Pollutant Loading Reductions for the Revised Effluent Limitations Guidelines for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

摘要

Section 301(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to periodically review and revise, if necessary, effluent limitations guidelines and standards promulgated under CWA Sections 301, 304, and 306. Animal feeding operations (AFOs) have been identified as a major source of pollutants impairing surface water and ground water in the United States; therefore, EPA is revising the existing effluent guidelines for AFOs. The final regulation requires beef, dairy, veal, heifer, poultry, and swine AFOs to handle their manure in a more environmentally sound manner, including upgrading facilities to decrease the runoff potential from feedlots, limiting land application of manure based on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) agronomic rates, and encouraging other technologies (e.g., treatments that lower the environmental impact or reduce the manure water content).