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CAFO Regulations Revised

This article reviews the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) regulations pertaining to wastewater discharges and manure from the regulations’ inception in the 1970s through current revisions, the last one occuring on November 20, 2008. A 2003 revision is discussed that required all CAFOs to obtain an NPDES permit unless they demonstrated no potential to discharge, and to develop and implement a nutrient management plan by Dec. 31, 2006. Petitions for judicial review challenging the 2003 CAFO rule resulted in the Waterkeeper decision that upheld most of the 2003 rule. The article discusses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) response to the Waterkeeper decision, including a March 7, 2008 ruling that proposed a voluntary option for CAFOs to certify that the CAFO does not discharge or propose to discharge based on an objective assessment of the CAFO's design, construction, operation, and maintenance. The final CAFO rule published on November 20, 2008 is presented, including two key changes to the Waterkeeper court decision.