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National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

Animal Feeding Operations - Regulations and Guidance

Regulations

2014

Regulatory Flexibility Act Section 610 Review of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Regulation and Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) - Review of the 2003 NPDES permit regulation and effluent limitations guidelines (ELG) standards for CAFOs pursuant to section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).


2012

EPA Administered Permit Programs: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System - This document consolidates the current federal CAFO regulatory requirements included in the 2012 CAFO rule revision to remove the Fifth Circuit Court’s vacated elements, and the 2008 and 2003 final CAFO rules into a single document.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Reporting Rule - EPA co-proposed two options for obtaining basic information from CAFOs to support EPA in meeting its water quality protection responsibilities under the Clean Water Act (CWA). EPA withdrew the proposed rule in 2012. 

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: Removal of Vacated Elements in Response to 2011 Court Decision - EPA revised provisions of the 2008 CAFO rule that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals had vacated; in particular clarifying that CAFOs are required to have permits when they discharge as opposed to when they propose to discharge.


2008

Revised National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation and Effluent Limitations Guidelines for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Response to the Waterkeeper Decision This final rule furthers the statutory goal of restoring and maintaining the nation’s water quality by ensuring that CAFOs properly manage manure generated by their operations.


2003

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation and Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) - Revises and clarifies the EPA's regulatory requirements for CAFOs under the CWA. This final rule ensures that CAFOs take appropriate actions to manage manure effectively in order to protect the nation's water quality. The rule revises two sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the NPDES permitting requirements for CAFOs (Sec. 122), and ELGs for CAFOs (Sec. 412).

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Guidance

NPDES Permit Writers' Manual for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) - Provides information to states, producers, and the general public including:

  • general information on Clean Water Act (CWA) and NPDES requirements for CAFOs,
  • information to explain CAFO permitting requirements under the CWA, and
  • technical information to help states and producers understand options for nutrient management planning.

Regulatory Definitions of Large CAFOs, Medium CAFOs, and Small CAFOs - This factsheet defines a large, medium, and small concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO).

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