The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new rule that, according to their website, would require concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to submit “basic operational information to EPA so the agency can more effectively carry out its CAFO permitting programs on a national level.” In less official terms, it appears as though the information that they agency is aiming to obtain would help them better enforce water-quality standards.
The agency is looking at two options:
- Under the first option, all CAFOs would be required to report information to the EPA, unless states with authorized NPDES programs choose to provide the information on behalf of CAFOs within the state. This option is voluntary for states. Where a state provides all the information to the EPA, the CAFO would not be required to submit information.
- Under the second option, only CAFOs in focus watersheds that have water quality concerns associated with CAFOs would be required to report information to the EPA. Additional criteria for identifying focus watersheds include the following: high priority watersheds, patterns of vulnerable soils, high densities of animals, and other relevant information such as proximity to environmental justice communities
According again to the EPA’s website, this proposal is part of a settlement agreement reached with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Waterkeeper Alliance and the Sierra Club.
For more information on what they are proposing, visit the EPA’S WEBSITE.
The proposed rule has been published in the Federal Register and is open for public comment until December 20. CLICK HERE to read the rule post your official comments.
The EPA will hold two webinars to address any questions that there may be about this proposed rule. Those are set for November 9 and 17. Both will run from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm Eastern. Get more details on the webinars on the EPA’S TRAINING PAGE.
© Northern Ag Network 2011
Haylie Shipp
