The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Water, Surface Water Discharges Section and the Department of Agriculture, Nutrient Management Program, hereby give notice that the following farms have applied for coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Permit Number DE 0051233 (Large, Medium, & Designated Poultry CAFOS – Facilities with Land Application of Manure) under Section 9.5 of the DNREC’s Regulations Governing the Control of Water Pollution.

Large CAFOs are characterized as having equal to or greater than 125,000 chickens (C), 82,000 laying hens (L), or 55,000 turkeys (T). Medium CAFOs are characterized as having 37,500-124,999 chickens, 25,000-81,999 laying hens, or 16,500-54,999 turkeys. Designated CAFOs are determined by DNREC and DDA and can be any size. Chicken manure is land applied by the operation as needed, with excess managed according to the operation’s specific Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). Manure is stored and mortalities are handled in a manner to prevent contamination of Waters of the State. All farms have a NMP that meet the criteria of the CAFO regulations. Manure, litter, and/or process wastewater discharges are prohibited from the production area. There are currently no known existing production area discharge points at these farms. Any discharges of manure, litter, and/or process wastewater that may occur would be new discharges and are required to be reported to DNREC and DDA.

On the basis of a preliminary staff review and application of lawful standards and regulations, DNREC proposes to authorize General NPDES CAFO permit coverage under Permit Number DE 0051233 to the above referenced farms, subject to certain effluent limitations and conditions. In accordance with Section 9.5 of Delaware’s Regulations Governing the Control of Water Pollution, the Secretary of DNREC can authorize such coverage pending public notice.

Permit documents including notice of intent forms, nutrient management plans, and the general permit are available for inspection by contacting:

Nutrient Management Program
Delaware Department of Agriculture
2320 South DuPont Highway Dover, DE 19901
(302) 698-4558
Nutrient.management@delaware.gov

A public hearing will not be held on any of the above farms unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a meritorious request by 4:30pm Friday April 22, 2022. A request for a hearing shall list the specific farm, be in writing and shall state the nature of the issues to be raised at the hearing. It must also show a familiarity with the application and a reasoned statement of the activity’s probable impact.

Public hearing requests can be made by submitting a written request to:

Surface Water Discharges Section
Lydia Smith
Lydia.smith@delaware.gov

Related Topics:  agriculture, animal feeding, cafo, discharges, NPDES, permitting and regulation, public notice, surface water, water