W081-Permit Requirements for the Poultry Industry

On February 12, 2003, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) published new concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) regulations designed to protect or restore water quality. EPA provided the option of adopting the national EPA CAFO regulations, or states could develop and implement their own regulations. Tennessee chose to develop and implement CAFO regulations that fit Tennessee’s animal production and water quality situations. In August 2004, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) issued the final CAFO regulations for poultry operations.

TDEC has defined a CAFO as an animal-feeding operation (AFO) if animals are confined for at least 45 days in a 12-month period and there is no grass or other vegetation in the confinement area. This definition certainly makes all poultry operations AFOs, and therefore potential CAFOs that will need to apply for an operating permit.