There is no data that relates lagoon failure to lagoon size. Data in reports on fines levied in lagoon failures usually indicate that discharges were intentional or the result of negligence. If the probability of failure is the same for large and small lagoons, then you would be twice as likely to have a failure with two small lagoons but the impact of any given failure would be smaller. This may not make much difference since even a failure on a small lagoon would be devastating to the average Georgia stream. There is no evidence relating seepage loss to lagoon size, either.
All liners including plastic and concrete are permeable to some degree.
Mark concluded that he could not find a scientific basis for regulating lagoon size. Mark also addressed alternatives to land application of poultry litter. He stressed that there are many more options with dry manure compared to wet manure because the transportation costs for dry manure are much less. There is a market for litter. This market could be improved by a broker system such as is being used in Arkansas where an organization matches up suppliers of litter with users.