Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Rule 420 

420-1 

RULE 420 BEEF FEEDLOTS 

formerly LIVESTOCK FEED YARDS 

(Adopted 11/19/85; revised 9/14/99; 08/13/2002; 10/10/2006) 

A. Applicability 

Any Person using or operating a Large Confined Animal Facility shall acquire and maintain 

a Large Confined Animal Facilities (LCAF) permit according to the conditions set forth in 

Rule 217. The LCAF permit application, fee and renewal requirements for such a permit 

shall be substantially the same as those set out in Regulation II for permits, except as herein 

after provided. 

B. Requirements 

In addition to the conditions set forth in Rule 217 a Beef Feedlot which submits an 

application for a LCAF permit shall include a written plan designed to effectively control 

Dust. Such Dust control plan shall contain the following: 

B.1 Procedures for assuring Manure at all times is maintained at a moisture factor 

between 20% and 40%, in the top three inches (3") in occupied pens. 

B.2 An outline of Manure management practices, including standards and time tables for 

Manure removal, designed to effectively control Dust and to prevent adverse public 

health conditions. 

C.. Compliance 

The Air Pollution Control Officer shall grant an Authority to Construct (ATC) or a Permit to 

Operate (PTO) upon receiving a Dust control plan which he believes is reasonably designed 

to meet the criteria set forth in B.1 and B.2 above. Failure to comply with the terms of an 

approved Dust control plan shall be grounds for an ATC or PTO revocation and/or for 

imposition of other penalties and sanctions contained in the District's rules and regulations. 

D. Exceptions 

The Air Pollution Control Officer may grant exception to the provisions of section B.1 only 

 for the following: 

D.1 An exception to the minimum 20% moisture content limit may be granted for a 

period of up to sixty (60) days in any fiscal year, provided a written application is 

submitted describing in detail an alternative dust control plan. The alternative dust 

control plan shall contain measures to control Dust as effectively as to assure 

compliance with Rule 401, Opacity, and Rule 407, Nuisance. 

D.2 An exception to the maximum 40% moisture content limit may be allowed during 

rainy periods, as defined in Rule 101, Definitions.
Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Rule 420 

420-2 

E. Test Methods 

The following test method shall be used to determine manure moisture content within 

occupied pens at the livestock feed yards. 

E.1 The corrals shall be sampled in such a manner as to be representative of the feedlot. 

No fewer than 10% of the total number of occupied corrals shall be tested. Selection 

shall be random and must have at least four (4) inches of manure base for the test to 

be valid. Boot covers shall be worn to help prevent transport of biological 

contaminants into the corrals. 

E.2 Random samples shall be taken throughout each selected corral. The moisture 

content of manure shall be determined with an electrical conductivity moisture meter. 

 Moisture reading shall be taken by introducing the probe three inches into the 

manure. All readings shall be recorded and averaged. 

E.3 Random samples is defined for purposes of this rule as the moisture reading of 

occupied corrals in a manner lacking previous calculation, direction or without intent 

of a specific result or purpose.