Source: http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/august2011/proposed/15%20DE%20Reg%20177%2008-01-11.htm
Timestamp: 2017-12-11 11:24:25
Document Index: 91321137

Matched Legal Cases: ['§9', '§2201', '§6000', '§6000', '§2200', '§2200', 'art 122']

SAN # 2011 - 10
Section 9.5: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations of 7201 Regulations Governing the Control of Water Pollution (Title 7, Delaware Administrative Code 7200, §9.5)
These proposed regulations have been developed pursuant to 3 Del.C. §2201-2290 and 7 Del.C. §6000 et.al. and under DNREC's delegated authority. These statutory and regulatory authorities establish the requirement that a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) be implemented. These proposed regulations amend the current regulations and will function as the baseline CAFO standards for compliance of NPDES CAFO permits applicable to certain farms. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) will administer these regulations with the assistance of the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA). In general, NPDES CAFO permits, as provided in these regulations, are effective for five years. These regulations were developed by the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
The revised regulation will clarify the current application, approval and reporting requirements for CAFO NPDES permits. Failure to promulgate revised regulations compliant with requirements of the Clean Water Act may result in forfeiture of the State NPDES program and subject Delaware farmers to federal enforcement action and third party lawsuits.
7 Del.C. §6000 et. al.; 3 Del.C. §2200 et. al, and 40 CFR 122 and 412.
Delaware Nutrient Management Regulations 3 Del.C. §2200
The proposed regulations are posted on the Delaware Department of Agriculture website (www.dda.delaware.gov) and the DNREC website at www.dnrec.delaware.gov. Hard copies of the proposed regulations may be obtained from the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Comments may be submitted in writing and/or e-mail to the Mark Davis, Nutrient Management Program Administrator (mark.davis@state.de.us), at the Delaware Department of Agriculture, on or before 4:30 PM on August 31, 2011, and/or in person at a public hearing to be held on August 25, 2011 at 7pm at the Department of Agriculture, 2320 South DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901. Statements and testimony may be presented either orally or in writing at the public hearing. It is requested that those interested in presenting statements at the public hearing register in advance and that written statements and comments be addressed to:
Brain Churchill, 302.739.9946, 14 June 2011
brian.churchill@state.de.us
Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis:
“Regulations for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)”
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental control, and the Delaware Department of Agriculture are proposing to adopt amended regulations, which will amend requirements to reduce point source pollution from farms where poultry, swine, beef cattle, dairy cattle and horses are raised also known as Animal Feeding Operation (AFO). Such farms can be substantial contributors to the pollution of the State’s waterways if manure and other waste products are not properly managed. The actions proposed by the Departments are necessary to achieve Delaware’s water quality goals and to comply with US Environmental Protection Agency directives.
Part 122, Sub Section 122 and 412 of the Clean Water Act require States to develop regulations governing the discharge of nutrients from farms into nearby waterways. Farms (AFOs) identified to have such discharges are required to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge System (NPDES) permit, more specifically and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit. Under these proposed regulations the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) will administer such permits with the assistance of the Delaware Department of Agriculture. The proposed state regulations are required in order to keep our “at least equal to” status with USEPA. Failure to do so may result in federal enforcement actions against Delaware agricultural producers and withdraw of the Delaware’s delegated authority to administer the NPDES program.
1.	Nature and cost of reporting.
In order to assess and track implementation efforts to reduce the loads of nutrients reaching the waters of the State and to ensure compliance with these Regulations, the Commission is requiring farmers to file an annual report. These reports detail nutrient application rates to crop land during the preceding crop year as well as crop yields (which indicate nutrient removal). The 1999 Delaware Nutrient Management Law already requires such annual reports. The new regulations do have additional record keeping requirements, but the state agencies have obligated to provide technical assistance to help meet those additional requirements. Therefore there will be minimal cost to farmers from this requirement.
2.	The nature and cost of required measures or investment.
In order to protect and improve water quality, these Regulations may require farmers to implement various best management practices (BMP) to prevent nutrient laden storm-water from leaving their farms. Such BMPs can include riparian buffers, storm-water control structures, grassed waterways, covered manure storage structures and mortality composters. There are approximately 1,400 farm operations in the state with livestock and/or poultry. Of that total, we predict approximately 370 will be subject to the proposed NPDES CAFO regulations. There is extensive cost share funding for such BMPs from both State and Federal sources. NRCS provided cost share funds of $7 million in 2009 and $8 million in 2010 to assist farmers with BMP implementation. Due to increased emphasis on the watershed, the federal government plans to provide additional funding to help all agricultural producers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to implement additional BMPs designed to help achieve more stringent water quality standards. Farmers will also need to practice good house-keeping and manure handling on their farms. Technical assistance to achieve this is already available from the Department of Agriculture, The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and NRCS. In addition, the state provides manure relocation assistance funding to help redistribute nutrients from areas which may have an overabundance of nutrients to areas with nutrient deficiencies. Utilizing federal, state, and private funding, $849,870 was spent on relocation in 2009.
3.	The nature and cost of legal, consulting and accounting services.
There are no requirements in the proposed Regulations that would necessitate a need for legal and/or accounting services, however, in order to improve water quality, these Regulations may result in farmers needing to secure consulting services. Such technical assistance can be obtained from NRCS, The Delaware Department of Agriculture, and the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension at no cost to the farmer. The Commission/State provides cost share funds for the writing of nutrient management plans (NMPs). In 2010, over $450,000 of state funds were provided to producers to offset the cost of drafting NMPs.
4.	The ability of the entity to absorb or recover the added costs without suffering economic harm and without adversely affecting competition in the marketplace.
These Regulations are based on solid environmental science, but also take into consideration and accommodate a variety of factors, including the ability of farmers to absorb or recover any added costs without suffering economic harm and without adversely affecting competition in the marketplace. As indicated above there is extensive cost share assistance from both State and Federal sources to implement any BMPs that might be required to contain a farm’s nutrient laden storm-water. Additionally technical guidance is available at no cost from a variety of sources. It is also important to note that the proposed regulations are required by EPA and similar regulations are being or have been implemented nation-wide. If Delaware does not adopt and implement said regulations, then EPA will implement and enforce similar federally based regulations in Delaware.
5.	The added cost to the Department if exemptions or lesser requirements were promulgated.
The actions proposed in these Regulations are necessary to achieve water quality goals therefore any lessening would adversely affect the health and well being of people, animals, and plants living within the State. Failure to implement these regulations could lead to enforcement action by EPA against both the State and Delaware Farmers. This could include fines and the withholding of grants and other funding. There are currently 372 CAFO permit holders in Delaware, which may submit new applications as a result of the expiration of their current permits and promulgation of the new proposed regulations. Due to funding and recent staff turnover, the staff capacity to administer and enforce 372 permits may present a challenge to the programs and Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural resources and Environmental Control.
6.	The impact on the public interest of exempting or setting lesser requirements of compliance.
The actions proposed in these Regulations are necessary to achieve water quality goals, which will benefit the health and well being of people, animals, and plants living within the State. If the exemptions and lesser requirements are allowed, there will be less assurance that water quality standards will be achieved, which may result in increased occurrences of excessive macro algae growth (sea lettuce and other species), phytoplankton blooms (some potentially toxic), large daily swings in dissolved oxygen levels, loss of submerged aquatic vegetation, reduced populations of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life, and fish kills. These symptoms of environmental degradation and habitat loss threaten the future of the Waters of the State and their significant natural, ecological, and recreational resources, which may result in adverse impacts to the local and State economies leading to reduced tourism, a decline in property values, lost revenues and a diminished quality of life, as well as violations of federal law.
7.	What accommodations, if any, have been made in the regulations to address individual or small business concerns identified above?
These Regulations contain reasonable reporting requirements to ensure monitoring and compliance, but do not impose an undue regulatory or financial burden on farmers. In most situations reporting requirements are already required under the 1999 Delaware Nutrient Management Law. In addition, the NM Commission with the help of state and federal agency staff, and University of Delaware staff will provide written guidance through State Technical Standards to assist the regulated community with compliance.
As stated previously, these proposed Regulations may require additional measures and investments in order to protect and improve water quality; however, there is extensive federal and state cost share assistance available to meet the terms of these Regulations. In addition, the proposed Regulations do not create a need for legal and/or accounting services, while they may result in farmers securing consulting services, there is cost share available to cover such costs, which has been outlined previously in this document.
“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Agriculture, or his designee, where authorized means the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (or his/her designee), who shall administer the program with the assistance of the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Agriculture (or his/her designee.
15 DE Reg. 177 (08/01/11) (Prop.)