Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation General Permits

Change your permit coverage

Use these options to update, transfer, or end your CAFO permit coverage.

• Make changes to your permit coverage
  Update facility information, operations, or other permit details
• Request to terminate permit coverage
  End permit coverage if your operation no longer requires it
• Transfer permit coverage
  Transfer permit coverage to a new owner or operator.

Submit required reports

All permit holders must understand and submit the following reports:

• Annual Report; for a more detailed, step-by-step guide to submitting annual reports online, please review these instructions.
• Existing Lagoon Assessment Procedure
• Certification Statement & Signature Form

Recordkeeping templates

These templates help permit holders meet recordkeeping requirements. You may use a different format if it meets permit requirements.

• Field-specific Nutrient Budget
• Visual Inspections and Monitoring
• Manure Export Record

Groundwater monitoring guidance

• Standard Groundwater Monitoring Workplan — CAFO Permit Implementation Guidance

Nutrient sampling and analysis guidance

Use these resources to collect, test, and manage nutrient data.

• Post harvest Soil Nitrate Testing for Manured Grass and Silage Corn West of the Cascades (EM 8832)
• Fertilizing with Manure and Other Organic Amendments (PNW 533)
• Monitoring Soil Nutrients Using a Management Unit Approach (PNW 570)
• Sampling Dairy Manure and Compost for Nutrient Analysis (PNW 673)

Storage and soil infiltration guidance

• Standard Test Method for Infiltration Rate of Soils in Field Using Double-Ring Infiltrometer (ASTM-D3385-18)

Submit your Annual Report by Feb. 1 each year using SecureAccess Washington (SAW).

Step 1: Log in and find your permit

1. Log in to your SAW account.
2. Open the WQWebPortal and select Access Now, then Continue.
3. On the right side of the screen, find Submit Permit Data.
4. Select Submittal: Permit Reports and Submittals.
5. Select My Permits.
6. In Search Results, find your permit number and select Submittals.

IMPORTANT REMINDER! If you do not see your permit number listed, it means you have not created your electronic signature account nor have you sent in the electronic signature agreement form (ESAF) that gives you authority to submit online.

You will need to follow these instructions to create your electronic signature agreement and send in your ESAF, and then wait for Ecology to approve your form before you can submit online. Once approved, you’ll have access to continue with the next step. 

Step 2: Complete and submit your report

1. Select Edit and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. When finished, select Mark as Ready to Submit.
3. Select Save and Done.
4. Select OK to validate your submittal.
5. Select Sign Selected Submittals.
6. Select OK, then log in to your electronic signature account.
7. Select Ready to Sign.
8. Read the attestation, check both required boxes, and select Sign.

Recent appeal history

In 2022, Ecology issued updated CAFO general permits. A coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) appealed those permits. Their appeal raised concerns about monitoring requirements, clarity of the permit language, Manure Pollution Prevention Plans, and whether the permits included strong enough conditions to protect waters of the state.

In March 2025, the Pollution Control Hearings Board ruled in favor of the NGOs on some issues. The Board ordered Ecology to make specific changes to the permits and sent them back to the agency for revision. The Board did not rule on several other issues raised in the appeal.

After the ruling, Ecology confirmed it would revise and reissue the permits according to the formal public process. The NGOs then withdrew their appeal on the remaining issues. As a result, the 2022 CAFO permits remain in effect until Ecology completes a formal public process to reissue them.

Ecology plans to reissue the permits before their current expiration date of Jan. 5, 2028.

You can read the full Summary Judgment Order or find additional details on the Pollution Control Hearings Board webpage for Case P23-002.

Do I need a CAFO permit?

We use a permitting threshold (see below) which lists the amount of animals at a facility, along with information on how the operation handles their waste, to determine if a facility needs a permit. A farm with fewer animals, only qualifies for this permit if Ecology designates the farm as a “significant contributor of pollutants.”

If manure management problems are detected at a smaller farm, we will work with owners to give guidance on the best management practices to protect water quality. We often partner with local groups, such as conservation districts, to identify resources and financial assistance opportunities that may be available to help prevent manure from becoming a pollutant. 

Permit threshold

For each type of animal the number of animals listed are needed at any one facility to be considered a medium or large CAFO.

Step 1: Access the Water Quality Web Permitting Portal Access through Secure Access Washington (SAW)

To apply for new coverage or reapply for continued coverage, you must use Secure Access Washington (SAW). SAW is the secure gateway to many government services including what you need, the Water Quality Permitting Portal (WQ Web Portal). Download a PDF of detailed instructions, with screen capture images, with information on how to set up WQ Web Portal or follow the instructions here:

1. Login to SecureAccess Washington or sign up.
2. Under My Services, from the top level SAW navigation, either
   • Select Continue to Water Quality Permitting Portal
     or
   • If you do not have the WQ Web Portal added to your SAW account you’ll need to add it: Add Service > Add By Agency > Department of Ecology > Services From ECY > Water Quality Permitting Portal (WQWebPortal) > Add > Access > Continue to Water Quality Permitting Portal.

Step 2: Complete your Application for Permit Coverage

For a new facility not currently covered by this general permit, you need to submit a new application which is called a Notice of Intent (NOI). Download a PDF of detailed application instructions with screen capture images or follow the instructions below:

1. Login to Secure Access Washington.
2. Under My Services go to the WQWebPortal.
3. Select NOI: General Permit Coverage – Renewal – Notice of Intent (NOI) on the WQ Web Portal home page.
4. On the Notice of Intent (NOI) webpage select + New corresponding to the name of the general permit you are applying for. If you are completing an existing electronic application, click Search my existing Notice of Intent (NOI) applications and enter your permit number, including any leading letters, in the search box. Select Load.
5. Fill out your entire application by completing all of the tabs.
6. When you are finished select Save and Continue.
7. Attach any necessary information. Select Save and Continue.
8. Sign the form by either of the following methods:
   • Use your electronic signature if you have an NOI signature on file.
     or
   • Choose Print and Sign. Print the form, have the person in your organization with legal authority sign it, and mail it to the address on the signature page.

Fees

Permit fees are determined by the size of your herd and are located in Chapter 173-224 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Water Quality Permit Fees.

Questions

Contact the staff listed below.

Public review of permit applications & Manure Pollution Prevention Plans

Animal operations that are seeking new coverage under the CAFO general permit must submit their permit application and Manure Pollution Prevention Plan to Ecology for review. Existing permitted CAFOs with proposed changes to their Manure Pollution Prevention Plan also need to submit these changes to Ecology for review. In both situations, these materials are also available for public review and comment for 30 days. For new applications, we are specifically interested in comments about whether it is appropriate for the facility to be covered under the permit. At the end of the public comment period, we will consider comments and may request changes to the Manure Pollution Prevention Plan or permit application, before issuing a decision.

How to submit comments

• Submit comments online (preferred)
• Mail to:
  Department of Ecology
  Water Quality Program
  Attn: CAFO Permit Administrator
  P.O. Box 47696
  Olympia, WA 98504-7696

Current applications or plans for public comment

• Manure Pollution Prevention Plan (MPPP)
  J&K Dairy, LLC | Sunnyside, Washington
  Accepting public comments from 9 a.m. Feb. 18, 2026 to 11:59 p.m. March 27, 2026

2023 permit

• Comments on the draft 2023 General Permit
• Draft 2023 General Permit workshop presentation

2017 permit

• State Waste Discharge General Permit (only covers groundwater discharges)
• Combined National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and State Waste Discharge General Permit (covers surface and groundwater discharges)
• Fact Sheet (a detailed explanation of the permits)
  • Appendix C of the Fact Sheet: Responses to Comments
• Economic Impact Analysis (estimated permit-implementation costs for small businesses)