More than 100 Congressmen have written the House leadership urging the House take action on H.R. 4341, which provides that manure isn't considered a hazardous substance under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) or Superfund. The letter reminded the leadership that manure wasn't intended to be considered as a hazardous wasted when Congress passed CERCLA legislation.

The members wrote, "Recently, a few state and local governments have sued livestock and poultry producers claiming Superfund liability. One Texas case has been settled, but only after 9 of 14 dairies went out of business, with each side paying millions in litigation fees. Unless we act, farmers across America could face vast liabilities under CERCLA and EPCRA -- an outcome not envisioned or intended when Congress enacted these laws."
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent