MISSOURI SUSPENDS ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS RULES

MISSOURI SUSPENDS ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS RULES

To help mitigate some of the operational challenges created by the COVID-19 state of emergency, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has temporarily suspended through May 15 certain provisions of its rule governing animal feeding operations in the state, including concentrated animal feeding operations.  The suspended provisions apply to permitting, buffer-zone, and notification requirements for existing facilities only; the department has not suspended environmental-protection requirements, including "no-discharge" requirements for any facility.

The COVID-19 emergency has disrupted transportation and animal processing operations, which is preventing some animal feeding operations from transporting animals out of their facilities at a rate consistent with their normal operations and normal regulatory class size. Without these suspensions, facilities would face increased regulatory requirements, and non-permitted operations increased numbers would unnecessarily trigger the requirement to pursue a permit.

The department is developing guidance for operators of animal feeding operations containing best practices for protecting water quality during the state of emergency.