United States
                              Environmental Protection
                              Agency

                              Fact Sheet
        Office of Water
           4303T
EPA-821-F-06-003
      May 2006
Guidance Document - Complying with Discharge Standards for Concentrated
Aquatic Animal Production

EPA prepared a guidance document to help permit writers develop wastewater discharge
permits and to help producers comply with the requirements at their concentrated aquatic
animal production facilities.	
Background on Effluent Guidelines for
Concentrated Aquatic Animal Production

In August 2004, EPA established wastewater
controls for concentrated aquatic animal
production facilities (often called fish farms). The
regulation applies to about 245 facilities that
generate wastewater from their operations and
discharge that wastewater directly to waters of
the United States. When these requirements are
applied in NPDES permits, they will help  reduce
discharges of conventional pollutants (mainly
total suspended solids), non-conventional
pollutants (such as nutrients, drugs and
chemicals) and, to a lesser extent, toxic
pollutants (metals and PCBs).
The August 2004 standards  are based on best
management practices to control the discharge
of pollutants. Several types  of facilities are
covered:  flow-through, recirculating, net  pens,
and submerged cage systems.

Summary of the Guidance Document

The document addresses questions about
applicability of the rule to various species and
production systems. The document also includes
information about the permit process. This
document is intended solely as guidance, is not
itself a regulation nor does it impose legally
binding requirements. In the event of a conflict
with any statute or regulation, this document
would not be controlling.

The document includes the following types of
information:
• scope of the 2004 regulation
• the model process technologies upon which
 the rule is based
• the permit issuance process
• frequently asked questions
• instructions for finding additional information
• glossary of terms.

Where to Find the Guidance
You can find the Compliance Guidance
Document - Concentrated Aquatic Animal
Production Point Source Category (EPA/821-B-
05-001) on our website at
www.epa.qov/waterscience/quide/aquaculture/.

For More Information
Contact at the EPA Office of Water, Engineering
and Analysis Division (4303T), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.
20460.

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