Laws and Regulations that Affect the Livestock Industry:
 Federal Clean Water Act - Point Sources 
Federal EPA Clean Water Act, 303(d) listings
Oregon Laws and Programs - CAFO Permits
Are You a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)?

Federal Clean Water Act

 1.  Point sources 
 The Clean Water Act is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Point sources are regulated by the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
 
Under the Clean Water Act, the NPDES program regulates discharges to waters of the United States from point sources such as municipal sewage treatment plants and industrial facilities.  States may seek authorization to operate the NPDES program, and, today, 45 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands have this authorization.  EPA is the permitting authority in unauthorized states, territories and Indian country.
 
Information on the Permitting for Environmental Results strategy visit: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/per 
 
 For general information about the NPDES permit program visit:  http://www.epa.gov/npdes
 
Federal EPA Clean Water Act, 303(d) Listings
 2.  Non point source
 Section 319 of the Clean Water Act directs EPA to work with states to formulate unregulated, incentive based, best management practices to control non point sources of pollution.  EPA does not regulate best management practices.
 
Oregon Laws and Programs
 1.  CAFO permits
 Oregon applies for and receives federal dollars from the US government for the Oregon clean water permit program.  Oregon Deparment of Agriculture (ODA) has the authority to issue permits and inspect operations that are Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) that meet this definition:
 
(a) The concentrated feeding or holding of animals or poultry, including but not limited to horse, cattle, sheep, or swine feeding areas, dairy confinement areas, slaughterhouse or shipping terminal holding pens, poultry and egg production facilities and fur farms;
 
(A) in buildings or in pens or lots where the surface has been prepared with concrete, rock or fibrous material to support animals in wet weather; or
(B) that have wastewater treatment works; or
(C) that discharge any wastes into the waters of the state; or
 
Animal Feeding Operation meeting the definition:
 
A facility is an animal feeding operation (AFO) if animals 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 growth.
 
Are you a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)?
 
For more information on CAFO go to the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture:
http://egov.oregon.gov/ODA/NRD/cafo_front.shtml
 
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