Updates
- The revised Medium CAFO General Permit was Reissued on 1/17/2023 – The appeal period is underway until 2/17/2023
- If you would like to be notified via email about additional updates and outreach on the Medium CAFO General permit, reach out to Clarice Cutler.
General Authority and Definitions
Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) are agricultural operations where animals are kept and raised in confined situations. An AFO is a lot or facility (other than an aquatic animal production facility) where the following conditions are met:
- animals have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period, and
- crops, vegetation, forage growth, or post-harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot or facility.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations define a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) as any AFO that either meets a certain animal population threshold, or, regardless of population, is determined to be a significant contributor of pollutants to waters of the United States by the appropriate authority [40 C.F.R. § 122.23(b)(2)].
The NPDES program regulates the discharge of pollutants from point sources to waters of the United States. CAFOs are point sources, as defined by the 40 C.F.R. § 122.2.
Program Contact Information
Clarice Cutler – Program Manager 802-490-6181 Clarice.Cutler@vermont.gov
Abbi Pajak - Environmental Analyst 802-490-4741 Abbi.Pajak@vermont.gov