Introduction to NAEMS

In 2003, the National Academy of Science (NAS) released a report entitled "Air Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations" (AFOs). This document highlights the air quality issues associated with AFOs, including incomplete/erroneous emission factors for AFOs with respect to compliance with EPA regulations. Due to the fact that many AFOs have increased in size, AFO emissions have been brought under federal regulations. These regulations include the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA), the 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). However, the scientific data on livestock air emissions needed to properly regulate AFOs under the CAA, CERCLA, and EPCRA are limited.

The National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS), established in 2006 by a voluntary Air Compliance Agreement between the EPA and the pork, dairy, egg and broiler industries, will address the lack of scientific data. Livestock producers have provided the financial support for the NAEMS so that emissions data can be collected at select sites to: 1) accurately assess emissions from livestock operations and compile a database for estimation of emission rates, and 2) promote a national consensus for emissions-estimation methods/procedures from livestock operations.

Funding for the NAEMS has been provided by the National Pork Board, the National Chicken Council, the National Milk Producers Federation, and the American Egg Board, via a not-for-profit organization called the Agricultural Air Research Council. The NAEMS is overseen by the EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) and led by Purdue University. Other universities involved in the study are: Cornell University, Iowa State University, North Carolina State University, Texas A & M University, the University of California - Davis, the University of Minnesota, and Washington State University.