Dairies and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: Environmental Concerns and Research Needs USEPA, Region 9 March 2004

Overview  Background  Water Pollutants and Pathways  Air Pollutants and Pathways  Regulatory Approach  Research Needs

Roles  US EPA, Region 9 -guidance and oversight  USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service -financial and technical assistance  California State Water Resources Control Board & Regional Boards - permitting authority and implementation

California Statistics We’re #1, 2, …! #1 Dairy cows (1.5 Million) #1 Milk production (32 Billion lbs) #1 Yogurt, most ice cream #2 Cheese production #5 Egg production #6 Turkey production

Why is EPA interested in Animal Feeding Operations?  Surface Water Agricultural operations, including animal feeding operations (AFOs), are the leading contributor to water quality impairments in the nation’s rivers, lakes, and reservoirs  Ground Water Over application of nutrients can contaminate underground sources of drinking water  Air Quality Emissions from AFOs, although not fully understood, are believed to affect ambient air quality and climate change

Water Pollutants  Nutrients phosphorus, nitrogen Nitrates and ammonia  Organic matter, solids, pathogens  Salts, trace metals, pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones

Potential Water Quality Impacts Surface waters can be affected by runoff from improper land application, inadequate storm water containment, and unintended spills. Algal blooms and eutrophication (phosphorus) Fish kills (ammonia and organic matter). Reduces or depletes oxygen levels. From 1981 and 1999, 19 states reported 4 million fish killed caused by CAFOs Pathogens – disease causing organisms. Over 150 pathogens found in manure are associated with risks to humans

Other Potential Impacts Contamination of ground water - Leaching of nitrates from over application at land application areas or poorly designed storage structures -High nitrate levels in ground water pose health risks to infants and pregnant women. Salts -Excessive salts in the soil can reduce crop yields and soil fertility; potentially impacts to ground water Pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones -impacts to water quality not fully understood -- more research needed

Possible Water Pollution Pathways  Surface runoff and erosion  Overflows from storage ponds  Excess application of nutrients/manure to land  Leaching into soil and ground water

Air Pollutants and Possible Pathways  Anaerobic lagoon Methane (climate change) Hydrogen Sulfide (odors, toxic) Ammonia? (fine particulates)  Other parts of the dairy Volatile Organic Compounds? (ozone) Ammonia? (fine particulates)  Unpaved Roads Particulate Matter * There is uncertainty about the amount of air pollutants from an AFO

Regulatory Process - Tools  Clean Water Act Prevent discharges to surface waters  Safe Drinking Water Act Standards for drinking water (out of the tap) Limited protection of “underground sources of drinking water”  Clean Air Act Requires “State Implementation Plans” for areas that have not met air quality standards

CAFOs in Pacific South West California Central Valley: 1000 dairies, 200 poultry Chino: dairies Other: dairies, egg layers, feedlots Arizona – dairies, feedlots Nevada – dairies, feedlots Hawaii/Pacific Islands/Tribal Lands 2 – dairies

What’s a CAFO?  Animal Feeding Operation Confines animals for 45 days in 12 months and Sustains no vegetation in confinement area  Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Defined by size of operation –e.g., 700 mature dairy cows Smaller facilities can be designated a CAFO

Federal CAFO Requirements  Permit required for all CAFOs by April 2006  Nutrient Management Plan required by December 2006 balances nutrients applied with crop needs

Research Needs  What are … the air pollutants (especially volatile organic compounds and ammonia)? the sources (e.g., animal housing, corral, storage pond, land application site)? emission rates from AFO operations?

Research Needs  What metrics, methods, and models should we use in the future to quantify and monitor these emissions?  What is their relationship to atmospheric deposition and the formation of ground-level Ozone and PM 2.5?

Research Needs  What are the most effective strategies and practices for minimizing the movement of pollutants from an CAFO into … surface waters, ground waters, and the atmosphere?

Research Needs  What are the best alternative uses of manure, other than land application, and what are the impacts on … -health and the environment, and -costs and ease of implementation of the alternative uses.

More information…  Web sites: CAFO regulations and outreach materials: animalwaste/index.html animalwaste/index.html  Contact information: John Ungvarsky