Public Hearing: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations General Permit

Name: Public Hearing: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations General Permit
Start: 2026-01-20T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-20T18:30:00-05:00
Location: A Virtual Hearing

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Date and Time:

Tuesday, January 20, 2026
6 pm

Location:

A Virtual Hearing
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, Delaware

Details:

The DNREC Division of Water and the Department of Agriculture will conduct a public hearing (Docket #2025-P-W-0023) on the reissuance of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for General Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. Public comment Period open through Feb. 4, 2026.

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For audio-only, call 1-646-931-3860 and use Meeting ID 896 6792 4675 and Passcode 200256.

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This is a renewal of General Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Permit Number DE 0051233 (Large, Medium, & Designated Poultry CAFO – Facilities with Land Application of Manure), originally authorized on April 30, 2019.

DNREC proposes to issue the CAFO General Permit renewal, subject to certain effluent limitations and conditions, under Section 9.5 of the Regulations Governing the Control of Water Pollution (7 DE Admin. Code 7201).

A Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit is a point source permit authorized by the Federal Clean Water Act. It is required by federal and state regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations that discharge pollutants into waters of the state, including streams or drainage ditches. In Delaware, DNREC and the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) cooperate in implementing the CAFO program to regulate activities at CAFOs involving the management of nutrients and to help improve and maintain water quality.

Once a CAFO General Permit is issued, CAFO operators that meet applicable requirements in Section 9.5 of the regulations must obtain permit coverage by submitting a completed Notice of Intent and Nutrient Management Plan for DNREC and DDA review. Notices of Intent and Nutrient Management Plans are themselves publicly noticed prior to authorization being issued.

For additional information, contact Jessica Brewer at Jessica.Brewer@delaware.gov or 302-739-9946.

The Department will accept public comment through Feb. 4, 2026. Comments will be accepted in written form via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov, using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments, or by U.S. mail to the address on this page.