June 22, 2012 -- NDEQ is proposing to issue new General Permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to prevent discharges to waters of the state. CAFOs within the State of Nebraska that confine only cattle, either in open lots or under roof, are eligible for coverage. The public comment period for the draft permits runs through July 20, 2012.

There are four new draft permits; they are identical except for their effective permit length. One permit will be valid for two years, one permit valid for three years, one permit valid for four years, and one permit valid for five years. The purpose of four permits is to distribute the requests for coverage so that all of them do not expire on the same date. All four permits would become effective on April 1, 2013. A sample of the two-year permit is now on line, in Publications/Livestock/Other. The direct link is http://deq.ne.gov/Publica.nsf/pages/12-007 .

Each permit would restrict pollutant discharges to comply with the requirements of Department regulations. Some of the significant changes from these general permits and the existing general permit include:

• A public notice on the Department’s webpage will be issued for each CAFO prior to granting coverage under one of these permits.
• Site specific Nutrient Management Plans are required for each CAFO prior to granting coverage under one of these permits.

Below is a copy of the public notice that was issued June 20, 2012 related to these draft permits, and the related Fact Sheet.

(See attached file: Public Notice.pdf)
File size: 13 KB

(See attached file: Fact Sheet.pdf)
File size: 10 KB