Oregon Cattlemen’s Association Recommendations for

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspections

EPA will be conducting extensive aerial over flights in Oregon starting in December and will be taking enforcement action as needed!

 

  1. If your operation may be contributing pollution to waters of the State, be an Animal Feeding Operation (AFO), a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) or a winter feeding operation visit our WEST Program page for more information and contact Wym Mathews (503-986-4700) at ODA for an educational review to evaluate your operation.  Assistance with funding improvements may be available through the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board if applied for prior to regulatory enforcement action.
     
  2. Review the EPA Brochure (Adobe PDF) about AFO and CAFO.  AFO definition:  An Animal Feeding Operation is a facility with animals that are stabled/confined, or fed/maintained for 45 days or more within any 12-month period, and the facility does not produce any crops, vegetation or forage (ie bare ground).  Visit the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) web page for more information about AFOs and CAFOs:  http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/NRD/.
     
  3. Record when livestock enter a "confined" area that has bare ground and also has a stream/creek where runoff could get into the stream.  These two conditions, bare ground and a stream within the area where the livestock are confined for 45 or more days, is a violation of the Clean Water Act regulations.  An operation with this kind of set up is more likely to receive a visit from EPA.  If the animal or animals are only in the area briefly, very good records would be needed to avoid a penalty and ultimately a required permit and plan for the operation.

 

  1. If you have a permitted facility review all permit requirements including record keeping requirements.  If you have made any changes to your operation notify ODA.   No discharge is permitted! 
     
  2. Begin reviewing your 1010 rules and assess your land and livestock before winter sets in and the snow covers everything up.  Photo documentation of any animal feeding areas that has water regulated by Oregon could be a life saver.  OCA can provide a copy of any watershed 1010 rules.
     
  3. Always accompany the inspector, take pictures and have a third party present when possible.  It is your right to require a search warrant if you so desire. It may provide some avenues of defense if there is a "gray" area during or after the inspection is conducted.