Oklahoma House of Representatives
Media Division
February 18, 2004

OKLAHOMA CITY - A rural legislator has filed a bill that would further protect the state's environment by incorporating smaller agricultural operations not specifically addressed in the Oklahoma Agricultural Code or reporting false monitoring information.

House Bill 2394 by Rep. James Covey, D-Custer City, would address issues that "have fallen through the cracks" of state statutes, but are still within the oversight or monitoring of the state Agriculture Department.

The measure directs that it would be unlawful to cause pollution of air, land or waters of the state by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the state Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

If the state Board of Agriculture finds that air, land or waters have been or are being polluted, the violator will be directed to fully comply with the order of the Agriculture Board and pay any fine and costs assessed, said Covey. He is a farmer/rancher who is chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

"For example, this would give the Agriculture Department the authority by state statute to oversee pollution by small feeding operations that aren't considered CAFO's (confined animal feeding operations)," Covey said. "This bill would enforce those kinds of issues that do not fall under pollution control guidelines of other state
agencies."

Covey said the new law would involve Oklahomans who are not specifically addressed by the Oklahoma Agricultural Code but who fall within the environmental jurisdiction of the Agriculture Department. "They are the ones in which the Department of Agriculture had no authority to monitor, but fell on them to oversee."

Another provision of HB 2394 would make it a violation of the Agricultural Code for anyone to provide false statements, representation or certification.

The measure also would hold responsible anyone who reported inaccurate readings from monitoring or measuring devices that fall under the dominion of the Agriculture Department. Covey said those kinds of measuring devices range from water monitoring equipment to supermarket scales.

The measure quickly passed through the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee with no opposition. Covey said he anticipates HB 2394 will appear before the full House of Representatives within the next three weeks.

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Scott Hancock
Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
1-800-522-8502 ext 422  ¶ 11:31 AM