CAFO Updates Pt 2

CAFO Updates Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
I'm Bob Larson. New updates to the CAFO permits means more dairies and other livestock operations will have to comply in order to better protect ground water, rivers, lakes and marine waters from manure.

The Department of Ecology's Sandy Howard says they're offering CAFO's a two-permit approach for obtaining coverage that matches their discharge ...

SANDY HOWARD ... "For example, if they're discharging to surface water only, you know rivers, ditches, nearby water bodies, they're going to need to be covered by the combined state and federal permit. However, if they're only having ground water discharges, for example if they have got a large manure pond or lagoon that's discharging, they'll just need to get the state-only permit. It's a little bit complex, but I think we've worked closely with the industry to give them some options."

Howards says the new system covers the entire state ...

SANDY HOWARD ... "You know, we've got operations in Western Washington that are near Puget Sound that when it rains a lot, the manure that's spread out on the land and used as soil amendments and fertilizers, if too much is used we get some runoff problems that could affect our shellfish beds. In other areas of the state, like Eastern Washington, the risk is for groundwater pollution. And we've got large areas of groundwater that have problems with nitrates."

Howard says the DOE and Department of Agriculture will work together to implement the new permit system which will impact roughly 200 livestock operations statewide.

Previous ReportCAFO Updates
Next ReportWarnick's Hirst Bill