Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc., (BULLETIN BOARD: BNET) has
executed a Letter of Intent with Evergreen Farms, Inc., subject to final
terms to be negotiated, nutrient trading credit approval and financing.
Bion will install its integrated technology platform, which incorporates
its patented animal waste treatment and cellulosic renewable energy
production technologies, at Evergreen's 3,000-head dairy operation
near Spruce Creek, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The dairy is located
in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the largest estuary in the U.S. and a
region with a high environmental profile (and priority) due to its
proximity to Washington, D.C and its critical nutrient pollution
problems.
The Bion system will provide a comprehensive solution to
Evergreen's animal waste issues, since the system reduces both air
emissions and nutrients in the effluent discharge. Livestock air
emissions of ammonia are one of the largest causes of nutrient pollution
of the Chesapeake Bay. Based on Bion's previously reported data
from its Texas installation (report available at www.biontech.com), the
company projects nutrient reductions in the effluent discharge of 75% or
greater. Reductions in excess of 80% on a whole farm basis are predicted
for several key air emission constituents, including annual reductions
in estimated greenhouse gas emissions of five tons (or greater) per
milking cow.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed represents a favorable strategic
location for Bion to demonstrate the effectiveness of its integrated
technology platform, particularly its ability to reduce ammonia
emissions, to state and federal legislative and regulatory agencies, the
livestock industry, and environmental and other interested stakeholders.
Ammonia from livestock in some Pennsylvania counties represents up to
41% of those counties' nitrogen nutrient pollution impacting the
Chesapeake Bay. While an alternative manure treatment method - anaerobic
digestion - can also harvest some of the renewable energy content of
livestock manure, according to the USEPA, such digesters do not mitigate
ammonia emissions or nutrient discharges.
Ammonia is a regulated pollutant under USEPA CERCLA regulations
which requires notification if the facility emits more than 100 pounds
of ammonia per day. Recently, the ammonia issue related to livestock has
begun to be looked at with greater concern, as evidenced by the recent
legislative efforts in Oregon, New Jersey and Iowa. The Packard
Foundation recently announced a commitment of over $5 million per year
over the next five years to seek ways to reduce the impact of livestock
operation emissions and releases of nitrogen pollution.
Bion believes that the reductions of both airborne ammonia and the
nutrients in the effluent (75% or greater of nitrogen and phosphorus)
that will be achieved at Evergreen will qualify for nutrient trading
credits under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection's Nutrient Trading Program. The Nutrient Trading Program
is part of a multi-state, multi-agency initiative, the Chesapeake Bay
Program, to restore the Chesapeake Bay, with the goal of removing the
Bay and its tidal waters from the list of nutrient- impaired water
bodies by 2010. The Evergreen Farm installation will enable Bion to
demonstrate the effectiveness of its nutrient management solution to all
the participants in the Chesapeake Bay Program, which includes the
USEPA, the states of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland and the
District of Columbia. Pollution reductions achieved by the Bion system
at Evergreen Farm have the potential to generate revenues through
nutrient trading, greenhouse gas credits and potentially other avenues.
Regulatory and certifying bodies will be provided sampling and testing
protocols to validate system operating results upon which these revenues
will be based, and to verify continuing system performance.
Bion will utilize the Evergreen installation to generate additional
air emissions data in support of its permitting efforts for the
development of large-scale integrated agriculture projects that will
include livestock and ethanol facilities. One such Integrated Project is
the subject of ongoing discussions with local and state officials in
upstate New York, where Bion is working to develop an integrated
agriculture facility including a 42 million gallon per year ethanol
plant and an 84,000 head cattle facility.
About Bion:
Bion's patented and proprietary technology platform reduces
the environmental impact of large-scale livestock operations, such as
dairies and cattle feeding operations, and produces renewable energy
from the livestock waste stream. Air and water pollution from Confined
Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) is reduced to such low levels that
high-density livestock operations can now be constructed on a scale
large enough (50,000+ head) to efficiently integrate them with
biofuel/ethanol production in a manner that is environmentally
sustainable (Integrated Projects). Onsite production and use of
co-products - renewable energy from the livestock and the distillers
grain from the ethanol process -will create increased efficiencies and
profitability for both Project partners. Bion intends to focus its
efforts on development, operation and ownership of Integrated Projects
in multiple states.
For further information, please visit the company's website at
http://www.biontech.com or call 719/256-5329.
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