Water Quality Program Focus on CAFOs

1
Water Quality Program Focus on CAFOs

• Pathogens
• Characterize releases from manure spread on
  fields and from storage facilities
• Determine performance of mitigation options -
  BMPs
• Nutrient releases to the subsurface
• Ammonia-based air emissions, and nitrogen air
  deposition (ORD Air Research Program)

2
Pathogen (releases from manure management)

• Accomplishments
• Support for the development of the CAFO Rule
  (2001/2002)
• Support for CAFO Rule implementation through
  Regional workgroups initiated by Region 3
  (2004/2005)
• Risk Management Evaluation for CAFOs (2004)
• A Strategy to Evaluate BMP Performance via
  Molecular Biology Methods in Watersheds Impaired
  by Fecal Contamination (2004)
• Detecting and Mitigating the Environmental Impact
  of Fecal Pathogens Originating from Confined
  Animal Feeding Operations Review (2006).
• Future Reports
• Reports on release of pathogens through tile
  drainage and riparian buffers
• Report on management of pathogens from a cattle
  feedlot by infiltration basins and constructed
  wetland.
• Improved key variables for use in estimating
  ambient BOD removal during winter runoff.
• Multi-site reports on fate of pathogens from tile
  drainage and surface flow under varying manure
  waste management applications.

3
Nutrients (releases to the subsurface)

• Accomplishments
• Support Region 6 through site investigation for
  enforcement actions against swine CAFO (2001)
• Support Region 6 and Oklahoma in monitoring PRB
  performance for ground water remediation after
  CAFO nutrient contamination (2005/2007)
• Scientific reports to enhance modeling efforts
  for transport of contaminants in root zone (2007)
• Provide data to USDA to implement changes in
  recommended land application practices (2007)
• Future Reports
• Report on ground water impacts from nutrients and
  other stressors following land application of
  swine CAFO wastes
• Multi-site reports on whether current NMP
  guidelines are sufficiently protective of ground
  water from land application of CAFO wastes
• Journal articles better characterizing transport
  processes for contaminants in root zone
• Review article on factors impacting efficacy of
  land application for use of CAFO lagoon waters
  for nutrient value

4
N Air Emissions (NH3)

• NH3 Emissions Characterization
• Fugitive Sources and Open Path Measurements
  (1995)
• Hog and Chicken Farming (1996-1997)
• Vertical Radial Plume Method (2000)
• OAQPS Method Designation OTM 10 (2006)
• Monitoring Study in EPA Consent Agreement with
  AFOs Industry (2007)

5
Summary Initial Conclusions

• Pathogen releases from manured fields can be
  significant.
• Effectiveness of management control strategies
  varies with season and precipitation levels.
• Land application of CAFO waste often contaminates
  ground water, and ultimately surface water, with
  nutrients. More effective NMPs are often likely
  to be needed for GW protection
• The majority (gt 85) of NH3 emitted from CAFOs is
  transported from the farm as fugitive emissions
  and is therefore, available for deposition to
  ecosystems downwind and PM formation.
• Ammonia dry deposition dominates the atmospheric
  N deposition budget in coastal watersheds of
  eastern NC where animal production intensity is
  high.

6
Contacts

• Water Quality Program
• Charles Noss, ORD
• Pathogens in Manure
• Ben Blaney, NRMRL, ORD
• AFOs NH3 Emissions Characterization Program
• Richard Shores, NRMRL, ORD
• Emission and Fate of N in Agricultural Regions
• John T. Walker, NRMRL, ORD