Proposed 'odor management' rule creates controversy farms

OLYMPIA – The state Board of Health is wading into manure management with a proposed “odor management” rule.

But farmers are calling bull, noting its duplicative and unnecessary overregulation of animal waste by the state.

Under the Dairy Nutrient Management and Federal Clean Water Acts, manure is already regulated by the state Departments of Ecology and Agriculture.

State Board of Health officials declined to comment on the objection It calls a “misconception” in a so-called fact sheet available on line.

According to the fact sheet, the new odor management proposal is different because it “fo...