[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8186-8187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1976]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 112 and 412

[FRL-6936-2]


National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation 
and Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for Concentrated 
Animal Feeding Operations--Proposed Revisions; Public Meetings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency hereby gives notice that 
it will conduct eight public meetings on new proposed regulations under 
the Clean Water Act for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). 
EPA Administrator Carol Browner signed these proposed regulations on 
December 15, 2000, and the Agency published the proposed regulations in 
the Federal Register on January 12, 2001, under the title National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation and Effluent 
Limitations Guidelines and Standards for Concentrated Animal Feeding 
Operations.
    The purpose of the meetings is to enhance public understanding of 
the proposed regulations for CAFOs. The meetings are not a mechanism 
for submitting formal comments on the proposal. The meetings will 
consist of a brief presentation by EPA officials on the proposed 
regulations followed by a question and answer session. Participants are 
encouraged to familiarize themselves with the basic aspects of the 
proposed regulations prior to the public meetings; each speaker's time 
will be limited so that all interested parties may have the opportunity 
to pose questions. Advance registration is not required.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting addresses. 
Formal comments on the proposal should be submitted by mail to: 
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Proposed Rule Comment Clerk OW-
00-27, Water Docket (MC4101), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington DC 20460. Comments may also be submitted electronically to 
[email protected]. For more specifics about how to submit comments, 
please refer to the January 12 Federal Register announcement, available 
at http://www.epa.gov/owm/afos/rule.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain additional information about 
the meetings, please contact Nina Bonnelycke, U.S. EPA, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 4203M, Washington, DC 20460. Questions may also 
be directed to Ms. Bonnelycke at 202-564-0764 or 
[email protected]. Information on the CAFO proposal public 
meetings and on the CAFO proposal in general is also available at 
http://www.epa.gov/owm/afos/rule.htm. The website has the text of the 
Federal Register announcement with the CAFO proposed rule and 
accompanying preamble, a factsheet describing the proposal, and other 
pertinent information. Key documents are also available through EPA's 
Water Resources Center (202-260-7786).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Dates, Cities, Times and Addresses for Public Meetings

    EPA is conducting eight public meetings on the CAFO proposed 
regulations as described in the following table:

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              Date                      City                Time                     Meeting address
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 1, 2001..................  Baltimore, MD.....  1 p.m.-5 p.m......  Baltimore Marriott, Inner Harbor, 110
                                                                          South Eutaw Street.
March 7, 2001..................  Ames, IA..........  1:30 p.m.-5:30      Benton Auditorium, Scheman Building,
                                                      p.m..               Iowa State Center, Elwood Drive.
March 13, 2001.................  Riverside, CA.....  1 p.m.-5 p.m......  Riverside Convention Center, Holiday
                                                                          Inn Select, 3400 Market Street.
March 15, 2001.................  Ft. Wayne, IN.....  1 p.m.-5 p.m......  Fort Wayne Hilton at the Convention
                                                                          Center, 120 South Calhoun Street.
March 20, 2001.................  Dallas, TX........  1 p.m.-5 p.m......  Hotel Adolphus, 1321 Commerce Street.
March 22, 2001.................  Chattanooga, TN...  1 p.m.-5 p.m......  Chattanooga Clarion Hotel, 47 Chestnut
                                                                          Street.
March 27, 2001.................  Denver, CO........  1 p.m.-5 p.m......  Executive Tower Hotel, 1405 Curtis
                                                                          Street.
March 29, 2001.................  Boise, ID.........  1 p.m.-5 p.m......  The Grove Hotel, 245 South Capitol
                                                                          Blvd.
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    Prior to attending any of these public meetings, please confirm 
location information with EPA as indicated under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Please note that the purpose of these meetings is to enhance public 
understanding of the proposed regulations for CAFOs. The meetings are 
not a mechanism for submitting formal comments on the proposal, and 
formal comments should be submitted to the address provided in the 
ADDRESSES section above.

Background on CAFO Proposed Regulations

    On December 15, 2000, EPA Administrator Browner signed the Agency's 
proposal to revise and update two regulations under the Clean Water Act 
(40 CFR parts 112 and 412) that address the water quality impacts of 
manure, wastewater, and other process waters generated by concentrated 
animal feeding operations (CAFOs). These two regulations are the 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) provisions that 
define which operations are CAFOs and establish permit requirements, 
and the Effluent Limitations Guidelines for feedlots (beef, dairy, 
swine and poultry subcategories), which establish the technology-based 
effluent discharge standards for CAFOs. EPA is proposing revisions to 
these regulations to address changes that have occurred in the animal 
industry sectors over the last 25 years, to clarify and improve 
implementation of CAFO permit requirements, and to improve the 
environmental protection achieved under these rules.
    Environmental concerns being addressed by this rule include both 
ecological and human health effects. Manure from stockpiles, lagoons, 
or excessive land application can reach

[[Page 8187]]

waterways through runoff, erosion, spills, or via groundwater. These 
discharges can result in excessive nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and 
potassium), oxygen-depleting substances, and other pollutants in the 
water. This pollution can kill fish and shellfish, cause excess algae 
growth, harm marine mammals, and contaminate drinking water.
    EPA is proposing to revise effluent guidelines applicable to beef, 
dairy, swine, and poultry operations that are defined as CAFOs, 
pursuant to the NPDES revisions. The proposed effluent guidelines 
include regulations for both new and existing animal feeding operations 
that meet the definition of a CAFO. The proposed effluent guidelines 
revisions do not alter the requirements for horses, ducks, sheep or 
lambs.
    EPA published the proposed regulations in the Federal Register on 
January 12, 2001, at 66 FR 2959. The full text of the Federal Register 
announcement as well as a factsheet describing the proposed regulations 
are available as outlined above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: January 17, 2001.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 01-1976 Filed 1-29-01; 8:45 am]
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