Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation General Permit

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

Environmental groups have filed an appeal of the final general permit. This appeal relates to the legal and technical basis for the general permit and its conditions (requirements) necessary to control discharges to waters of the state. The permit remains in effect.

We will post any decisions regarding the CAFO Permit made by the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) on this page. Or you can visit the PCHB's webpage and use the Quick Search for the case number "P23-002."

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.

Make changes to my coverage

• Request to Terminate Permit Coverage
• Transfer Permit Coverage
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Modification Form

Submit required reports

All permit holders are required to be familiar with and comply with 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

How to submit required documents online?

Submit Annual Reports by February 1 of each year through Secure Access Washington by following these steps:

1. Log into your SAW account and access the WQWebPortal platform; click “Access Now” and “Continue.” 
2. Navigate to the “Submit Permit Data” box on the right of your screen and click on “Submittal: Permit Reports and Submittals.” 
3. Select the tab that says: “My Permits.” 
4. Under the Search Results, find your permit number and click on the “Submittals” link.
   
   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. 
    
5. Click “Edit” and follow the instructions. When done, click on “Mark as Ready to Submit,” and then click on the “Save and Done” button. 
6. Click “OK,” to validate, then click “Sign Selected Submittals.” 
7. Click “OK” then log into your signature account and click, “Ready to Sign.” Read through the “Attestation,” and click the two (2) boxes and then click “Sign.” 

Get a template for recordkeeping

These templates are provided to assist to permit holders in meeting recordkeeping requirements. Permit holders may use another format, provided it meets the permit requirements.

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

Guidance on groundwater monitoring:

• Standard Groundwater Monitoring Workplan — CAFO Permit Implementation Guidance

Guidance on collecting and analyzing nutrient samples:

• 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)

Guidance on assessment for solids storage, dry stacks, and compost piles on soil pads:

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

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)