Published: July 11, 2008 12:59 pm            

Meetings on proposed changes in 2011 NPDES general permit for large feedlots

More than 1,000 large livestock facilities in Minnesota operate under a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

ST. PAUL — 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.

More than 1,000 large livestock facilities in Minnesota operate under a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 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.

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.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.