What is a CAFO?
The state Department of Agriculture defines a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) as a federal term under the federal Clean Water Act.
In Pennsylvania, CAFOs are regulated by the state Department of Environmental Protection under a formal delegation agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency.
The state DEP defines a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) as a livestock or poultry farm with a large number of animals inside buildings or confined feedlots.
In the state of Pennsylvania, a CAFO either has 1,000 animal equivalent units (1,000 pounds of live animal weight), a concentrated animal operation with 301 to 1,000 animal equivalent units (an operation that has an animal density of more than two animal equivalents unites per acre of land suitable foe manure application) or exceeds a threshold number established by the Environmental Protection Agency (such as 700 dairy cows, 2,500 swine weighing more than 55 pounds each, 500 horses of 82,000 egg-laying chickens.
CAFO permits require management plans to ensure that manure and agricultural process wastewater is stored and used as a safe, economical source of nutrients for crop growth. In addition, CAFO manure cannot be mechanically applied within 100 feet of surface water unless a 35-foot-wide vegetated buffer is maintained.
Pennsylvania CAFO permitting requirements are based on the PA Clean Streams Law and include requirements from the federal Clean Water Act. Both individual and general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are available. State Water Quality Management Permits are also required to assure proper siting, design, construction and operation of certain large manure storage facilities.
DEP's CAFO permit requirements include, but are not limited to:
- A Nutrient Management Plan that has been approved by the county conservation district or the state Conservation Commission under the Act 38 program. The plan must include manure application setbacks of at least 100 feet or vegetated buffers of at least 35 feet from surface waters. Also, manure that is stockpiled at CAFOs for 15 days or more must be covered or otherwise stored to prevent discharge to surface waters.
- An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for acreage being plowed or tilled.
- When required by regulation, a water quality management permit or engineer's certification for manure storage facilities.
- A water quality management permit when treatment facilities are proposed that include a treated wastewater discharge.
- A preparedness, prevention and contingency plan for pollutants related to the operation.
- A plan to prevent discharges to surface waters from raw material storage areas.