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Masami seeks state permit
Animal feeding operation subject to public comment
By MATT HALL
Masami Foods has filed its application for a state permit to establish a farm with up to 11,000 hogs on Harpold Road east of Klamath Falls.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture will accept public comment before taking action on the permit, which will impose conditions for management of manure.
Deborah Gorham, administrator of the Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Division, said Masami filed its application in late December.
The company had to secure a land use compatibility statement before applying for a "confined animal feeding operation" permit from the state, Gorham said.
Masami's obtained the land use compatibility statement from Klamath County, although opponents of the proposal have appealed that decision.
The opposition group, Protect Rural Oregon, maintains that Masami's proposed plans for its breeding and feeding facility should require a conditional use permit.
The appeal will be heard by the Klamath County Commissioners at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Gorham said the land use appeal did not preclude Masami from proceeding with its permit application.
"We require that they submit a completed land use compatibility statement with their application and they have," Gorham said. "We are able to accept their application and begin to process it."
Processing of the application will take at least 45 days before a public comment period can be opened.
"We have not yet finished reviewing the materials," Gorham said. "It would be after that time that we would open a public comment period."
The Agriculture Department usually announces a 60-day window for public comment prior to the final determination in the application process.
"When we get to that point we'll publish notice of the public comment," said Gorham. "They can submit written testimony - we'll provide the address."
Masami's proposed facility would be the first operation of its type, as well as the largest hog breeding facility, in Oregon. As a result Gorham indicated the application will receive careful scrutiny by her department.
"It's going to receive very careful and thorough treatment," she said. "We're very aware of the sensitivity levels of the neighbors and the community.
"We're also very aware of the need to protect our natural resources and we will do our very best job to examine the application to assure that this operation will operate completely within the conditions of their confined animal feeding operation permit, should they be granted one."
Opponents to the proposed hog breeding facility continue to monitor the company's progress, and at least one, Gail Whitsett of North Poe Valley, charged the department with reneging on an agreement to notify her when Masami made its application.
Gorham confirmed that her department has been contacted by interested parties.
"Various people at the Oregon Department of Agriculture have been contacted by people who want information about the possibility of this operation," she said.
A possible complication in the expected process could be the adoption of a new set of confined animal feed operation rules. The proposed new rules came out Dec. 15.
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to publish them on Jan. 15. The rules take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
"The operation that has been described by Masami Foods in their application would have to meet all the requirements of the new federal regulations," said Gorham.
Asked if this could lead to Masami needing to resubmit its application, Gorham was circumspect.
"It's possible, but I can't tell you conclusively because we haven't completed our review of the materials (in the new regulations)," she said.
"But the professional people that Masami Foods has hired to help them put together their application have been closely following developments at the federal level, and in anticipation of the new federal regulations have made every attempt to design the Masami facility so that it would meet all of those requirements," she said.
Masami officials declined comment for this story.
Business and Agriculture Editor Matt Hall can be reached at 885-4425, (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at mhall@heraldandnews.com.
By MATT HALL
Masami Foods has filed its application for a state permit to establish a farm with up to 11,000 hogs on Harpold Road east of Klamath Falls.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture will accept public comment before taking action on the permit, which will impose conditions for management of manure.
Deborah Gorham, administrator of the Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Division, said Masami filed its application in late December.
The company had to secure a land use compatibility statement before applying for a "confined animal feeding operation" permit from the state, Gorham said.
Masami's obtained the land use compatibility statement from Klamath County, although opponents of the proposal have appealed that decision.
The opposition group, Protect Rural Oregon, maintains that Masami's proposed plans for its breeding and feeding facility should require a conditional use permit.
The appeal will be heard by the Klamath County Commissioners at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Gorham said the land use appeal did not preclude Masami from proceeding with its permit application.
"We require that they submit a completed land use compatibility statement with their application and they have," Gorham said. "We are able to accept their application and begin to process it."
Processing of the application will take at least 45 days before a public comment period can be opened.
"We have not yet finished reviewing the materials," Gorham said. "It would be after that time that we would open a public comment period."
The Agriculture Department usually announces a 60-day window for public comment prior to the final determination in the application process.
"When we get to that point we'll publish notice of the public comment," said Gorham. "They can submit written testimony - we'll provide the address."
Masami's proposed facility would be the first operation of its type, as well as the largest hog breeding facility, in Oregon. As a result Gorham indicated the application will receive careful scrutiny by her department.
"It's going to receive very careful and thorough treatment," she said. "We're very aware of the sensitivity levels of the neighbors and the community.
"We're also very aware of the need to protect our natural resources and we will do our very best job to examine the application to assure that this operation will operate completely within the conditions of their confined animal feeding operation permit, should they be granted one."
Opponents to the proposed hog breeding facility continue to monitor the company's progress, and at least one, Gail Whitsett of North Poe Valley, charged the department with reneging on an agreement to notify her when Masami made its application.
Gorham confirmed that her department has been contacted by interested parties.
"Various people at the Oregon Department of Agriculture have been contacted by people who want information about the possibility of this operation," she said.
A possible complication in the expected process could be the adoption of a new set of confined animal feed operation rules. The proposed new rules came out Dec. 15.
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to publish them on Jan. 15. The rules take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
"The operation that has been described by Masami Foods in their application would have to meet all the requirements of the new federal regulations," said Gorham.
Asked if this could lead to Masami needing to resubmit its application, Gorham was circumspect.
"It's possible, but I can't tell you conclusively because we haven't completed our review of the materials (in the new regulations)," she said.
"But the professional people that Masami Foods has hired to help them put together their application have been closely following developments at the federal level, and in anticipation of the new federal regulations have made every attempt to design the Masami facility so that it would meet all of those requirements," she said.
Masami officials declined comment for this story.
Business and Agriculture Editor Matt Hall can be reached at 885-4425, (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at mhall@heraldandnews.com.
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