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FCalValley Residents Announce Legal Action Concerning Toxic Air Viola liWs at California Industrial... Page 2 of 3 -"sufocat#%" aild experience coughing and gagging attacks when they leave their homes. Mr. Origer described the air as making him "feel ... like I just came out of one of those mace training facilities." Two federal environmental laws—the Emergency Planning and Community Right -to -Know Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act— require all facilities that release certain amounts of harmful contaminants to report those amounts to state and local emergency response teams. The information provides the state, emergency responders, and the local community essential information about exposure to hazardous chemicals. Under these laws, the EPA requires ammonia reporting if the release is 100 pounds or more based on its chronic toxicity and residence time in the environment. Ammonia is classified as an "extremely hazardous substance" and contributes to odor nuisances. Inhalation of concentrated ammonia can cause irritation, lung damage, and even death to humans, and it causes chronic stress to farm animals. Ammonia can also stimulate excessive algae growth in water, degrading habitat for fish and other aquatic species. "Olivera!s disregard for the animals it crams into tiny wire cages for their entire lives is matched only by its complete lack of concern for the people whose lives are being destroyed by the millions of pounds of liquefied manure dumped practically in their backyards" said Jonathan Lovvorn, vice president of Animal Protection Litigation at The HSUS. "The American Public Health Association has called for a moratorium on new factory farms like Olivera because of the well- recognized human health threats they pose." FACTS: • Ammonia is a colorless, pungent gas commonly released by chicken manure. • In addition to releasing noxious chemicals like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, the animal agriculture industry releases 18% of greenhouse gases – higher than the amount contributed by cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles together. • California is the sixth-largest egg -producing state. • California egg factory farms confine millions of hens in small, wire cages. Each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live. And other large egg factory farms also release high levels of air and water pollutants. • A measure on California's November ballot—Prop 2—will require that egg -laying hens, veal calves, and breeding pigs have enough room to turn around and extend their limbs. The measure is supported by Californians for Humane Farms. • Factory farms often spread waste on the ground untreated — contaminating our waterways, lakes, groundwater, soil, and air. By phasing out the worst animal confinement practices, Proposition 2 helps protect our precious natural resources. http://www.hsus.orglpress,_and_publicationslpress–releaseslolivera072408.htinl?print--t 10/27//2008 41�