Relating to confinement feeding operations by requiring the installation and operation of pollution monitoring systems, and making penalties applicable

BACKGROUND —— GENERAL. Confinement feeding operations are regulated by the department of natural resources (DNR) under the “Animal Agriculture Compliance Act” (Code chapter 459). A confinement feeding operation is a type of animal feeding operation in which agricultural animals are maintained for at least days in any 12-month period.102).311). Regulations governing confinement feeding operations vary based on the size of the operation measured by its animal unit capacity (AUC). AUC refers to a measurement used to determine the maximum number of animal units that may be maintained as part of a confinement feeding operation at any one time. In calculating AUC, a special equivalency factor is assigned for each classification of confined agricultural animal.312). BILL’S PROVISIONS.311) in Code chapter 459, subchapter III, which regulates water quality. Under the bill, the owner or operator of a confinement feeding operation, other than a small animal feeding operation, must install and operate a water pollution monitoring system as part of the operation that measures pollutants originating from a confinement feeding operation that are discharged to the groundwater or a surface water source. The owner or operator must report the data to DNR every days. DNR must publish the data on its internet site, and regularly report such data to the United States environmental protection agency. APPLICABLE PENALTIES.191).