To the Editor:

Pawnee County could be on the receiving end of 5.72 million pounds of manure daily from a proposed 88,000 head cattle feedlot several miles south of Larned. (@ 65 pounds/cow/day) That’s on top of the estimated 3.84 million pounds of “output” from the existing two feedlots just south of Larned if they were to operate at their full 59,000 head permitted capacity. This is not considering the 13,000 head feedlot southwest of Pawnee Rock. 

An 88,000 head feedlot raises many concerns. They stem from the inability of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to effectively prevent seepage of nitrates from cattle manure into aquifers at the two existing feedlots.

The existing and proposed feedlots are in highly permeable sandy soils and geological layers susceptible to infiltration from leaky feedyard runoff lagoons and applications of lagoon water on fields. Manure in solid form can easily leach into the aquifer when dissolved during rain and irrigation. Since 2001, water well tests reveal extensive nitrate pollution beneath and near the existing feedyards. Efforts to fix this problem have not worked. Nitrate concentrations remain many times above the safe health standard. With KDHE unable to remediate the existing feedlots, we doubt KDHE’s ability to prevent the same sorts of pollution from occurring at a much larger feedlot located over similar soils and geology.

Many are concerned that another feedyard will seriously intensify the dust and odors Larned and rural residents already experience. This is more than an aesthetic concern.  In Texas, a rare study of feedyard air pollution revealed antibiotic-resistant bacteria disperses for miles around feedyards.

If you believe as we do, that KDHE must not permit an 88,000 head feedyard unless concerns with the existing feedyards are fully researched and remediated, join us at the Pawnee County Courthouse on March 4 at 6:30 p.m. as we plan an effective response. Check on Facebook at “Pawnee Citizens Advocating for Rural Environment and Economy” for further information, updates, comments and more.

Felix Revello 

and Merrill Cauble

Larned