What stinks? Understanding concentrated animal feeding operations and their impact on local communities

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are a specific type of large-scale industrial agricultural facility that raises animals, usually at high-density, for the consumption of meat, eggs or milk. CAFOs can severely reduce air and water quality in the surrounding communities, as well as cause human health problems. The effects CAFOs have on communities make them ripe for local monitoring and regulation; however, state and federal laws can hinder local efforts. This presentation will detail the environmental health effects of CAFOs, the various federal and state regulations regarding CAFOs, and the actions that boards of health can take when faced with CAFOs in their community.