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2011 Spring | Agriculture and Food Systems, Education & Outreach, Environmental Justice

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: Impacts on Human and Environmental Health

Student(s):

Melanie Gillette

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Gary Olson

Partner(s):

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10

Faculty advisor(s):

Charles Treser, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington

During my project, I worked with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prepare a community meeting on the Yakama Reservation regarding air quality issues and the negative impacts of large-scale animal farms, or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). I was interested in studying what environmental and human health issues affect communities near CAFOs, as well as the current situation in Yakima, specifically. I was also interested in learning about the role community meetings can play in bringing together various stakeholders to solve these problems. Working with the EPA gave me the opportunity to study these issues firsthand.