Effluent Guidelines

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Industry

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

2008 CAFO Regulations

The 2008 final CAFO regulations revise portions of the 2003 CAFO regulations to address the Second Circuit court's vacature and remand orders in its decision in Waterkeeper Alliance et al. v. EPA. Please check back to this site for upcoming additions.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations—Final Rule
- Addendum to the Development Document for CAFOs (PDF) (96 pp., 846 K; October 2008)
Federal Register Notice (November 20, 2008)
Press Release (November 20, 2008)

2005 Second Circuit Court Decision on CAFOs

The revised CAFO regulations expanded the number of operations covered by the rule to an estimated 15,500 and included requirements to address the land application of manure from CAFOs. The rule became effective on April 14, 2003 and authorized NPDES states were required to modify their programs by February 2005 and develop state technical standards.

On February 28, 2005, the Second Circuit issued its decision in Waterkeeper Alliance et al. v. EPA, 399 F.3d 486. EPA is currently updating the CAFO rule to reflect the changes requested by the Court. Additional information on the 2005 Second Circuit Decision.

Top of Page

2003 Final Rule

On February 12, 2003, we finalized a new rule for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that revises two sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements for CAFOs (§122), and the effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for CAFOs (§412). The new rule will ensure that CAFOs take appropriate actions to manage manure effectively in order to protect the nation's water quality. More information on AFOs, CAFOs, and the NPDES permitting program for CAFOs.

The CAFO ELGs establish performance expectations for existing and new sources to ensure appropriate storage of manure, as well as expectations for proper land application practices at the CAFO. The required nutrient management plan would identify the site-specific actions to be taken by the CAFO to ensure proper and effective manure and wastewater management.

The CAFO Final Rule was signed on December 15, 2002 and was published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2003 | Print version (100 pages, 1.1 MB).

Additional information on the final rule, including plain language brochures and permit writers's guidance manuals are also available.

Technical Development Document

Development Document for the Final Revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Regulation and the Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs (scroll down)
The Technical Development Document of the Final Revisions to the NPDES and Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs is also available at Regulations.gov (EPA-HQ-OW-2002-0025). The Technical Development Document is split into documents numbered 36 through 40.

Economic Analysis

Economic Analysis of the Final Revisions to the NPDES and Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs (scroll down)
The Economic Analysis of the Final Revisions to the NPDES and Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs is also available at Regulations.gov (EPA-HQ-OW-2002-0025). The Economic Analysis is split into documents numbered 27 through 35.

Environmental And Economic Benefits Analysis

Environmental and Economic Benefit Analysis of Final Revisions to the NPDES Regulation and the Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs (scroll down)
The Environmental And Economic Benefits Analysis of the Final Revisions to the NPDES and Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs is also available at Regulations.gov (EPA-HQ-OW-2002-0025). The Environmental and Economic Benefits Analysis is split into documents numbered 41 through 44.

Cost Methodology

Cost Methodology for the Final Revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Regulation and the Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs (scroll down)
The Cost Methodology for the Final Revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Regulation and the Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs is also available at Regulations.gov (EPA-HQ-OW-2002-0025). The Cost Methodology is split into documents numbered 54 through 57.

Top of Page

Managing Manure Guidance for CAFOs

Technical guidance to help NPDES permit authorities (States and EPA Regions), permittees, and technical service providers implement our February 2003 revised Permit Regulations and Effluent Guidelines for CAFOs.

Top of Page