DEC’s New Water Withdrawal Reporting Requirements For Farms Using More Than 100,000 gal/day
Posted Jan 27, 10 in CAFO
We recently received this memo :DEC_Water_Withdrawal_Reporting_(Jan._2010)_.pdf
from the DEC. The memo describes DEC’s new statewide water withdrawal reporting requirements for any farm using more than 100,000 gallons of groundwater or surface water per day. There is a filing deadline for this report of February 1, 2010.
The DEC website and contact for the new statewide water withdrawal reporting requirement is:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/55509.html
Richard Kruzansky, DEC Bureau of Water Resource Management, 518.402.8182 DEC_Water_Withdrawal_Reporting_(Jan._2010)_.pdf
If this reporting requirement applies to your farm, or if you have any questions about it please contact your CAFO planner so we can file the appropriate paperwork asap.
CAFO Updates
Posted Jul 15, 09 in CAFO
The New CAFO permit has been issued by NYDEC. All medium and large farms have until March 31, 2010 to send in an NOI (notice of intent form) to obtain coverage under the new permit. Large farms must also send in a copy of their annual nutrient management plan. Large farms must also have all their BMP’s listed in the CAFO plan implemented.
Medium CAFO farms must also send their CNMP certification with the NOI. Also, medium CAFO farms must have all their “non-structural” practices completed before sending in the NOI. All Best Management Practices (including “structural” practices) must be completed by March 31, 2012.
Now is the time you open your CAFO plan and review all your listed BMP’s in Section 4 and 5 of the plan. Essentially the permit requires that all pollutant discharges from the production area of a farmstead be prevented, treated or stored. For example, barnyard storm water runoff can be prevented by roofing the area, or it can be treated through a designed grass filter strip, or it can be stored in an earthen or fabricated structure.
If you have any questions, contact your farmstead CAFO planner.
Know What’s in Your CAFO Plan
Posted Jun 15, 09 in CAFO
By Robert Hatrick
Whether you’re a large or medium size CAFO operation, your CAFO plan developed for your farm includes both an ) & M (Operations and Maintenance) plan and an emergency action plan.
Operation and Maintenance - Scheduled Inspections
Most farms have invested thousands of dollars in the installation of BMP’s (Best Management Practice), which are required in your CAFO plan. However, as the Farmstead Consultant conducts at least an Annual Review of the Farmstead or come during DEC Inspections, more often than not, little or no maintenance has been accomplished.
Your CAFO plan does include an “operation and maintenance” schedule outlining what items should be inspected and when those items need to be looked at and fixed, or repaired.
Some of the most common items we see that need attention are:
1. Bunk Silo - high/low flow collections systems. Pipes, tanks, spreader devices and screens cleaned.
2. Vegetated treatment strip vegetation and splitter devices in need of reseeding or repair.
3. Manure and waste transfer systems including pipes, pumps, etc.
4. Fence and warning signs either lacking or in need of repair.
5. Earthen manure pond dikes-reseed bare areas on dikes, repair or woodchuck or burrowing animal holes that need filling. Mowing of dikes often to prevent burrowing animal from digging dens.
6. Gutters, downspouts and tile outlets should be inspected and perform any necessary repairs.
7. Pastures and loafings and abuse area - seedings should be inspected and reseeded as needed. Cattle should be rotated or removed to rest these areas and allow for re-growth of vegetation.
These are just a few reminders so as to insure proper and regular operation and maintenance is occurring. If you are unsure of what items may need attention or need advice on fixing practices feel free to contact your CAFO planners for assistance.
Emergency Action Plan
The purpose of the emergency action plan is to provide for a plan of action should an emergency occur on the farm. These could be emergencies that involve personal injuries, chemical or manure spills, manure pond/pit failures, accidents involving tractor/spreaders, etc.
Should an emergency happen that threatens a persons’ life, obviously 911 should be called first for fire/rescue to respond.
If it involved a chemical/manure spill and contaminants could enter a water body such as a stream, lake, water supply, reservoir, or ground water aquifer, the farms first response should be to contain the spill to prevent the contaminant from entering the water source. If it is a small spill the best recommendation is to clean it up. However, if it is a large spill, after containment is achieved, the farm should immediately contact the DEC Spill Hot line and your WNY Crop Management Farmstead Planner. If entry to a stream is imminent contact your earth-moving contractor to get dozer/backhoe equipment there to divert or contain the spill. The plan should be reviewed with all staff and yourself and provide adequate training and direction so everyone knows their responsibilities and where emergency equipment is located.
WNY Crop Management staff is currently in the process of updating Emergency Action Plans for all farms we services as our time permits. The new plans will no include updated information regarding emergency contact numbers, locations of emergency equipment lists of contractors and engineers and now a listing of emergency spreading fields. This will e a separate documents, which should be kept in a fully accessible location for all farm staff.
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