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| Odors
are a concern for Idahoans and a frequent source of citizen complaints.
Odors are generated by a wide range of operations, including livestock
feedlots, wastewater treatment plants, and various other industries.
Odor is
defined in DEQ's air pollution control rules as "the sensation resulting
from stimulation of the human sense of smell." Odor is a sensitive
subject because perception of odors is subjective. What smells bad
to one person may not offend another. Our sensitivities and reactions
to odors are influenced by personal preferences, opinions, experiences,
and the varying sensitivities of our olfactory systems.
In
an effort to respond to citizen concerns over odors, the Idaho Legislature
has enacted laws directing the Idaho State Department of Agriculture
(ISDA) and DEQ to take certain actions to minimize the impacts of
odors on the environment and public health. Public Health Districts
in Idaho also play a role in addressing odor problems. |
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| Regulation of Odors |
Regulatory
Authority |
| Odors are regulated by
a number of state laws, rules, and agreements, depending upon the
odor's source and potential impact on the environment and public health.
Some regulations address odors generated by specific types of operations
such as commercial agricultural operations, swine and poultry facilities,
dairies, solid waste facilities, and rendering plants and associated
processes. Other regulations are broader in scope and may be applied
to odors when they are considered to be a nuisance or if they create
a public health hazard or cause air or water pollution. Link to state
regulations at the bottom of this page. |
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Regulatory
Responsibility |
| Just
as odors are regulated by several regulations, responsibility for
enforcement and for resolving odor complaints is shared among several
state agencies and local governments. ISDA and DEQ are the two primary
state agencies assigned by the Idaho Legislature to oversee certain
odors. City and county governments have jurisdiction in some cases.
DEQ's
job is to protect public health and Idaho's natural resources from
the impacts of pollution. If an odor poses a threat to human health
or causes pollution, DEQ takes the lead in resolving the odor problem.
Unpleasant odors often result from substances that do not present
a health hazard, however. If an odor does not represent a health
hazard, DEQ's regulatory authority may be limited.
In general...
| ...if
the odor is created by a business
or industry regulated by DEQ, in most cases,
DEQ will investigate and work to resolve the odor complaint
through development, modification, and/or enforcement of an
odor management plan. Minimizing odor is often a matter of
combining good housekeeping practices with technological improvements.
DEQ-regulated sources include facilities with DEQ-issued air
quality operating and/or wastewater land application permits.
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| ...if the odor is created by an agricultural
operation, it is ISDA's responsibility to address
the problem. Pursuant to an agreement between DEQ and ISDA,
odor complaints specific to animal feeding operations, including
dairies, are handled by ISDA. Responsibility for addressing
odor problems at large swine and poultry facilities is DEQ's
responsibility, however. |
| ...if the odor is created by a solid
waste facility, it is the responsibility of
the Health District in which the source is located to resolve
the situation, under an agreement between DEQ and the Health
Districts. |
| ...if the odor is created by pets
or the presence of other livestock in residential areas,
the complaint is referred to the appropriate city or county
authority for regulation under local zoning regulations. |
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| How DEQ Deals with
Odor Complaints |
| DEQ
has established procedures designed to ensure that odor issues are
handled in a responsive, timely manner by the appropriate governmental
unit. These procedures outline the process DEQ follows to resolve
odor complaints and to ensure compliance with odor regulations.
Odor complaints are addressed with appropriate and increasing intervention,
up to and including filing of civil action in certain circumstances.
View
DEQ's Policy for Responding
to Odor Complaints. |
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| Health Impacts of
Odors |
| Odors
are a nuisance, but are they a public health hazard? The current
state of knowledge suggests that it is possible for certain odorous
emissions to have an impact on physical health. The most frequently
reported symptoms attributed to odors include headache, nausea,
hoarseness, cough, nasal congestion, palpitations, shortness of
breath, stress, drowsiness, alterations in mood, and eye, nose,
and throat irritation.
Odors
are a complex mixture of gases, vapors, and dust. The potential
health impact of any odor depends upon the concentration of odorous
emissions as well as the frequency and duration of exposure. A variety
of methods are available to quantify odorous emissions including
olfactometry, gas chromatography, and a device known as an electronic
nose. More research and scientific data are necessary to quantify
health symptoms from the types of exposures experienced by neighbors
downwind of livestock or wastewater operations compared to those
who work day in and day out at these kinds of facilities.
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| Links to State Regulations
Relating to Odor in Idaho |
Agriculture
(excluding beef cattle, large swine or poultry operations)
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Agriculture
Odor Management Act (Title 25, Chapter 38)
Rules
Governing Agriculture Odor Management (IDAPA 02.04.16) |
| These requirements apply
to operations where livestock or other agricultural animals are raised
or crops are grown for commercial purposes. They do not apply to beef
cattle or large swine or poultry operations. They require agricultural
operations to follow best management practices to assure that odors
do not exceed reasonable levels and to develop odor management plans
to control odors if they do. ISDA is responsible for enforcing these
requirements. |
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Beef
Cattle Operations |
Beef
Cattle Environmental Control Act (Title 22, Chapter 49)
Rules
of the Department of Agriculture Governing Beef Cattle Animal Feeding
Operations
(IDAPA 02.04.15) |
These
requirements apply to large beef cattle operations as defined by
federal
regulations. They require beef cattle operations to follow best
management practices to assure that odors do not exceed reasonable
levels and to develop odor management plans to control odors if
they do. ISDA is responsible for enforcing these requirements. |
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Animal
Feeding Operations (including dairies) |
Cattle
Feeding Operations Interagency Cooperative Agreement (MOU)
(pdf on Idaho State Department of Agriculture
Web site)
Idaho
Waste Management Guidelines for Confined Feeding Operations (CFO
Guidelines)
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This
memorandum of understanding (MOU) between ISDA and DEQ defines the
roles of the agencies in regulating the dairy industry in Idaho
and designates ISDA as the lead state agency in this effort. Under
this MOU, DEQ refers odor complaints specific to animal feeding
operations to ISDA. (DEQ retains responsibility for determining
compliance with ambient environmental criteria.) The MOU is based
on guidelines for confined feeding operations developed by DEQ.
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Swine
and Poultry Operations |
Idaho
Health and Safety Act (Title 39, Chapter 1)
Rules
Regulating Swine and Poultry Facilities (IDAPA 58.01.09) |
| These
requirements prohibit swine and poultry facilities from creating
a public health hazard or nuisance condition including odors. DEQ
is responsible for enforcing this requirement. |
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Air
Pollution and Odorous Emissions |
| Rules
for the Control of Air Pollution in Idaho (IDAPA 58.01.01) |
Air
pollution is defined as "[t]he presence in the outdoor atmosphere
of any air pollutant or combination thereof in such quantity or
such nature and duration and under such conditions as would be injurious
to human health or welfare, to animal or plant life, or to property
or to interfere unreasonably with the enjoyment of life or property."
Sections 775-776 of Idaho's air pollution rules authorize DEQ to
control emissions of odorous gases, liquids, or solids that cause
air pollution. |
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Rendering
Plants and Associated Processes |
| Rules
for the Control of Air Pollution in Idaho (IDAPA 58.01.01) |
Sections
835-839 restrict odorous emissions from rendering plants and associated
processes such as cookers, expellers, and plant air. DEQ is responsible
for enforcing these rules. |
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Solid
Waste Facilities |
| Solid
Waste Management Rules (IDAPA 58.01.06)
Solid
Waste Facilities Memorandum of Understanding |
State
rules require the management of solid wastes so that they do not
cause or contribute to air pollution. Under an MOU between DEQ and
the Health Districts in Idaho, DEQ refers odor complaints specific
to solid waste facilities to the Health District in which the source
is located. (DEQ retains responsibility for determining compliance
with ambient environmental criteria.) |
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Wastewater
Land Application Facilities |
| Water
Quality Standards and Wastewater Treatment Requirements (IDAPA
58.01.02) |
State
rules require wastewater generating facilities that land apply wastewater
as a treatment alternative to be permitted. A standard condition
of these permits is a prohibition against creating a public health
hazard or a nuisance condition. DEQ is responsible for enforcing
these rules. |
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| For More Information |
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ISDA's Odor Management Program Web page |
DEQ's
Web page on Health and Air Pollution |
