
	National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

CAFO Final Rule
-	CAFO Rule History

General Information
-	Guidance Documents
-	Funding Sources
-	Important Links

Virtual Information Center

Unified National Strategy



Animal Feeding Operations Home

NPDES Topics

Alphabetical Index

Glossary

About NPDES

General Information on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

NPDES Permit Writers' Guidance Manual and Example NPDES Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations - Provides information to NPDES permitting authorities, owners and operators of animal feeding operations, and the general public on how to implement the 2003 Clean Water Act CAFO regulations, including: 1) information to help permitting authorities ensure that NPDES permits conform to the CAFO regulations and 2) general information on Clean Water Act and NPDES requirements that EPA will consider when reviewing the adequacy of State NPDES permits for CAFOs. Customizable non-PDF versions in Word and WordPerfect format of the example forms in the appendices are available below.

NOTE: This document has not been updated to reflect the 2008 revisions to the final CAFO regulations. Portions of this document describing rule provisions that were not revised in 2008 are still relevant. EPA plans to update this document to reflect the current regulatory requirements.

Chapters 1 through 5 (PDF) (71 pp, 2.57MB)
Appendix A: References for an NPDES Permit Writer (PDF) (7 pp, 55K)
Appendix B: Animal Sector Descriptions (PDF) (19 pp, 92K)
Appendix C: Example Letters to AFO Owners/Operators Regarding Inspection Results (PDF) (11 pp, 64K)
Appendix D: NPDES CAFO Permit Application/NOI - Form 2B (PDF) (9 pp, 37K)
Appendix E: Example Large CAFO "No Potential to Discharge" Determination Request Form (PDF) (7 pp, 58K)
Appendix F: Example "No Potential to Discharge" Determination Request Tracking Form (PDF) (5 pp, 47K)
Appendix G: Example Manure, Litter, and Process Wastewater Transfer Record Form (PDF) (5 pp, 13K)
Appendix H: Example Nutrient Management Plan Record Keeping Forms (PDF) (23 pp, 52K)
Appendix I: Example NPDES CAFO Permit Annual Report Form (PDF) (7 pp, 56K)
Appendix J: Example NPDES Permit for CAFOs (PDF) (33 pp, 148K)
Appendix K: NPDES CAFO Permitting Glossary (PDF) (14 pp, 100K)
Entire CAFO Permit Writers' Guidance (PDF) (200 pp, 2.94MB)
CAFO Questions and Answers Supplement (PDF) (42 pp, 180K)
Example Letter to a Facility Not Designated as a CAFO (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (2 pp, 136K)
Example Letter to a Facility Not Designated as a CAFO (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (2 pp, 1.96MB)]
Example Letter to a Facility Designated as a CAFO (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (5 pp, 151K)
Example Letter to a Facility Designated as a CAFO (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (5 pp, 1.98MB)
Example "No Potential to Discharge" Determination Request Form (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (5 pp, 189K)
Example "No Potential to Discharge" Determination Request Form (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (5 pp, 2.00MB)
Example "No Potential to Discharge" Request Tracking Form (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (3 pp, 148K)
Example "No Potential to Discharge" Request Tracking Form (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (3 pp, 1.97MB)
Example Manure, Litter, and Process Wastewater Transfer Record Form (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (2 pp, 141K)
Example Manure, Litter, and Process Wastewater Transfer Record Form (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (2 pp, 1.96MB)
Example Storage and Containment Structure Inspections Log Sheet (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (7 pp, 190K)
Example Storage and Containment Structure Inspections Log Sheet (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (7 pp, 1.98MB)
Example Storm Water Management Structure Inspections Log Sheet (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (7 pp, 194K)
Example Storm Water Management Structure Inspections Log Sheet (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (7 pp, 2.02MB)
Example Nutrient Land Application Log Sheet (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (2 pp, 150K)
Example Nutrient Land Application Log Sheet (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (2 pp, 1.97MB)
Example Water Line Inspections Log Sheet (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (8 pp, 435K)
Example Water Line Inspections Log Sheet (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (7 pp, 2.04MB)
Example Annual Report Form (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORD Format] (4 pp, 178K)
Example Annual Report Form (Customizable Non-PDF Version) [WORDPERFECT Format] (4 pp, 1.98MB)

Producers' Compliance Guide for CAFOs - Describes EPA's 2003 regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The Producers' Guide (PDF) (69 pp, 1.03MB) includes sections that describe EPA's 2003 CAFO regulations, who they affect, what they require, and what assistance is available.

Cover and Contents (PDF) (9 pp, 196K)
Chapter 1: Introduction (PDF) (3 pp, 132K)
Chapter 2: What are the CAFO regulations? (PDF) (5 pp, 184K)
Chapter 3: Do these regulations affect me? (PDF) (15 pp, 372K)
Chapter 4: How do I apply for a permit? (PDF) (7 pp, 197K)
Chapter 5: What requirements will my NPDES permit contain? (PDF) (15 pp, 344K)
Chapter 6: What is the compliance assurance process? (PDF) (5 pp, 99K)
Glossary (PDF) (5 pp, 132K)
Appendix: CAFO Permitting Authorities and Contact Information (PDF) (13 pp, 237K)
Entire Document (PDF) (69 pp, 1.03MB)

Revised: Managing Manure Guidance for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) - Technical guidance designed to supplement the NPDES Permit Writers' Guidance Manual and Example NPDES Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. This guidance provides additional technical information for owners, operators, technical service providers, consultants, and permit authorities on how to carry out EPA's 2003 regulatory requirements for NPDES permitting of CAFOs. It also provides information on voluntary technologies and management practices that may both improve the production efficiency of CAFOs and further protect the quality of the nation's waters. This document assumes that readers have a basic understanding of the CAFO regulations (EPA-821-B-04-009).

Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 59K)
Cover and Table of Contents (PDF) (10 pp, 226K)
Chapter 1: Introduction (PDF) (7 pp, 316K)
Chapter 2: Operation, Maintenance, and Recordkeeping Requirements for the Production Area(PDF) (31 pp, 891K)
Chapter 3: Preparing for and Application of Manure, Litter, or Wastewater (PDF) (5 pp, 130K)
Chapter 4: Operation, Maintenance, and Recordkeeping Requirements for the Land Application Area (PDF) (26 pp, 570K)
Chapter 5: Voluntary Performance Standards for CAFOs (PDF) (23 pp, 1.14MB)
Chapter 6: Technical Standards for the Land Application of Manure, Litter, and Process Wastewater (PDF) (15 pp, 233K)
Chapter 7.1: Avoiding Common Deficiencies (PDF) (6 pp, 151K)
Chapter 7.2: Example Onsite Check List (PDF) (11 pp, 1.82MB)
Chapter 8: Additional Resources (PDF) (8 pp, 162K)
Appendix A: Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for CAFOs (PDF) (11 pp, 202K)
Appendix B: Sample Owner/Operator Inspection Checklist for a Large CAFO (PDF) (2 pp, 124K)
Appendix C: Recordkeeping Checklist for the Production and Land Application Areas at a Large CAFO (PDF) (4 pp, 148K)
Appendix D: Measuring the Amount of Animal Waste (PDF) (5 pp, 233K)
Appendix E: Animal Waste Sampling (PDF) (6 pp, 196K)
Appendix F: Soil Sampling and Testing (PDF) (5 pp, 146K)
Appendix G: Leaching Index (PDF) (3 pp, 118K)
Appendix H: Phosphorus Index (PDF) (13 pp, 87K)
Appendix I: Agronomic Nutrient Application Rate (PDF) (6 pp, 176K)
Appendix J: Calibrating Animal Waste Spreaders and Irrigators (PDF) (7 pp, 144K)
Appendix K: Soil Loss (Erosion) (PDF) (2 pp, 132K)
Appendix L: Winter Spreading Technical Guidance (PDF) (20 pp, 548K)
Appendix M: Minimum Depth of Rain at which Runoff Begins (PDF) (7 pp, 614K)
Appendix N: Recommended BMPs and Conservation Practice Standards (PDF) (3 pp, 115K)
Appendix O: Example Technical Standard (PDF) (16 pp, 218K)
Appendix P: Estimating Median Annual Overflow Volumes and Annual Average Discharge of Pollutants (PDF) (4 pp, 115K)
Entire Document (PDF) (231 pp, 6.26MB)

FUNDING SOURCES FOR CAFOs

Grant for Environmental Assistance to Livestock Operators - On October 15, 2007, EPA announced the names of recipients of $8 million in federal funding for providing technical assistance to livestock operators, including animal feeding operations, for the prevention of water discharges and reduction of air emissions. The two recipients of the funding are RTI International of Research Triangle Park, NC, and Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC) of Jefferson City, MO.

The funding recipients will provide livestock operations with two types of technical assistance at no cost to the operator: (1) comprehensive assessments of water and air quality environmental challenges and recommendations for strategies to mitigate these challenges; and (2) development or review of the facility's nutrient management plan, which specifies the amount of manure that can be applied to crops so the potential for runoff to waterbodies is minimized. The technical assistance will be available to any livestock operation in the United States. For more information, please contact Virginia Kibler at kibler.virginia@epa.gov.

RTI’s CLEANeast project - For livestock operations in the eastern U.S.
ERC’s CLEANmp project - For livestock operations west of the Mississippi River

Financial Assistance Summaries for AFOs (PDF) (48 pp, 308K) - A compilation of information summary documents that identify financial funding sources for animal feeding operations (AFOs). These summaries describe the financial assistance programs which provide funding sources through grants and loans for AFOs. This document serves as a reference for how AFOs can obtain funding to address a variety of issues facing livestock operations.

Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) Funding Opportunities

USDA, NRCS, Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program

EPA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Description

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)