A public hearing on the possible public health, environmental, rural community, and animal health impacts of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) sponsored by the National Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production (NCIFAP) will be held Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, at the Inn at Carnall Hall on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus.

The National Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production (NCIFAP), funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and managed and staffed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was formed to conduct a comprehensive, fact-based and balanced examination of key aspects of the farm animal industry.

Public hearings are one component of the Commission’s two-year study of the food animal production model commonly known as intensive or confined animal feeding operations, where a large number of animals are raised in one location. Many issues the NCIFAP is addressing include, but are not limited to, zoonotic diseases, such as avian influenza, Salmonella, and E. coli; manure and waste disposal systems; chicken litter; air and water pollution concerns; and the use of chicken feed supplemented with arsenic-based growth promoters.

The Commission will invite interested parties to submit statements in the open public hearing in an effort to provide a balance of information on the issues before them. Invited presenters will be given 10 minutes for statements with 10 minutes maximum allowed for questions by the commissioners.

In an attempt to accommodate all those who believe they have an interest in the issues before the commission and who wish to make an oral public statement, the commission will provide sign-in sheets before the start of the meeting. Everyone attending the meeting will sign in, printing their name, organization, and contact information, but those persons who wish to speak should indicate that interest by checking the appropriate box on the sign-in sheet. Written statements of extended length may be submitted to the Commission for consideration as well.

Interested parties arriving after the start of the meeting wishing to make a public statement will be invited to do so, time permitting. The chairman will determine the amount of time allotted to each presenter in this category.

Those interested in participating are encouraged to pre-register by clicking this link or sending a fax to (202) 223-3947. Those testifying should provide his or her name, business or organization affiliation, contact information and the topic he or she wishes to address. The pre-registration deadline is February 5th at midnight Pacific standard time. By pre-registering, participants will be alloted five minutes instead of three to present their viewpoints.

Chair of the commission is John Carlin, executive-in-residence at Kansas State University, 8th U.S. Archivist (1995-2005) and former governor of Kansas (1979-`1987). As listed on the NCIFAP website, under him are 17 people offering diversified areas of expertise, albeit some serving industry interest. However, their concerns on industrial farm animal production center around its impact on public health, the environment in general and rural communities specifically, and animal health and well-being.

Besides the public meeting in Fayetteville at 465 N. Arkansas Ave. from 1-7 p.m. on February 13, the commision plans to meet:

• April 9-11, 2007 - Durham, NC

• June 4-6, 2007 - Fort Collins, CO

• Sept. 10-12, 2007 - Madison, WI

• Nov. 12-14, 2007 - Kansas City, MO

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