Anyone who plans to operate or start construction or expansion of a confined feeding operation (CFO) or a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) must submit a permit application and receive a Confined Feeding Operation Permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. No one may operate or start construction or expansion of a CFO or a CAFO without IDEM’s prior approval.
Indiana’s Confined Feeding Program has two types of permits:
CFO Permit
Proposed confined feeding operations or CAFO-sized confined feeding operations that will not be discharging manure or pollutant-bearing water must submit a permit application and receive a Confined Feeding Operation Permit under 327 Indiana Administrative Code 19 [PDF]. A CFO Permit will have slightly different requirements for a CFO versus a CAFO based on the rule requirements that apply specifically to CAFOs.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) CAFO Individual Permit
Proposed confined feeding operations and CAFO-sized confined feeding operations that will be discharging manure or pollutant-bearing water to waters of the state must apply for an NPDES CAFO Individual Permit under 327 Indiana Administrative Code 15-16 [PDF]. The CAFO rule incorporates by reference the federal NPDES CAFO regulations.
Confined feeding operations in Indiana must have either a CFO Permit or an NPDES CAFO Individual Permit, but not both. A confined feeding operation or a concentrated animal feeding operation that does not discharge may elect to seek approval under an NPDES CAFO Individual Permit. Detailed information on confined feeding operation permit requirements is available in the Guidance Manual for Indiana’s Confined Feeding Program (see Laws and Rules).