An Innovative Way to Treat Poultry Waste for Odor Control and Nitrogen Management

The effluent guidelines and standards for the feedlot category were first published in 1974 (1). The feedlot category includes beef, dairy, swine, poultry, horses, and sheep. The current regulations are based on a three tier structure and apply to all operations with ≥ 1,000 animal units (AUs) and some with ≥ 300 AUs , if they meet certain risk based conditions. In the case of the poultry industry, 1000 AUs are equivalent to 100, 000 chickens. Under the current regulations, a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) is exempt from being defined as a CAFO, if it does not discharge its wastes to a waterbody. However, under extraordinary circumstances, i.e., in the event of a 25-year, 24-hr storm, it can discharge. There are many operations that believe that they do not need to apply for a permit on this basis. However, the U.S. EPA believes that many CAFOs have underestimated their manure and wastewater discharges from feedlots and other associated areas such as manure handling facilities, wastewater holding areas, and land application areas, and have not applied for permits.