Transcript US EPA Validation of Environmental Concerns and

Federal Polices and the
USDA/EPA AFO Strategy
Roberta Parry
US EPA
AFOs and the Environment
nitrogen and phosphorus
pathogens
ammonia volatilization
sediment
heavy metals
antibiotics, hormones
dust
pesticides
What is EPA doing about
AFOs?
USDA/EPA AFO Strategy
Draft CAFO Permit Guidance
Effluent Guidelines
pork/poultry
beef/dairy
CAFO permit regulations
Nutrient Water Quality Criteria
Proposed TMDL Regulations
Existing CAFO Regulations
Permits
over 1000 animal units (AUs)
300-1000 AUs, if direct discharge or through
a man-made device
under 300 AUs if a “significant contributor of
pollution”
No discharge <25-year/24-hour storm
Focus on manure storage
Broilers not covered
USDA/EPA Animal Feeding
Operations Strategy
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans
(CNMP)
manure storage and handling
land application
site management
record keeping
feed management
alternative uses
AFO Strategy--Issues
CNMP development and implementation
certification programs
 increase funding for public sector
technical assistance
Accelerate voluntary programs
- CNMPs by 2009
revise NRCS Standards
develop CNMP guidance
increase financial assistance
AFO Strategy--Issues
Implement/improve existing regulations
Coordinate research, technical innovation,
compliance assistance, and tech transfer
Encourage industry leadership
Data coordination
Performance measures and accountability
EPA Draft
CAFO Permit Guidance
Clarifies current regulations
CNMPs
Co-permitting of livestock integrators
General permits for large CAFOs by 2000
Permits for all CAFOs by 2002
15,000 to 20,000 permits
EPA CAFO Regulation
Development
Effluent Guidelines -- large CAFOs
Best available technology economically
achievable
pork/poultry 12/99
beef/dairy
12/00
Permit Regulations
all CAFOs
monitoring, reporting
all other requirements
CAFO Regulatory Issues
Costs of meeting standards
Controls for non-nutrient pollutants
cost/benefits
adequacy of the science
adequacy of existing management practices
Size of CAFO covered
Watershed issues
Record keeping
Off-site manure applications
Nutrient
Water Quality Criteria
Establish quantitative standards for
nitrogen and phosphorus
Waterbody-type technical guidance and
region-specific nutrient criteria by 2000.
States adopt numerical criteria into
water quality standards by the end of
2003.
Nutrient
Water Quality Criteria
Guidance availability
Lakes--September 1999
Rivers and streams--late fall 1999
Estuaries--just starting development
Wetlands--will follow estuaries
What is a TMDL?
Amount of a pollutant a waterbody can
receive and meet water quality standards
Sum of loads
point sources
nonpoint sources
Identifies sources
seasonal variation
margin of safety
Proposed TMDL Changes
List of threatened & impaired waters
TMDLs for pollutants only
Public review of state listing methods
15 year schedule
Highest priority waterbodies first
Include foreseeable increases in loadings
Implementation plan
Achieve water quality standards
TMDL Implementation Plan
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Implementation actions
Time line
Reasonable assurance
Legal/regulatory controls
Time needed to attain WQS
Monitoring plan
Milestones for attaining WQS
TMDL revision procedures
Websites
(http://www.)
AFO Strategy
epa.gov/owm/finafost.htm
CAFO Permit Guidance
epa.gov/owm/afo.htm#Permit Guidance
TMDL proposal
epa.gov/OWOW/tmdl/index.html
Websites
Compendium of state AFO programs
epa.gov/owm/stcpfin.pdf
USDA/NRCS Nutrient Information
nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/BCS/nutri/590.html
nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/land/pubs/nlweb.html