"EPA Wants More Information from Livestock Agriculture" - GreenStone FCS Partners, Spring 2012

One of the more confusing and contentious environmental issues affecting Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) owners has been the issue surrounding the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
program. Unfortunately, the recent proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not seem to have helped relieve this issue.

Agricultural groups are not happy with the EPA’s October 21, 2011 proposed NPDES CAFO reporting rule. Those concerned feel that the EPA has simply overstepped its authority as it relates to regulation of CAFOs that do not discharge.

The EPA’s previous attempts to regulate CAFOs that did not discharge nor propose to discharge (these are the key terms) were thwarted in the Waterkeeper Alliance v. EPA and National Pork Producers Council v. U.S. EPA cases. This most recent proposed reporting rule reflects a May 25, 2010 settlement the EPA reached with environmental groups...

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