thanks,

they would likely use less trucks, however many fewer 1/2Y fits into. Assuming the per-truck cost is fixed, and each truck is always fully filled, the question still stands, as now were talking 1/2Trucks.

[Bdog]

4. Lynden farmers to begin turning cow manure into 'Green Power'

http://www.westernfrontonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/06/24/40db41dbda91b
As early as October, Puget Sound Energy may add a new source of renewable energy to their Green Power program. Rooms across Bellingham may soon be illuminated by energy extracted from recycled cow manure.

The device responsible for this conversion is called an anaerobic digester and will be constructed by the Andgar Corporation for use at the Vander Haak Dairy in Lynden. It will be the first such device installed in Washington state.

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/11/12/manure031112
Alberta ranchers explore 'manure power'
Last Updated Wed, 12 Nov 2003 19:57:16

VEGREVILLE, ALTA. - Next summer, cattle in Alberta could become another source of fuel for the province.

The Kotelko family near Vegreville has raised cattle for 20 years. Their feedlot is home to 36,000 head, producing 36 million kilograms of manure every year.

The Ketelkos are pioneering the use of manure for a new technology. The plan is to take the waste and turn it into three megawatts of electricity – enough to power three towns of more than 7,000 people.

But you know if the land values are high enough...the land developers will get those farms no mater what.