Revised environmental rules for Minnesota feedlots are now in effect

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For release: May 29, 2014

Contact: Forrest Peterson, 320-441-6972


Revised environmental rules for Minnesota livestock feedlots are now in effect

St. Paul, Minn. –- Revisions and updates to environmental protection rules for livestock feedlots in Minnesota went into effect May 27. Changes include permit requirements for large feedlots, definitions of ownership and permit modifications, and “housekeeping” updates.

A key issue is that the revised rule retains the authority of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to require State Disposal System operating permits for large feedlots. This includes feedlots with 1,000 or more animal units. One animal unit is defined as one 1,000-pound animal. One beef cow or horse, 3.3 market hogs, or 0.7 of a dairy cow is the equivalent of one animal unit.

In the 2011 special session, the state legislature voted to follow a federal government change to remove the requirement of the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for large feedlots if there is no discharge of manure from the site or from manure-storage areas.

In November 2011, the MPCA met with livestock industry representatives to discuss the need for changes to Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7020. Following several public meetings, public comment periods, and a formal hearing, the proposed changes were reviewed and approved by an administrative law judge.

The MPCA regulates the collection, transportation, storage, processing and use of animal manure and process wastewaters from the operation of animal feedlots. There are about 20,000 livestock feedlots in Minnesota, the majority being medium or small in size.

Since 2000, when the last major rule change occurred, Minnesota has been making a strong effort to ensure that large feedlots have a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit developed by the federal government, which also meets the state’s requirement to have a State Disposal System (SDS) permit.

These feedlot permits are designed to help prevent runoff containing manure, feed and other pollutants from contaminating groundwater and surface waters. Permit requirements include manure-management plans, keeping records, and plans for odor management and carcass disposal.

So far, about 1,300 large feedlot operations in Minnesota are operating under the NPDES/SDS permit. Feedlots with existing NPDES/SDS permits may continue to operate with this permit until 2016.

Following the rule revision, the MPCA is developing a separate SDS general permit. Large feedlots may continue to operate under their NPDES permit if they choose or they must apply for the new Minnesota SDS permit. An NPDES permit provides the permittee the greatest assurance of operating in compliance with both federal and state regulations.

For more information go to the Feedlot Rulemaking page on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website.

Broadcast version:

Revisions and updates to environmental protection rules for large livestock feedlots in Minnesota went into effect May 27. Changes include permit requirements for large feedlots, definitions of ownership and permit modifications, and “housekeeping” updates.

A key provision is that the revised version retains the authority of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to require State Disposal System operating permits for large feedlots.

In the 2011 special session, the state legislature voted to follow a federal government change to eliminate the requirement of a federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for large feedlots if there is no discharge of manure from the site or from storage areas.

Since 2000, when the last major rule change occurred, Minnesota has been making a strong effort to ensure that large feedlots have operating permits. So far about one thousand three hundred feedlots have such permits.

Following the rule revision, the M-P-C-A is making final a stand-alone state feedlot permit, which is expected to be available within a few months. If they choose, large feedlots may continue to operate under their federal permit or they must apply for the new state permit.

For more information, go to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website and search for “Feedlot Rulemaking”.

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