Table Of Content

Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. USDA United States United States Department of Environmental Agriculture Protection Agency Reserve aTD930 .2 Unified National .U56 1999 Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations March 9, 1999 (ReprintedAugust, 1999) 1 Table of Contents Acknowledgments i 1.0 Introduction and Guiding Principles 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Guiding Principles 2 2.0AFOS and Water Quality and Public Health Risks 4 2.1 Characteristics ofAFOs 4 2.2 Water Quality and Public Health Risks 6 3.0 The National Goal and Performance Expectation forAFOS 7 3.1 Defining the Goal and Performance Expectation 7 3.2 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning 7 3.3 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan Components 8 CNMPs 3.4 Technical Assistance for 11 CNMPs 3.5 Assuring the Quality of 1 4.0. Relationship ofVoluntary and Regulatory Programs 12 4.1 Voluntary Program for Most AFOs 12 4.2 Regulatory Program for Some AFOs 15 4.3 Coordination with State and Tribal Programs 18 4.4 Land Application of Manure 20 4.5 Priorities for the Regulatory Program 20 4.6CAFO CNMPs 22 4.7 Incentives for Implementing CNMPs 23 5.0 Strategic Issues 24 Overview of Strategic Issues 24 CNMP Strategic Issue #1: Building Capacity for Development and Implementation 24 Strategic Issue #2: Accelerating Voluntary, Incentive-based Programs 26 ... Strategic Issue #3: Implementing and Improving the Existing Regulatory Program 31 Strategic Issue #4: Coordinated Research, Technical Innovation, ComplianceAssistance, and Technology Transfer 41 Strategic Issue #5: Encouraging Industry Leadership 44 Strategic Issue #6: Data Coordination 46 Strategic Issue #7: Performance Measures and Accountability 48 6.0 Roles 50 USDA-EPA Unified National AFO Strategy A cknowledgments The development ofthe Unified National Strategy forAnimal Feeding Operations is the result of a tremendous amount of thought and effort on the parts of many people. Those that deserve the greatest acknowledgment are those individuals and organizations that spent countless hours in the preparation ofwell-thought-out and articulated comment letters and statements at the listening sessions. These people from all 50 States provided the polish for a rough draft. “Through this The efforts of all the people who were involved in the drafting of the common-sense document also need to be acknowledged. These include USDA and EPA approach, we can personnel at the national, regional, and State levels, other Federal Agency personnel at the national level, State agency personnel, and the leaders of help strengthen organizations and groups with a keen interest in this subject. the farm economy while ensuring The leadership of USDAand EPAmust also be recognized for their vision and communities support to thisjoint effort. across the There are also two individuals, although they are no longer part ofthe Federal country cleaner, family, that need to be acknowledged for their vision at the very beginning of safer water.” this process: they are Fee Busby and Craig Cox. Fee is currently the Dean of the College ofNatural Resources at Utah State University and Craig is the Vice President Gore, Executive Vice President ofthe Soil and Water Conservation Society. March 1999 9, TheAFO Team Joe DelVecchio, USDA, Co-Leader Jeff Lape, EPA, Co-Leader USDA Kevin Brown, Will Hall, EPA March 1999 9, USDA-EPA Unified National AFO Strategy and 1.0 Introduction Guiding Principles 1.1 Introduction Over the past quarter century, the United States has made tremendous progress in cleaning up its rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. In 1972, the Potomac River was too dirty to swim in, Lake Erie was dying, and the Cuyahoga River was so polluted it burst into flames. Many rivers and beaches were little more than open sewers. Today, water quality has improved dramatically and many rivers, lakes, and coasts are thriving centers of healthy communities. The improvement in the health of the Nation’s waters is a direct result of a concerted effort to enhance stewardship of natural resources and to implement the environmental provisions ofFederal, State, Tribal and local laws. Pollu- tion control and conservation programs have stopped billions of pounds of pollution from fouling the Nation’s water, doubling the number ofwaters safe for fishing and swimming. Despite tremendous progress, 40 percent ofthe Nation’s waterways assessed by States still do not meet goals for fishing, swimming, or both. Pollution from factories and sewage treatment plants has been dramatically reduced, but runoff from city streets, agricultural activities, including animal feeding operations (AFOs), and other sources continues to degrade the environment and puts drinking water at risk. Astrong livestock industry (ofwhich AFOs are a part) is essential to the Nation’s economic stability, the viability ofmany rural communities, and the sustainability of a healthful and high-quality food supply for the American public.1 USDA and EPA recognize that farmers and ranchers are primary stewards ofmany ofour Nation’s natural resources, have played a key role in past efforts to improve water quality, and will be important partners in implementing improved measures to protect the environment and public health. In February 1998, President Clinton released the Clean WaterAction Plan (CWAP), which provides a blueprint for restoring and protecting water quality across the Nation. The CWAP describes 111 specific actions to expand and strengthen existing efforts to protect water quality, such as improving sewage treatment, controlling industrial waste, and protecting recreational waters. It also identifies polluted runoff as the most important remaining source ofwater pollution and provides for a coordinated effort to reduce polluted runoff from a variety of sources, including urban storm water, subsurface sewage disposal, and air deposition. As part of this effort, the CWAP calls for the development ofthis USDA-EPAunified national strategy to minimize the water quality and public health impacts ofAFOs. 1 The livestock industry accounts for halfofall sales in U.S. agriculture today (source: USDA, Economic Research Service. “Key statistical indicators ofthe food and fibersector.” AgriculturalOutlook. March, 1998: 32). USDA-EPAUnified NationalAFO Strategy This Unified National Strategy forAnimal Feeding Operations presents USDA and EPA’s plan for addressing the water quality and public health impacts associated with AFOs. USDAand EPAissued a draft of this Strategy on September 16, 1998, and requested public comment during a 120-day period. In addition, 11 national “listening sessions” were held throughout the United States to discuss the draft Strategy and hear public feedback. The final Strategy reflects written comments received as well as issues raised during the listening sessions. USDA and EPA appreciate the public feedback on the draft Strategy and will continue to seek public involvement in implementing the activities described in the final Strategy. This Strategy is not a new regulation nor is it a substitute for existing Federal regulations and it does not impose any binding requirements on USDA, EPA, USDA the States, Tribes, localities, or the regulated community. and EPA’s policies for addressingAFOs may evolve and change as their understanding of the issues increases through further work and receipt of additional information. 1.2 Guiding This USDA-EPA Unified National Strategy forAnimal Feeding Operations Principles reflects several guiding principles: (1) Minimize water quality and public health impacts from AFOs. (2) Focus onAFOs that represent the greatest risks to the environment and public health. (3) Ensure that measures to protect the environment and public health complement the long-term sustainability oflivestock production in the United States. (4) Establish a national goal and environmental performance expectation for AFOs. all (5) Promote, support, and provide incentives for the use of sustainable agricultural practices and systems. (6) Build on the strengths of USDA, EPA, State and Tribal agencies, and other partners and make appropriate use of diverse tools including voluntary, regulatory, and incentive-based approaches. 2 USDA-EPA Unified NationalAFO Strategy