Animal Feeding Operations Construction Permits

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Animal Feeding OperationsConstruction Permits

• Sara Smith, Ph. D.
• Environmental Engineer

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Animal Feeding Operations Construction Permit
Processes

• Requirements in
• Iowa Code section 459 and 459A
• 567 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) chapter 65
• There are two processes - streamlined
• A) Confinements (reduced steps from 81 to 51)
• B) Open feedlots (reduced steps from 58 to 18)

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Confinements567 IAC Chapter 65 - Division I
NRCS
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Construction Permit Requirements Confinements

• Unformed storage or egg washwater
• Formed storage with 1,000 AU or more
• Increasing volume
• Repopulating after 24 months
• Installing a permanent manure transfer piping
  system
• For details, see 567 IAC 65.7(1)

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Animal units
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ConfinementsNew Permit Process Since July 2005

• Record number of applications
• Improved kaizen process developed by
• DNR
• Livestock industry
• Iowa Pork Producers Association
• Contractors
• Initial check for completeness
• Notify county
• Decision is made - 60 days

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Applying for a Confinement

• Submittal checklists
• No. 1 - Formed storage -no engineer
• No. 2 - Formed storage engineered OR unformed
  storage
• Simplified complex requirements into items 1-9,
  plus 4 attachments

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Threshold Requirements for Engineer
Requires an engineer if proposing formed storage
and operation is

• Farrowing/gestation with 1,250 AU or more
• Farrow to finish with 2,750 AU or more
• Cattle or dairy with 4,000 AU or more
• Any other with 3,000 AU or more

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Departmental Review Checklists for Confinements

• Two internal checklists
• Formed storage -no engineer, 2 pages
• Formed storage engineered or unformed storage,
  5 pages
• Different design criteria -CDS vs. plans, soils
  and hydrogeologic report

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Internal Review Checklist for Confinements

• Alluvial soils - Flood Plain clearance
• Karst or sinkholes
• Upgraded concrete standards
• Soils exploration
• Unformed storage prohibited
• Field Office Report
• Distances
• MMP
• DNRs evaluation

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Internal Review Checklist for Confinements

• Geologist review
• Soils exploration -karst/sinkhole -formed
• Soils and hydrogeologic report -unformed storage
• Boring requirements
• Groundwater measurements
• Plugged all cores
• Monitoring required
• Other permits

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Formed or Unformed Storage-Engineering Review-

• Engineering report
• Drainage certification
• Technical specs
• Engineering plans
• Plan view and cross sectional views
• Dimensions
• Storage capacity
• Freeboard

• Unformed storage
• Berm width
• Erosion control
• Groundwater separation
• Artificial lowering
• Liner specifications
• Percolation rate
• Or, Construction Design Statement (CDS)

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Internal Review Checklist for Confinements

• County participation
• Proof of public notice
• Notice - adequate
• Matrix evaluation
• Recommendation received within 30 days
• Public comments

• Does application meet legal requirements?

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Confinement Application Meets Legal Requirements

• No master matrix, or late countys recommendation
  
• DNR issues permit
• Passed matrix with timely recommendation
• Notice of Intent
• 14 days
• No County appeal - issue permit
• County appeals - EPC

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Confinement Application Meets Legal Requirements
//..

• Didnt pass the matrix with county
• DNR - Matrix independent verification
• If passes - Notice of Intent, etc.
• If it doesnt pass - Preliminary denial - Appeal

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Confinement Application Doesnt Meet Legal
Requirements

• Send letter of preliminary denial and reasons
• May appeal to EPC - 14 days
• If not appeal, it becomes final
• Can re-apply

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B) Open Feedlots567 IAC Chapter 65 - Division II
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Construction Permit Requirements Open Feedlots

• Open feedlot required an National Pollutant
  Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit -
  Construction
• Permitted open feedlot increasing
• AUC
• Basin volume
• Repopulating - 1,000 AU, discontinued for 24
  months
• For details, see 567 IAC 65.105(1)

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Open Feedlots New Permitting Process

• Kaizen Nov. 2006
• DNR
• NRCS
• ISU Extension
• Livestock group declined
• Optional
• Pre-application meeting
• In person or conference call
• Explain requirements
• Avoid delays

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Open Feedlots

• Pre-application meeting scheduled within 10 days
• Application reviewed and decision made within 60
  days
• Old process was 180 days, on average
• Electronic submittal?

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Resources for Livestock and Poultry Producers

• www.iowadnr.gov Under choose a program, select
  Animal Feeding Operations
• AFO-Listserve electronic newsSend e-mail to
  join-Animal_feeding_at_lists.ia.gov
• AFO Engineers [phone]
• Nearest DNR Field Office

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AFO Siting Atlas
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To Download the AFO Rules

• http//www.legis.state.ia.us/
• Click on "Iowa Law"
• Click on "Iowa Administrative Code"
• Click on "PDF Format"
• Scroll until you find
• "Environmental Protection Commission
• "Chapter 65 - Animal Feeding Operations
• Click on "567-65.DOC

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Questions?