"Most of Tennessee’s factory farms would no longer need state permits that regulate animal waste disposal, under the terms of a bill before the state legislature.

If it passes, only animal farms that actually pollute groundwater or waterways would be subject to oversight.

The debate pits the multibillion-dollar agricultural industry against environmentalists and state water quality regulators. Farmers say the current permit process is too time consuming and expensive, while conservationists and state officials warn of uncontrolled pollution by farmers who don’t follow industry standards."

Mike Reicher and Anita Wadhwani report for the Nashville Tennessean April 5, 2017. [2]