.p, . r AC 1 Office of Wastewater Management NPDES Regulations Governing Management Of Concentrated Slaughter and Feeder Cattle feeding Operations NPDES and how it affects the maintenance and Two operations with the same owner are considdered operation of concentrated slaughter and feeder one operation if they share a common border or ha\a ve a cattle feeding operations. common waste disposal system (wastes are commingled prior to discharge). NPDES stands for EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The NPDES program provides a Why are some slaughter and feeder cattle feedding system for regulating the discharge of pollutants from operations considered CAFOs. even though ttthey "point" (or discreet) sources into the waters of the are partially sheltered or temporarily housed'd? United States by allowing discharges only under certain conditions specified by the permit. The NPDES A totally enclosed facility with no discharge of waiastes program was established under the Amendments to to U.S. waters is not a CAFO. However, a partiaially- the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972. Section 502 of the sheltered facility IS a CAFO if it meets the size (nummber Act defined "concentrated animal feeding operations" of cattle) and discharge criteria of the NPDDES (CAFOs) as point sources subject to regulation under regulations, or if it has been designated a CAFO o on a the Act. As a result, NPDES regulations were written case-by-case basis by the permitting authority.'. In and published in 1976 defining CAFOs and the partially sheltered operations, the number of anirr.mals conditions under which they are required to obtain an maintained at the facility for 45 days or more is s the NPDES permit. combined number of animals in open and sheltetered areas of the facility. The en tire operation is considelered What are slaughter and feeder cattle CAFOs and one unit, and all the animals are counted for r the how are they defined? purposes of CAFO classification. Basically, CAFOs are animal feeding operations (AFO) Livestock marketing operations also may be subjeect to that meet or exceed numbers of animals (according to these provisions. Auction houses and transfer faciliilities species) established for animal feeding operations. A that meet the regulatory definition of a CAFO mmust facility is considered to be an animal feeding operation have NPDES permits if they discharge wastewateter to if it stables, confines, feeds, or maintains animals for a U.S. waters. total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period, and does not sustain crops, vegetation, forage growth, or For example, a livestock market where 1,500 cattle e are post-harvested residues in the normal growing season maintained for four days per month, or 48 days in e;each over any portion of the facility. Slaughter and feeder 12-month, is considered a CAFO. cattle feeding operations are considered to be CAFOs if they meet these two criteria and, in addition, house Why the sudden concern for slaughter and feereder more than 1,000 slaughter and feeder cattle. cattle CAFOs? Smaller feeding operations are also considered to be Concern over CAFOs is not new; degradations of CAFOs if they contain more than 300 slaughter and ground and surface waters from nitrogen, phosphotbrus, feeder cattle AND discharge their wastes into waters and pathogens has increased over the years, and 1 has of the U.S. through man-made ditches, flushing renewed interests from the livestock industry, ', the systems, or similar devices, OR discharge their wastes public, and regulatory agencies as well. EPA's NPDDES directly into U.S. waters that originate outside the program provides a means of addressing the problblem facility and pass over, across, around, or through the by regulating the discharge of pollutants frcrom facility, or otherwise come into contact with the animals slaughter and feeder cattle CAFOs by permit. Pagige 2 confined. Areas of the CAFO may include cattle lists some sources of information you can obtain to hhelp watering systems; washing, cleaning, or flushing pens, you understand and interpret the NPDES regulations and manure stacks or pits. Areas where dust is for cattle CAFOs. produced arc included because the dust may be composed of particles of manure, litter, or bedding and feedstuffs. ------- Information from the Code of Federal Regulations and citations in the FEDERAL REGISTER can help you understand the NPDES regulations applicable to CAFOs: • Criteria for Determining a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, 40 CFR Section 122, Appendix B (1992); • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, 40 CFR Section 122.23 (1992); • EPA Effluent Guidelines and Standards for Feedlots, 40 CFR 412 (Revised through July 1, 1991); • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and State Program Elements Necessary far Participation: Concentrated Animal . Feeding Operations, 40 CFR 54182 (Nov. 20, 1975); • State Program Elements Necessary for Participation in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, 41 FR 11458 (Mar. 18, 1976); • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit Requirements for Discharges from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (Region 6 Final Notice), 58 FR 7610 (Feb. 8,1993). In addition to these publications, don't forget to request EPA's Guidance Manual on NPDES Regulations for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (EPA 833-B-95- 001: December, 1995), and EPA's other new Factsheets on general application of NPDES regulations to CAFOs, as well as species-specific Factsheets for other animal industries. Where Can I Go For More Information? Additional information on NPDES regulations affecting CAFOs can be obtained by contacting the Permits Branch in your nearest EPA Regional Office: EPA Region I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203 (617) 565-4940) EPA Region II (NJ, NY, PR, VI) 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278 (212) 264-9894 EPA Region HI PC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) 841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 597-9078 EPA Region IV (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) 345 Courtland Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30365 (404) 347-2019 EPA Region V (IL, IN, MI, OH, MN, WI) 230 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3507 (312)353-2079 EPA- Region VI (AR, LA, OK, NM, TX) 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202 (214) 655-7171 EPA Region VII (IA, KS, MO, NE) 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101 (913) 551-7034 EPA Region VIII (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) 99918th Street, Denver, CO 80202-2413 (303) 293-1623 EPA Region IX (AS, AZ, CA, CMI, GU, HI, NV) 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 744-1877 EPA Region X (AK, ID, OR, WA) 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 553-1728 FOR MORE INFORMATION. CONTACT: Permitting: Office of Wastewater Management Permits Division (4203) U.S. EPA 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC 20460 (202) 260-9537/FAX (202) 260-1460 Nonpoint Source: Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds U.S. EPA Fairchild Bldg. 499 South Capitol Street SW Washington, DC 20024 (202) 260-7040/FAX (202) 260-7024 Compliance/Enforcement Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance U.S. EPA Ariel Rios Bldg. 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20044 (202) 564-2280/FAX (202)564-0028 ------- |