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A copy of the draft permit is available on the Web at: www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/feedlots.html

For more information, contact your MPCA regional feedlot staff at www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/feedlots.html#contacts

or call toll free: 1-800-657-3864

Meetings in July, August on proposed changes

in 2011 NPDES General Permit for CAFOS

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency feedlot program has scheduled a series of meetings to receive input from livestock producers about proposed changes in the next five-year (2011-2016) general operating permit for large feedlots, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).

More than 1,000 large livestock facilities in Minnesota operate under a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The NPDES program regulates the discharge of pollutants from point sources to waters of the United States. The federal Clean Water Act defines CAFOs as point sources.

Meetings will be 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at the following locations:

Monday, July 21, Pope County Courthouse, Glenwood
Tuesday, July 22, City Center, Blooming Prairie
Thursday, July 24, Jackson County Resource Center Community Room, Jackson
Tuesday, July 29, Redwood Area Community Center, Redwood Falls
Monday, Aug. 4, Detroit Lakes Public Library
Monday, Aug. 11, Blue Earth County Public Library, Mankato

A significant change moves the permit issuance date up to Feb. 1, 2011 (instead of May 31) in order to better align with spring construction. This also moves the application deadline ahead to Aug. 1, 2010. Other proposed changes include:

Anaerobic digesters eligible for general permit; other alternative technologies require individual permit.
Monitor basin perimeter tile monthly (instead of weekly).
No winter application of liquid manure, except if prior to Dec. 1, or during emergency conditions, or under an individual permit.
Modified restrictions for winter spreading solid manure, including phosphorus-based rates, and slopes less than 4%.
In addition to manure, regulated pollutants include litter, process wastewater, feedpad leachate and runoff, manure-contaminated runoff.
More detailed record-keeping for transferred manure.
Requires revised permit application for expansion construction, increased animal numbers, altering manure management.
Adds specific requirements for carcass disposal.
Adds detail for stockpile setbacks, best management practices.
Ownership change requires permit transfer approval.
Disposal requirements for construction, hazardous materials.

After the informal comment and development period, the permit will enter an official public comment period in late fall. The final permit is scheduled to be available by summer 2009.

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