WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1994
11
HE SAID: "WE HAVE ALSO TRIED VERY HARD TO ASSIST THE FARMERS FINANCIALLY, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WISH TO STAY IN THE LIVESTOCK BUSINESS.
FOR
AN
AN
ΙΝ
WHO DO NOT WISH TO CONTINUE BUSINESS CAN APPLY "THOSE
ALLOWANCE BX-GRATIA
WHILE THOSE WISHING TO CONTINUE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE MANNER HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL GRANTS AND INTEREST LOANS TO COVER THE COST OF INSTALLING THEIR TREATMENT
LOW SYSTEMS.
"THE LEVEL OF GRANT HAS BEEN INCREASED TO REFLECT MARKET COSTS.
"FARMERS WHO WISH TO CONTINUE ON A TRY-AND-SEE' BASIS CAN, WITHIN A YEAR OF RECEIVING A CAPITAL GRANT, OPT OUT AND APPLY FOR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE.
THE
"THOSE WHO OPT OUT AND RECEIVE THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE AND THEN
ΤΟ TO COME BACK INTO THE BUSINESS, WILL ALSO BE ALLOWED THE
DECIDE
RE-
START
BUSINESS AS LONG AS THEY INSTALL AN ACCEPTABLE WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM ON THEIR FARMS, OBTAIN THE REQUIRED LICENCE COMPLY WITH ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW.
AND
MR EASON STRESSED THAT THIS WAS A VERY EXTENSIVE PACKAGE OF ASSISTANCE IN VARIOUS FORMS, AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE GIVEN THAT SUCH ASSISTANCE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES WHEN THEY WERE REQUIRED TO MEET EVEN MORE STRINGENT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND TO DO SO MORE QUICKLY.
IT,
MR EASON EMPHASISED THAT THE PROPOSED LICENSING SYSTEM HAD GONE THROUGH CAREFUL DELIBERATION AND EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH A NUMBER OF GROUPS REPRESENTING THE TRADE.
"ONE OF THE OUTCOMES OF OUR CONSULTATIONS WITH FARMERS IS THAT THE EXISTING FARMS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY USED FOR LIVESTOCK-
FOR KEEPING
AT
ΤΟ LEAST 12 MONTHS WILL BE ALLOWED
CONTINUE THEIR BUSINESS IN EXTENDED PROHIBITION AREAS PROVIDED THE FARMERS MEET DISCHARGE STANDARDS. THESE AREAS WILL BE CALLED RESTRICTION AREAS.
THE
A PAMPHLET
TO IS UNDER PREPARATION FOR DISTRIBUTION
FARMERS EXPLAINING IN DETAIL THE LICENSING SCHEME, THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES, THE APPEAL PROVISIONS, AND SO ON.
THE
HE ADDED: "IT IS NOT UNCOMMON THAT WHEN NEW ENVIRONMENTAL
ARE REQUIREMENTS
ABOUT IMPOSED, THOSE AFFECTED ARE PESSIMISTIC IMPACT ON THEIR BUSINESS, WHICH IS VERY OFTEN OVERESTIMATED.
"EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT ONCE THEY FACE UP TO THEM, CAN MEET THE NEW REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT TOO MUCH DIFFICULTY.
THE BILLS WERE PASSED AFTER THE DEBATE.
INDUSTRIES
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