The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has finalized changes to administrative rule NR 243, updating a rule which has been in effect since the 1980s. NR 243 addresses water quality impacts associated with Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs.
The DNR requires that CAFOs are covered under a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit to protect water quality from potential improper handling practices of manure and process wastewater (e.g., milking center wastes, egg-wash water).
The major revisions to NR 243 primarily affect large CAFOs and include:
- Restrictions on applying solid and liquid manure on frozen or snow-covered ground
- Requirements for large CAFOs to have six-months worth of liquid manure storage
- Statewide phosphorus-based nutrient management requirements
- Provisions for issuing general permits to groups of CAFOs in lieu of individual permits
- Adjustments to animal unit equivalency numbers used to calculate which operations are large enough to require a permit.
- Standard permit requirements for large CAFOs including mortality management, restrictions on chemical disposal in storage or containment facilities, stormwater controls and development of an emergency response plan
- Manure and process wastewater application restrictions near waterbodies
- Allowances for temporary manure stacking in winter
- Provisions outlining circumstances under which a CAFO is not responsible for the disposal and land application of its manure and process wastewater
- Revised inspection, monitoring and reporting requirements
- Permit requirements for small and medium CAFOs
Caltha LLP is a professional environmental consulting firm providing compliance support services to Wisconsin private and public sector clients. Caltha specializes in wastewater, stormwater and water quality issues.
For further information, contact Caltha LLP at:
Email: info@calthacompany.com
Website: http://www.calthacompany.com/
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