Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation General Permit

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.

Apply for new CAFO Permit Coverage

If you haven't already, you will need to sign up for a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account. SAW is the state of Washington's secure portal to access and submit applications. Start by clicking the "Sign Up!" button. SAW will send you an email to activate your account (check your spam or junk folder).

Add the Water Quality Permitting Portal to your SAW account by following these steps:

1. Inside SAW, click "add new service."
2. Click the "browse by agency" option, scroll to and select "Department of Ecology."
3. Scroll to "Water Quality Permitting Portal" and click "apply."

To apply for permit coverage, complete the Notice of Intent (NOI) application by following these steps:

1. In your SAW account, look for the Water Quality Permitting Portal, and click "Access now."
2. Click "Continue," and under "Apply for Coverage" click "NOI: General Permit Coverage - Renewal - Notice of Intent (NOI)."
3. Find "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) General Permit" on the list, and click "New." 
4. Enter information on each tab of the Notice of Intent (NOI) application.
5. When completed, click “Save and Continue” at the bottom.
6. Sign and mail the hard copy paper NOI form to Ecology at the address provided.
7. Include a map of the proposed treatment areas, your MPPP plan, and any other required documents.

See also an illustrated version of these instructions for the completion of the electronic Notice of Intent (eNOI) via WQWebPortal.

Please make sure to review these instructions to create your electronic signature account. You must create an electronic signature account and mail-in your electronic signature agreement form (ESAF) to Ecology first. Once Ecology approves your ESAF, you will have access to your permit coverage information and be able to sign and submit documents online.

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.

If you have questions, contact the staff listed in the Contact information box 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

• There are no applications at this time.

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)