Guest opinion by WENDY JAQUET
House Minority Leader Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, is the District 25A representative in the Idaho Legislature.
Much of what a legislator does is to help constituents with issues that are affecting them that can be addressed or should be addressed at the state level. And sometimes, legislation is drafted as a result.
About three years ago Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, and I attended a town meeting in Carey. In visiting with constituents, we were asked to request assistance from the Department of Environmental Quality to determine the origin of high nitrates in the ground water along Lake View Drive, a residential-agriculture area within the city limits of Carey. A study by an independent engineer determined that both human and animal sources were present.
The families of Lake View Drive have worked hard to improve their septic and water systems and are working with the city of Carey's elected official to bring sewer and water service to their homes. As an interim measure several of the homes have purchased reverse osmosis systems. The confined animal operations in the area would use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to address pollutants from this source.
Jim Cenarrusa has a 6000 confined sheep operation within the city limits of Carey. In response to the engineer's study and complaints by neighbors and city officials, both Jim and Pete Cenarrusa signed plans and BMPs for the sheep operation and the land that it is located on. The plans were developed by the University of Idaho's Blaine County Agriculture Extension Agent and DEQ staff working with the Cenarrusas.
As of this date, Jim Cenarrusa is still not in compliance with the plan that he agreed to in April 2004. The large build-ups of manure and hay chaff are creating foul odors and generally impacting the neighborhood. The manure fertilizer which was to be incorporated in nearby fields was not spread last spring and fall as agreed upon. The BMPs the Cenarrusas agreed to perform were in part meant to prevent further ground water contamination. In a letter of Dec. 9, 2004, Mr. Jim Cenarrusa stated that "the problem is solely human feces as contaminating and not animal" and that until further notice the piles will stay.
Under existing local, state and federal laws it is difficult to regulate this type of operation. So, I decided to introduce legislation that would permit a city to regulate sheep operations within their city limits. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee and as the House Democratic Leader, I believed that the bill would be printed and a hearing would be held on the merits of the legislation. Instead the committee failed to print the bill on a vote of 3 to 5. All of the Republicans except one voted against printing the bill.
Carey residents had been reluctant to drag Pete Cenarrusa (former Idaho Secretary of State) into this effort until they realized that nothing would be done unless they got legislation that would allow them to regulate this type of operation. I believed that the Legislature would do the right thing. I am truly discouraged with the Idaho Legislature. I hope you will join me in urging Pete Cenarrusa to convince his nephew and partner, Jim Cenarrusa, to implement the BMPs.
As Carey grows, farm operations and their neighbors must try to accommodate each other. The citizens of Idaho have the right to expect that when their quality of life is threatened their elected leaders will protect them.
(Editor's Note: See related story, "Sheep corrals in Carey raise stink," in the Feb. 16 issue of the Idaho Mountain Express)
