Your swine operation would be considered a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) if it is an animal feeding operation and it meets one of the following conditions: Large CAFO – 1) has 2,500 swine, each weighing 55 lbs or more; 2) has 10,000 swine, each weighing less than 55 lbs. Medium CAFO – 1) has 750 swine, each weighing 55 lbs or more; 2) has 3,000 swine, each weighing less than 55 lbs. If your operation has a man-made ditch or pipe that carries manure or wastewater from your operation or your animals come into contact with surface water running through the area where they are confined, then it is considered a CAFO. No matter what size your operation is, if it is an animal feeding operation then it can be designated a CAFO. If your permitting authority inspects your operation and finds that it’s adding pollutants to surface waters, your operation might need a CAFO permit.
For updated information in the requirements and legislation dealing with CAFOs visit: www.epa.gov/npdes/caforule, www.epa.gov/agriculture or contact your permitting authority by visiting: www.epa.gov/npdes/afo/statecontacts