In an effort to save regulatory resources, the US Environmental Protection Agency and individual
states have interpreted the Clean Water Act in a manner that authorizes discharges from concentrated
animal feeding operations without the review of nutrient management plans. Environmental groups have
objected to the abbreviated regulatory procedures, and courts have ruled that permitting agencies must review
substantive documentation of effluent limitations contained in nutrient management plans. Proposed new federal regulations prescribing the requirement of a meaningful review of appropriate documentation by the permitting agency respond to the judicial mandates. To facilitate regulatory approval, regulators might use a state certification program to achieve the obligatory meaningful review. Independent certifiers would ensure that an operation’s land application of
manure meets federal water quality requirements.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/