Natural Resources

​​​The State of Oregon defines CAFOs as the concentrated feeding or holding of animals or poultry, including but not limited to horse, cattle, sheep, or swine feeding areas, dairy confinement areas, and poultry and egg production facilities where the surface has been prepared with concrete, rock or fibrous material to support animals in wet weather. A CAFO is further defined to have wastewater treatment works or that discharge any waste into waters of the State. To read the rule in full, please refer to the Oregon Secretary of State rules OAR 603-074-0010(3)​. ​

It is an enforceable document that details the requirements that CAFOs must follow to protect surface and groundwaters of Oregon for all beneficial uses. ODA issues a CAFO Permit to livestock owners so manure does not pollute ground and surface water. There are three main factors to determine if your farm needs a CAFO Permit:​​​

​​A livestock operator in Oregon can start the CAFO application process by providing these four items: 

The permits purpose is to protect surface and ground water, which includes limiting the amount of manure, wastewater and nutrients from all sources that can be applied to fields as fertilizer. A new CAFO permit is typically implemented in two phases to inspect the construction of a facility and permit compliance prior to bringing livestock or poultry on site.

• The permit limits the amount of manure, wastewater and nutrients from all sources that can be applied to fields as fertilizer.​
• ​The​ permit prohibits discharge to surface or ground waters.
• The permit requires monitoring of any unauthorized discharge.
• ​The permit regulates the operation for water quality issues only. 

There are two types of CAFO permits, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, which is effective for five years after the date of permit issuance, and the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) P​ermit​​, which is effective for 10 years after the date of permit issuance.​

The agencies review the CAFO Permit application and the specific operating characteristics contained in the nutrient management plan (NMP). The application and NMP describe how potential pollutants would be produced, collected, transferred, treated, stored and utilized. The agencies determine what risk of discharge is posed by the operation to surface and ground waters and choose a permit type that provides protection from discharge to the state waters. Both types of CAFO permit contain a numeric effluent limit of 0 for nitrogen, phosphorous and bacteria in any discharge.​

​​​​​​​​There are 12 permitted poultry operations that produce eggs and 24 permitted poultry operations that produce meat birds.​

​​​​​​ODA and DEQ work together on developing water-quality permits. ODA and DEQ have a Memorandum of Understanding​ that defines each agency’s roles and responsibilities​.​​

​​​​There is a coordinated application review by multiple agencies [ODA, DEQ, Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD), Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Department of State Lands (DSL), and local land use authorities].    

​​​​​​​ODA can: 

​​​​The CAFO permitting process includes a public comment period. The public can provide comments to the agencies by regular mail, email, and oral testimony at a public hearing. For information, sign up for ​CAFO public notices notifications​. ODA and DEQ will review and consider all public comments received during the public comment period regardless of the method used to provide the comments.​​

​​​​​​​​​ODA strives to be transparent with the public in all its work. New applications and substantial changes within the CAFO Program require public notice and participation opportunities. The public can receive updates straight to their email boxes by signing up to ODA’s email/text updates. If you would like to sign up to receive updates about the proposed CAFO facility, please visit ODA’s Email/Text Updates page​ to create an account and indicate which types of updates you would like to receive including news releases, animal health news, plant health news and much more. ​

​​​​In considering a CAFO permit, protection of surface and ground water quality are critical elements of the CAFO program, and an important and necessary component of approval.

ODA and DEQ issue permits that meet all requirements in Oregon's water pollution control laws and rules, and federal water pollution requirements. These requirements include a nutrient management plan, information about the facility's animal numbers, and detailed construction plans and specifications. The state reviews this information to ensure that the facility's design and operation will be protective of surface water and groundwater.  

In addition to water pollution control laws, the proposed facility must independently comply with state and local land use requirements. Applicants are required to obtain a land use compatibility statement from the local jurisdiction stating that the proposed facility is consistent with the zoning of the proposed facility location.  ​

​​​​​​​Yes, for complaints about potential violations of the CAFO Permit conditions, see ODA's CAFO complaint form​. 

​​Permitted CAFO facilities on a General Permit are scheduled to be inspected every 10 months. CAFO inspections may happen more frequently as necessary or if ODA determines follow-up inspections are necessary to ensure compliance. ​

​​ODA’s authority to regulate CAFOs is limited to issuing and determining compliance with water quality permits (ORS 468B.050). ODA partners with several local and state agencies to inform them when ODA receives a new CAFO application so that they can inform the applicant of potential additional requirements. These requirements and processes are outside of ODA authority and have their own unique process not controlled by ODA.