Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Rule 420

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.

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Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Rule 420

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

during rainy periods, as defined in Rule 101, Definitions.

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.

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