EPA Grants CAFO Extension

April 3, 2001

The National Corn Growers Association says the Environmental Protection Agency has granted a 75-day extension for public comments on a proposal to reduce water pollution from large animal feedlots. Public comment now is extended to July 30.

NCGA and 13 other groups sent a letter to EPA Administrator Christine Whitman asking for the extension. A concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) is defined as an operation with 1,000 or more cattle or comparable livestock animal units.

The letter said, in part, "This exceedingly lengthy and complex rule seeks to extend water quality regulation to tens of thousands of farms currently considered nonpoint sources." Noting that the proposal would expand water quality regulations from the current 3,000 to 39,000 animal agricultural operations, the letter requested additional time for potentially affected farmers to respond to a major regulatory proposal.

They said there are concerns regarding the "quality and completedness of the data EPA has used to show water quality impacts from animal agriculture and the need for this proposed rule."