Providing for the regulation of confinement feeding operations, and making penalties applicable and including effective date provisions

GENERAL.101) which authorizes the department of natural resources (DNR) to regulate confinement feeding operations. Specifically, the bill amends Code chapter 459, subchapter III, providing for water quality. PARTIALLY ROOFED BUILDINGS INCLUDED.102(15)). MORATORIUM ON CONSTRUCTION. The bill prohibits the construction, including expansion, of a confinement feeding operation structure.104). An exception allows construction if the new structure is part of a small animal feeding operation (500 or fewer animal units). The bill does not prohibit a person from completing construction if the person had begun construction prior to the effective date of the bill. The moratorium expires on July 1, 2027. NPDES PERMITS. The bill amends a provision that requires a confinement feeding operation to comply with applicable national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit requirements under the federal Water Pollution Control Act, by providing that any rules adopted by DNR are to be more stringent than requirements under the Act. CONFINEMENT FEEDING OPERATION INTEGRATION. The bill provides for an arrangement involving a confinement feeding operation integrator (integrator) and contract producer. An integrator is a meat or poultry processor that owns animals maintained by another person at a confinement feeding operation.102).301).313) required to be filed with the DNR must include information regarding the ownership of animals maintained at the confinement feeding operation. BACKGROUND —— ANIMAL UNIT CAPACITY.301). In calculating animal unit capacity, each of various types of animals is assigned a special equivalency factor which is multiplied by the number of head of animals subject to confinement.102). BACKGROUND —— ENFORCEMENT AND APPLICABLE CIVIL PENALTIES.103).603). EFFECTIVE DATE. The bill takes effect upon enactment.