2012 Final Action on the 2011 Proposed NPDES CAFO Reporting

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2012 Final Action on the 2011 Proposed NPDES CAFO Reporting Rule
EPA is withdrawing a proposed rule that would have required information to be submitted to the Agency about concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The 2011 proposal was in part a response to a settlement agreement reached with environmental petitioners in 2010, which required EPA to take final action by July 13, 2012. Although collecting CAFO information is important, the Agency believes an efficient approach that does not duplicate efforts is the appropriate next step. EPA will collect CAFO information using existing sources of information, including state NPDES programs and other programs at the federal, state, and local level to help ensure CAFOs are implementing practices that protect water quality.
Any CAFO information collected through consolidating existing data sources will assist in implementation of the Clean Water Act. EPA’s final action on the proposal does not require CAFOs or states to submit information to EPA. EPA’s withdrawal of this proposal does not change which CAFOs need permits under NPDES.

Darren Hickman, P.E.
National Environmental Engineer
Conservation Engineering Division
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Washington, DC 20250

202-720-4485 (O) 202-306-9146 (C)