The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is reissuing the concentrated animal feeding operation national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) and state waste discharge general permits (permits) on December 7, 2022. The permits become effective on January 6, 2023, and expire on January 5, 2028.

Purpose of the Permit: The permits provide coverage for medium- and large-scale operations that confine livestock for long periods of time in pens or barns and discharge pollution to surface or groundwater. The concentrated animal feeding operation general permits limit the discharge of pollutants to surface waters under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251) and limit the discharge of pollutants to surface and groundwater under the authority of the state Water Pollution Control Act (chapter 90.48 RCW).

Public Notice Process and Comments: Ecology accepted public comments on the draft permits from June 22 through August 17, 2022. We also held public workshops and hearings via an online webinar on July 26 and July 28, 2022. Ecology received written and emailed comments during the public comment period. The comments and ecology's responses are included in Appendix C of the fact sheet.

Copies of the Permit: The final permit, fact sheet, and response to comments are available online at https://ecology.wa.gov/cafopermit. You may request hard copies from Matthew Tietjen at matthew.tietjen@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6401.