Concentrated

Animal

Feeding

Operations

What Are the Federal Requirements for 

Dairy Cow and Heifer CAFOs?

In December 2002, EPA revised the Clean Water 

Act regulation for Concentrated Animal Feeding 

Operations, or CAFOs. If you own or operate a 

dairy cow or heifer CAFO, you must apply for a 

permit. This pamphlet gives general information 

about what your permitting authority might 

require in your CAFO’s permit. 

Clean Water Act Requirements

Information Series Pamphlet 

Penalty for Private Use $300Official BusinessWashington, DC 20460Environmental Protection Agency (4203)United States

Other Pamphlets in EPA’s CAFO Clean Water 

Act Requirements Information Series

Will My Operation Be Regulated?

EPA 833-F-02-006

What Are the Federal Requirements for Swine CAFOs?

EPA 833-F-02-007

What Are the Federal Requirements for Chicken and 

Turkey CAFOs?

EPA 833-F-02-008

What Are the Federal Requirements for Beef Cattle and 

Veal Calf CAFOs?

EPA 833-F-02-0010

What Are the Federal Requirements for Horse and 

Sheep CAFOs?

EPA 833-F-02-0011

What Are the Federal Requirements for Duck CAFOs?

EPA 833-F-02-0012

What Are the Federal Record-Keeping and Reporting 

Requirements?

EPA 833-F-02-0013

How do I contact my permitting authority?

Visit www.epa.gov/npdes/afo/statecontacts for contact 

information on your permitting authority.

Where can I get copies of these brochures and 

more information?

Call the Office of Water Resource Center, 

(202) 566-1729 to request copies of these pamphlets and 

other documents. Call the CAFO Phone Line at 

(202) 564-0766 with questions or visit the following EPA or 

USDA web sites.

EPA:

www.epa.gov/npdes/caforule

www.epa.gov/agriculture

USDA:

www.usda.gov

Photos courtesy of USDA 

EPA 833-F-02-009

December 2002
What will my operation’s permit require? 

Your CAFO permit will require you to meet certain 

conditions for your production 

and land application areas. The 

specific requirements of your 

permit will depend on whether 

your operation is a Large, 

Medium, or designated CAFO. 

Requirements for all dairy cow or heifer CAFOs

You can expect your permit to require you to 

ü Implement a nutrient management plan

ü Submit annual reports to your permitting authority

ü Keep your permit current until you completely close 

your operation and remove all manure

ü Keep records of your nutrient management 

practices for at least 5 years (See the pamphlet 

What Are the Federal Record-Keeping and Reporting 

Requirements?)

Nutrient management plans for all dairy cow and 

heifer CAFOs must include provisions for

ü Assuring adequate manure storage capacity

ü Proper handling of dead animals and chemicals

ü Diverting clean water from the production area

ü Keeping animals out of surface water

ü Using site-specific 

conservation practices

ü Developing ways to test 

manure and soil

ü Assuring appropriate 

use of nutrients when 

you spread manure

ü Keeping records of your nutrient management practices

Your permitting authority might set more 

requirements for any size CAFO. 

Requirements for Medium and designated dairy 

cow or heifer CAFOs

Your permitting authority might set more requirements for 

your nutrient management plan. These requirements will 

depend on the permit writer’s best professional judgment 

and could be like the requirements for Large dairy cow or 

heifer CAFOs. 

Requirements for large dairy cow or heifer CAFOs 

Nutrient management plans for Large dairy cow or heifer 

CAFOs have more requirements for production and land 

application areas.

Production area

ü Design your production area to contain all of your 

CAFO’s manure plus the runoff from a 25-year, 

24-hour rainfall event (large storms). (Overflows from 

large storms are allowed only if your operation is 

designed and operated to meet these specifications.)

ü Install depth markers in liquid manure storage 

structures 

ü Inspect your production area weekly and all water 

lines daily

ü Correct any problems you find as soon as possible

ü Properly handle dead animals

Land application area

ü Apply manure at rates that meet your permitting 

authority’s standards

ü Analyze manure for 

nutrient content at least 

once a year

ü Analyze the soil from 

your land application 

fields for phosphorus 

amounts every 5 years

ü Avoid applying manure to 

any land within 100 feet 

of surface water

ü From time to time, inspect your land application 

equipment for leaks

Transferring manure to other persons

ü Keep records for at least 5 years on the date, 

recipient, amount, and nutrient content of the 

manure you transferred 

ü Information about the nutrient content of your 

manure must be given to the recipient 

The production area

is the area where 

your animals are 

housed and manure 

is stored.

The land application

area includes all 

the land under your 

control where you 

spread manure.

Some Large dairy cow 

or heifer CAFOs may 

qualify for equivalent 

discharge allowances. 

If you use innovative 

technologies, like 

treating wastewater in 

your production area, 

ask your permitting 

authority about your 

options.

Is my dairy cow or heifer operation a 

CAFO?

Your operation is a CAFO 

if it is an animal feeding 

operation (AFO) and it 

meets one of the following 

conditions

Large CAFOs

Your dairy cow or heifer AFO is a Large CAFO if it has 

at least

ü 700 dairy cows

ü 1,000 heifers

Medium CAFOs

Your dairy cow or heifer AFO is a Medium CAFO if it has 

at least

ü 200 dairy cows

ü 300 heifers

and

ü a man-made ditch or pipe carries manure 

or wastewater from your operation or

ü your animals come into contact with surface 

water running through the area where they’re 

confined

Designated CAFOs

No matter what size your operation is, if it is an AFO, it 

can be designated a CAFO. If your permitting authority 

inspects your operation and finds that it’s adding 

pollutants to surface waters, your operation might need 

a CAFO permit. 

My operation is a CAFO. What do I 

have to do?

You must apply to your permitting authority for a 

permit. Most states have the authority to manage 

CAFO programs and issue permits. State CAFO 

programs are based on the revised national regulation. 

You can use this pamphlet to help you learn about 

the minimum requirements for a permit. You should 

contact your permitting authority to find out what your 

state-specific requirements are and how to apply for 

a permit. Check the insert to this pamphlet for your 

permitting authority’s contact information.

See the pamphlet 

Will My Operation 

Be Regulated? for 

the definition of 

an AFO.