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St. Paul, Minn. — A draft general permit for operating livestock
feedlots with 1,000 or more animal units will be open for public review and
comment through March 11, 2015. The State Disposal System (SDS) permit requirement
affects about 1,000 feedlots, which account for a large portion of the state’s
total livestock population.
Currently, more than 1,300 large feedlots in Minnesota operate
with a permit that combines the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit and the state SDS permit.
In 2011 the state legislature removed the NPDES permit
requirement for feedlots that do not discharge water quality contaminants.
However, the SDS permit remains in state law, requiring the development of a
separate state permit.
“The permitting system that has been in place since 2000 has
worked well,” says Randall Hukriede, manager of the Pollution Control Agency
feedlot program. “It has provided certainty to livestock producers about
requirements, and meets both federal and state law. Also, permits for large
feedlots improve planning for construction, manure management and emergency
response.”
Feedlots with existing
NPDES/SDS permits can continue to operate with this permit until it expires in
2016. Beyond that time they have the option of continuing with the federal
NPDES permit, which will fulfill the state law requirement.
Written
comments on the general permit must include a statement of your interest in the
draft SDS feedlot permit; an explanation of the action you wish the MPCA to
take, including specific references to sections of the draft permit that you
believe should be changed; and specific reasons supporting your position.
Comments may
be sent to Kim Brynildson, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194,
or e-mailed to kim.brynildson@state.mn.us. The
proposed SDS general permit (MNG450000) and fact sheet are available for review
at all MPCA offices during business hours.
A copy of
the proposed SDS general permit and factsheet may also be downloaded from the
MPCA feedlot website at: www.pca.state.mn.us/feedlots. Written copies are available by request.
Broadcast version
A draft general permit for operating livestock feedlots with
one thousand or more animal units will be open for public review and comment
through March 11. The State Disposal System permit requirement affects more
than one thousand feedlots, which account for a large portion of Minnesota’s
total livestock population.
Currently, more than 1,300 large feedlots in Minnesota
operate with a permit that combines the federal and state permit requirements.
For more information, go to the agency’s Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/feedlots.
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The mission of the MPCA is to protect and improve the environment and enhance human health.
St. Paul • Brainerd • Detroit Lakes • Duluth • Mankato • Marshall • Rochester • Willmar
www.pca.state.mn.us • Toll-free and TDD 800-657-3864
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