Lawmakers, DEC agree stakeholder group should stay; funding, inspections and third‑party help remain unresolved

The House committee heard testimony on proposed amendments to S.3.23 that would continue the CAFO stakeholder group and authorize a third‑party contractor to help standardize inspections and training.

For the record, Misty Cincigalli, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, told the committee the agency already conducts field inspections and is meeting its EPA commitments. "We are set to do at least 10 inspections a year," she said, noting EPA will conduct inspections alongside state staff in the coming weeks. Cincigalli called a third‑party contractor "a welcome piece" for building training frameworks but stressed the state must attach funds to any new obligations.

Lawmakers and stakeholders pressed for clarity about prior funding and how much remains from last year's appropriation. A committee member asked whether the department had spent the $850,000 provided last year; commissioners said some items—such as an IT system and facilitator fees—remain in progress and the agency can provide exact figures in writing.

Representative Nelson, speaking for farmers and advocates, said the third‑party contractor is meant to deliver "consistency and clarity of rules" so farmers and regulators agree on when permitting is required. Nelson and other committee members said the stakeholder group helped open lines of communication but that additional measures are needed to rebuild trust between farmers and the agency.

Committee members discussed possible implementation pacing and funding options. Several members signaled support for keeping the third‑party provision in the amendment but asked staff to revise dates and funding language; one suggestion was a March 1 deadline to give agencies time to secure funding and staffing. The committee did not take a vote on the amendment during the hearing.

Next steps: the committee asked the DEC to provide a written accounting of prior appropriations, to supply detailed staffing and inspection schedules, and to work with the committee on specific funding language to make a third‑party contractor viable.