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State Innovation Grants
EPA 2005-2006 State Innovation Grants Competition Pre-Proposals
AFO/CAFO Improvement Process
Statewide Effort for AFO/CAFO Operations
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Richard Harrell, P.E., DEE
Branch Chief, Management Support Branch
Environmental Permits Division
PO BOX 10385
Jackson , MS 39289-0385
Phone: (601) 961-5343
Fax: (601) 961-5703
This project is not being executed in cooperation with or funded by another federal program. However, it is expected that this project will involve stake holder interaction and interaction with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and others.
This project should not require regulatory flexibility from the federal government. All activities should in fact result in promoting and increasing awareness of recent federal regulation of Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) and Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO).
This project is supported by Jerry W Cain, P.E., DEE, Chief of Environmental Permits Division.
A. PROJECT SUMMARY
Develop system to allow for EMS plans to be included in the state’s animal waste permitting paradigm. MDEQ began development of a EMS plans for AFO/CAFO operations in federal fiscal year (ffy) 2005 within our P2 program. MDEQ expects to finalize this effort of developing EMS plans specific to Mississippi for AFO/CAFO operations in ffy 2006. MDEQ has unique opportunities and insight since our Environmental Permits Division is a multimedia (air, water, solid waste) permitting endeavor and has one branch dedicated to Agricultural permitting activities. Also within our Environmental Permits Division is our P2 program which lends itself to help support P2 and recycling activities within the permitting process. MDEQ/EPD has been progressive in the southeast in increasing public awareness and participation through its EnSearch online database of permits, permit activities, public notices and other environmental information that is now available online through our webpage (http://opc.deq.state.ms.us/default.aspx)
. This will only increase this effort. If funds are awared MDEQ hopes to develop a system to allow for electronic submittal and enhanced reporting of AFO/CAFO activities including Nutrient Management Plans.
- Finalize EMS plans for the primary AFO/CAFO operations within the state and include these within the animal waste regulatory paradigm.
- Allow for electronic publication of permit application forms, General Permit development, General Permit Notice of Intent applications, publication for public notice/awareness of activities. These types of activities should increase awareness of AFO/CAFO issues to the regulated community as well as the general public while reducing burden to MDEQ and the regulated community.
- Develop template for facilities to use and report P2 activities that encourages and promotes reductions in all media (air, solid waste, hazardous waste and water).
- Develop means where templates and plans could be submitted electronically. Data fields could then be extracted, stored and tracked in electronic databases. This would allow MDEQ to more easily collect, store and interpret data while also reducing burden to the regulated community. This would allow MDEQ to evaluate sites for potential siting criteria, TMDL impacts, and density or concentration impacts of AFO/CAFO operations within individual water sheds. This would additionally lead MDEQ to further develop citing criteria for sites within basins of impaired waters.
- Enhanced voluntary reporting. Develop of template for waste generation, P2, and recycling activities. Form could be developed for electronic submittal and in such a way to not significantly increase burden to regulated community. Again pilot idea on a voluntary basis for assessment as to inclusion for SEPS, regulation change, permitting requirements. This could be used as a pilot study and then transferred to other industries within the state to increase the states ability to track, identify and reward P2 and recycling activities.
- Currently there are several states throughout the nation that are utilizing the same base software system (TEMPO) as MDEQ. These “TEMPO” states routinely share modules and other software plugins of the base system. Thus anything developed by MDEQ will be available for sharing with other “TEMPO” states. Additionally the gathered information will be more easily retrieved and shared with EPA and other states dealing with AFO/CAFO issues nationwide.
PROJECT TRACKING AND MILESTONES
- Finalization of Swine and Poultry EMS Plans. MDEQ expects to complete its finalization of these EMS plans by March 2006. This could result in implementation by July 2006 at AFO/CAFO operations. Expect to see improved environmental conditions at regulated sites implementing EMS plans. Additionally, implementation of EMS plans at these types of facilities will result in reduced waste generation, better handling and disposal of the waste materials that are generated, and potentially reductions in water and energy consumption. At this time, exact predictions of these savings cannot be accurately calculated.
- With contractor help, MDEQ could realize completion of electronic application, notification, public notices and permittee compliance submittals by June 2006. This will result in reduced paperwork submittals, improved information transfer efficiency and reduced burden to the regulated community and to the permit writer. Additionally, these efforts will continue to reduce the need for individual permits and increase the use of general permits which allow for burden reduction to the MDEQ and the regulated community.
- For P2 templates this could be completed in conjunction with number 2 above (June 2006).
- To allow for database tracking would involve changes to our current facility tracking software (EnSite). This would involve other Divisions and possibly outside software firm, no completion date given at this time.
- Enhanced voluntary reporting estimated to be completed around December 2006.
PREPROPOSAL BUDGET SUMMARY
STATE: Mississippi
AGENCY: Department of Environmental Quality
PROJECT TITLE: AFO/CAFO Improvement Process
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