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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS IIVolume 11, Issue VIII Page 5 15 April 2000 Animal Feeding Operations, a Utah Strategy Compiled by Shanna Francis Water is vital to life—all life. From the rapid riffles and cool, quiet eddies of a mountain stream; to the violent majesty of a waterfall; to the glistening beauty of a sun-drenched lake, water soothes emotions and feeds the soul. Water is also essential to health. Humans and all animals, domesticated, both wild and need clean water to sustain life. Polluted water comes from a variety of activities. During the last quarter of the 20th century the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Clean Water Act, worked dili- gently to regulate and clean up industrial and municipal sources of pollution, often referred to as point source pollution. However, 40% of the nation’s waterways that have been assessed to this point, still do not meet quality criteria for culinary or recreational use. Pollution from factories and sewer treatment plants has been dramatically reduced, but runoff from city streets, agricultural operations, and other sources continues to pollute water. This type of pollution, comprised of several types of land uses, 1s called nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Agriculture falls within this category and has traditionally been regarded as a significant source of NPS pollution. Run-off from fields and manure/wastewater dis- charge are the main forms of agricultural NPS pollution. Livestock that 1s allowed to eat away the natural vegetation along stream and riverbanks, the vegetation that naturally protects waterways from stream bank erosion and sediment pollution, 1s another source. Other culprits include, nutrients from nitrogen and phosphate, bacteria, and applied pesticides. In March of 1999, EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) completed a strategy for livestock operations in an effort to control NPS pollution—T7The Unified Strategy for Animal National Feeding Operations. The Strategy represents the EPA and USDA’s plan for addressing water quality concerns associated with livestock production. The goal of the program i1s to minimize water quality impacts by identifying operations at greatest risk for pollution, and providing financial and technical assistance to these owners to assist them meeting water quality goals. The Strategy will 1initially focus on large facilities designated as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) which are defined as any facility with more than 1000 animal units confined on site, and/or an Animal (AFO) charges manure, ditch, of Feeding any Operation size pollutants wastewater) stream, or that other water (AFOs) have been part of the non-regulatory area. An AFO 1is an animal feeding operation in a lot or facility where animals are confined and fed for 45 days or more (not od, and ous days) necessarily 1n any contigu- one-year vegetation 1s peri- not produced 1in the area during the normal growing season. Thus, even if only two animals are kept for 45 or more days per year on an area where vegetation 1s not maintained, 1t would be defined as an AFO. Various voluntary, incentive-based programs may be available for AFOs to make improvements to facilities in an effort to reduce NPS pollution. Smaller facilities designated as AFOs may also be initially targeted, especially if they are located on an impaired watershed or are identified as a significant contributor to water pollution. Currently Pineview Reservoir is on the state’s list of 303(d) waterbodies identified as (source water, improvements to the operation in an effort to come into compliance. Technical and some financial assistance may be available to make necessary 1mprovements, develop that leave an operator’s property. Navigable waters are broadly defined to ensure that contaminated water does not leave an operator’s property and end up in a stream or reservoir. Irrigation ditches often terminate at a NRCS, Cooperative water source, whether made ditches or natural stream. Therefore, 1n manstreams, a release or CAFO, what can (CNMP). A CNMP detailing Extension, reviewed, approved, Some facilities, fied. of and certi- however, may choose not to alter their operation. If these facilities are identified as a significant source of water pollution, and are not making good faith efforts to solve problems, significant fines and other penalties may be imposed. you do? Don’t panic! Utah’s plan provides a 5-year window of opportunity for producers to make voluntary improvements to facilities. Identification and permitting of CAFOs begins in the year 2000. Evaluate your operation and develop and implement a comprehensive nutrient management plan document and Soil Conservation District personnel, or private consultants. Regardless of who prepares the plan, all CNMPs must be manure or wastewater into an irrigation ditch may be considered a discharge. There 1s no minimum volume required for a release to be considered a discharge. If you are the proud owner of an AFO CNMPs, meet other requirements of the Strategy. The CNMP can be developed by the landowner, with assistance from USDA- For more information contact your local Soil Conservation District, local County Extension Office, the Utah Farm Bureau, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, Utah Department Water Quality, mental Quality, Resource (NRCS) planned Environ- Local of Natural Conservation Service Office, or the Utah Department i1s a written of Division of Agriculture Food. and Picture of the Month being impaired. Impaired means that the body of water is identified through Nonpoint Source Program assessment procedures as having impairment to one or more of 1ts beneficial uses of drinking recre- ation, or agricultural use). A facility of any size can be designated as a CAFO if pollutants are discharged into water passing across, through, or adjacent to the facility. Any water that comes into contact with ani- Mike Gillespie, General Contractor Licensed & Insured Homes Pole Barns / Outer Buildings Metal Roofs Custom dis- (e.g., i1nto any conveyance system, whether manmade or natural. Traditionally, animal feeding operations Gillespie Construction Custom in mals or manure must be contained on site. A discharge 1is defined by the Clean Water Act as the addition of any pollutant (including animal manure or contaminated waters) to navigable waters. Navigable wates are broadly defined as any surface Remodeling Additions 4 ' T R : ol TSR bt Y -'-'E'"',.;",'l:}."' [ | Wil o ERM TR Y LR B s S ] R i e BF AN B ; LHERS R “;‘,".“"‘ L I “' & | 5 LT ll~l } fl N TR A .11 T A N L . 3T ¥ e '.l' 745-6106 Professional Quality & Dependable Service - T PN [0 L, i - 1 BRY ) i ] " -4 " R e NE S Photo taken by Terri Boyce of Snowbasin from the south part of the Valleysouth across from Anderson Cove. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS prints a “Picture of the Month” in each month’s newspaper edition. At the end of the following year, a Valley calendar will be produced using the selected pictures. The calendar will be made available for purchase. So get your cameras ready and start shooting! Or, 1f you already have a favorite photo, send it in. Your pictures may be black & white or color, and should depict a Valley theme. Photos may also be historical photos of the Valley. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone num- ber, and the name of the photographer. Also include something about the picture, the approxi- mate date, and the who, what and when about it. Please note, collected pic- tures will become the property of The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS. Send your pictures to: Free Estimates i Ak The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS PO BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 |