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E-mail StoryDairymen unhappy about wait
Kern application process taking too long, they say
| Tuesday, Oct 9 2007 11:15 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Oct 9 2007 11:19 PM
The county is taking too long to process applications for new dairies, a group of dairymen told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
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In 2004, Kern County received 24 dairy applications that would bring 200,000 cows to the area. Because of the influx, the county put a halt to new dairy applications until it could analyze the air, water smell and other environmental impacts of the proposed dairies, and draft an ordinance to deal with future applications.
But the deadline to finalize the environmental document has been pushed back several times. On Tuesday, planning department officials said it would take seven more months to finalize.
Would-be dairy owners aren't happy about the long wait.
"The dairy industry has been very patient," said Betsy Hunter, an area representative for Chino-based Milk Producers Council. "We've been given numerous deadline and it keeps getting moved back."
The extended deadline also is driving up the cost of the environmental study and the dairy applicants are being asked to cough up more money to pay for it. Most have already paid $25,000 to $30,000.
County planner Lorelei Oviatt gave several reasons for the delay.
One is the changing science with regard to pollution created by dairies.
Also, the county has had to consider new environmental problems, like the the effects of greenhouse gases. Cows produce a large amount of methane, a greenhouse gas that has been linked to global climate change.
The state attorney general recently sued San Bernardino County for not considering the impact of increased greenhouse gases from future growth in the county's general plan. Oviatt said she didn't want to put Kern at risk of facing a similar legal challenge that could further drag out a decision on the diary permits.
The delays have also been caused by a lack of county planning staff and the sudden death of an outside consultant assisting the county on the project, she said.
While costs of the study have increased, Oviatt said, the dairymen are getting a deal because one study is being undertaken to address all the dairies.
Under normal circumstances, an environmental study would be conducted on each new dairy. That would cost each dairyman more than what's he's now paying, she said.
The dairymen's costs have also been offset by a $400,000 state grant, she said.
When pressed on a deadline by supervisors, Oviatt said she couldn't promise a delivery date but she would work overtime and weekends to meet the new deadline.