Public Hearing on Proposed New Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) Regulations

Wednesday, July 21, 2010     7:00 p.m.
Delaware Department of Agriculture
2320 S. Dupont Highway
Dover, DE

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission (DNMC), and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) will hold a public hearing on proposed new Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) regulations. Delaware’s current CAFO regulations will expire in the fall of 2010.

The purpose of the hearing is to consider the adoption of proposed new Delaware CAFO regulations that require designated farms and livestock and poultry producers to obtain CAFO National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. The proposed new regulations were developed to ensure that CAFOs take appropriate actions to effectively manage manure, litter and wastewater and protect the state’s water quality.

The proposed new regulations were developed by the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission (DNMC), the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and are posted on the DDA website, www.dda.delaware.gov. Public workshops were held May 25, 26 and 27 to help farmers and livestock producers understand the CAFO permit process and ask questions.

The public and interested parties are invited to attend the hearing and make comments. Accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities by calling (302) 698-4500 or (800) 282-8685 (Delaware only) for aid or assistance.

Written comments will be accepted from July 1 until 4:30 p.m. July 31, 2010 by: U.S. mail addressed to Mark Davis, Nutrient Management Program Administrator, Delaware Department of Agriculture, 2320 S. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901; by fax addressed to Mark Davis, Nutrient Management Program Administrator, (302) 697-6287; or by email, Mark.Davis@state.de.us.

For more information contact:
Mark Davis, DDA – 302-698-4503
Mark.Davis@state.de

Jennifer Walls, DNREC – 302-739-9062
Jennifer.Walls@state.de.us