What You Must Do
The majority of Ohio livestock and poultry farmers make it a priority to hold themselves to the highest environmental standards. In addition to voluntary measures, Ohio’s livestock and poultry farmers are required to follow state and federal regulations to ensure the largest operations follow science-based guidelines that protect the environment while allowing the facility to be productive.
Federal Regulations
The primary federal regulations that affect livestock and poultry farmers relate to water quality.
Clean Water Act
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly called the Clean Water Act or CWA) is the primary federal law governing water pollution in the United States. This law prohibits the discharge of pollutants into a waterway from a point source unless authorized by a permit from the appropriate agency. A concentrated livestock feeding operation that discharges into the nation’s waters is considered a point source and must obtain a permit. The nation’s waters are generally considered to be rivers, streams, lakes, and other bodies of surface water and subsurface water not entirely confined upon land owned or leased by an individual or group.
Under the Clean Water Act, a regulated discharge that occurs without first obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit subjects the violator to fines of $25,000 per day. The legislation also allows provision for citizen suits against point-source discharges, including concentrated animal feeding operations.
Coastal Zone Management Act
The Coastal Zone Management Act is designed to reduce pollutants in coastal waters through non-point control practices. States are required to implement the non-point-source management measures to participate in the coastal program. These management measures include nutrient management plans, pest irrigation and animal manure management.
Ohio has developed a Coastal Zone Management Plan for non-point sources, including agriculture. Information on specific portions of the plan and its management practices is available from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).