**Final 07/12/12** 

### Memorandum**of Understanding** **Between the** **U.S. Environmental** **Protection Agency** **and Association** **of Clean** **Water Administrators** 

## Collaborative**Efforts to** **Collect and** **Exchange Information** **about Concentrated** **Animal Feeding** **Operations Background** 

### On**October 21,2011,** **the U.S.** **Environmental Protection** **Agency (EPA)** **proposed to** **improve and** **restore water** **quality by** **collecting information** **about concentrated** **animal feeding** **operations (CAFOs).** 

### Because**of comments** **from states** **regarding the** **amount of** **CAFO information** **they already** **have, the** **EPA initiated** **calls with** **state permitting** **authorities to** **document what** **information exists** **at the** **state level** **and to** **collect easily** **obtainable information** **from the** **states. Purpose** **of MOU** 

### This**Memorandum of** **Understanding (MOU)** **is intended** **to guide** **the EPA** **and the** **Association of** 

### Clean**Water Administrators** **(ACWA) in** **the Agency's** **effort to** **collect information** **about CAFOs.** **ACWA will** **foster a** **dialogue between** **the EPA** **and ACWA** **members to** **facilitate the** **exchange of** **information. This** **collaborative effort** **between the** **EPA and** **ACWA will** **focus on** **identifying CAFOs** **and obtaining** **pertinent information** **about CAFOs** **on a** **state by** **state basis** **for use** **by both** **ACWA members** **and the** **EPA. Authority** **for this** **MOU comes** **from Clean** **Water Act** **§ 104(a)** **and (b).** **Common objectives** 

### •**To determine** **what information** **about CAFOs** **exists at** **the state** **level, with** **which state** **agency**

### such**information resides,** **where that** **information is** **stored, and** **in what** **format that** **information is** **stored;**

### •**To facilitate** **timely, consistent,** **and effective** **exchange of** **information about** **CAFOs between** **states and** **the EPA,** **to build** **state capacity,** **and promote** **knowledge transfer;** **and**

### •**To encourage** **and promote** **transparency regarding** **what information** **exists about** **the CAFO** **universe.**

### The**EPA and** **ACWA plan** **to take** **the following** **steps to** **achieve the** **above listed** **objectives over** **18 months:** 

### • Evaluate**and determine** **how to** **more effectively** **collect information** **about CAFOs;** **• Use** **best efforts** **to facilitate** **the collection** **and transfer** **of CAFO** **information currently** **maintained by** **states to** **the EPA;** **and**

### •**Design and** **complete a** **national overview** **showing how** **states manage** **animal feeding** 

### operations**including whether** **the state** **requires permits** **for animal** **feeding operations,** **either under** **the NPDES** **program or** **other state** **permitting program.** **Page 1** **of2 Final** **07/12/12 Other** **provisions This** **MOU does** **not create** **any right** **or benefit,** **substantive or** **procedural, enforceable** **by law** **or equity,** **by persons** **who are not** **party to** **this agreement,** **against ACWA** **or the** **EPA, their** **officers or** **employees, or** **any other** **person. This** **MOU does** **not direct** **or apply** **to any person** **outside of** **AC WA** **and the** **EPA. The** **EPA will** **comply with** **its Public** **Information regulations** **at 40** **CFR Part** **2 and** **other statutory** **and regulatory** **requirements. As** **required by** **the Antidefieiency** **Act, 31** **U.S.C. 1341** **and 1342,** **all commitments** **made by** **the EPA** **in this** **MOU are** **subject to** **the availability** **of appropriated** **funds. Nothing** **in this** **MOU, in** **and of** **itself, obligates** **the EPA** **to expend** **appropriations or** **to enter** **into any** **contract, assistance** **agreement, interagency** **agreement, or** **incur other** **financial obligations** **that would** **be inconsistent** **with Agency** **budget priorities.** **ACWA agrees** **not to** **submit a** **claim for** **compensation for** **services rendered** **to the** **EPA in** **connection with** **any activities** **it carries** **out in** **furtherance of** **this MOU.** **However, ACWA** **may receive** **reimbursement for** **eligible and** **allowable costs** **under the** **terms of** **any financial** **assistance agreements** **with the** **Agency. This** **MOU does** **not alter** **the terms** **of any** **financial assistance** **agreement between** **the EPA** **and ACWA.** **Any transaction** **involving reimbursement** **or contribution** **of funds** **between the** **parties to** **this MOU** **will be** **handled in** **accordance with** **applicable laws,** **regulations, and** **procedures under** **separate written** **agreements. This** **MOU is** **to take** **effect upon** **the signature of** **the parties** **and remain** **in effect** **for a** **period of** **2 years.** **This MOU** **may be** **extended or** **modified, at** **any time** **per the** **mutual written** **consent of** **the parties.** **Additionally, a** **party may** **terminate its** **participation in** **this MOU** **at any** **time by** **providing written** **notice to** **the other** **party. Digitally** **signed by** **Alexandra Dapolito** **Dunn f\** **s\ ON:** **en=Alexindra Dapdito** **Dunn, JAJ)^** **o=Assodatlon of** **Clean Water** **Administrators.*****^^****oaemttf^durw0*cwa-us-org.c=U$****Date 2012.07.12** **Oftl&M-OW Nancy** **K. Stoner** **Acting Assistant** **Administrator, Office** **of Water,** **U.S. Environmental** **Protection Agency** **Date Alexandra** **Dapolito Dunn** **Executive Director** **and General** **Counsel Association** **of Clean** **Water Administrators** **Date Page** **2 of 2**