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The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is one step closer to obtaining complete oversight of regulations and permitting for the state’s large livestock farms.

Pending federal approval, ODA will administer the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for Ohio’s concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The move signals the final regulatory component to fall under ODA authority since it became the official agency for environmental regulation of CAFOs in 2002.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently oversees the state’ s NPDES permit program.

"This is the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle," said David White, executive director of the Ohio Livestock Coalition, of which OFBF is a member. "It’s definitely a piece that’s been missing."

White said the change will provide "one-stop shopping" for family livestock farmers seeking the necessary state and federal permits to expand their operations.

A mandatory public hearing was held in May to address the transfer along with several technical changes to the permit.

OLC President Mike Bumgarner testified at the hearing, saying the best part about the current and proposed rules is that everyone involved will know exactly what is expected before a large-scale livestock farm is built or expanded.

"This will result in certainty for the industry and protection for nearby residents of such operations," he said.

The opposition protested that while Ohio has more than 200 pages of regulations for the operation of CAFOs, the rules are not nearly strict enough.

However, environmental attorney David Cox said farmers would have to hire three to four full-time employees just to meet the permit’s reporting requirements.

Bumgarner recognized the concerns associated with large livestock farms and said farmers should do everything economically feasible to protect the environment.

"If managed appropriately, livestock farms and rural residents can peacefully coexist," he said.

Since the regulation of CAFOs came to ODA, the agency has developed some of the strictest rules in the country, White said.

ODA must now submit the proposed NPDES rules to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule and Review and then the U.S. EPA for approval. Until that time producers must seek NPDES coverage through the Ohio EPA.

White said it could take several months to get U.S. EPA approval, noting that it has already been a lengthy process.

"While we are glad that this process is nearing completion, we are very disappointed that it required three years to do so," Bumgarner said.