Concentrated animal feeding operations : EPA needs more information and a clearly defined strategy to protect air and water quality from pollutants of concern : report to Congressional requesters /

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are large livestock and poultry operations that raise animals in a confined situation. CAFOs can improve the efficiency of animal production but large amounts of manure produce can, if not properly managed, degrade air and water quality. The Environmenta...

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Bibliographic Details
Corporate Author:	United States. Government Accountability Office
Format:	Government Document eBook
Language:	English
Published:	[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2008]
Subjects:	United States. > Environmental Protection Agency > Rules and practice. Feedlot runoff > United States. Feedlots > Environmental aspects > United States. Agricultural pollution > United States. Water quality management > United States. Air quality management > United States.
Online Access:	http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08944.pdf http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-944 https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/LPS105234

Description
Summary:	Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are large livestock and poultry operations that raise animals in a confined situation. CAFOs can improve the efficiency of animal production but large amounts of manure produce can, if not properly managed, degrade air and water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulating CAFOs and requires CAFOs that discharge certain pollutants to obtain a permit. This report discusses the (1) trends in CAFOs over the past 30 years, (2) amounts of waste they generate, (3) findings of key research on CAFOs' health and environmental impacts, (4) EPA's progress in developing CAFO air emissions protocols, and (5) effect of recent court decisions on EPA's regulation of CAFO water pollutants. GAO analyzed U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) data from 1982 through 2002, for large farms as a proxy for CAFOs; reviewed studies, EPA documents, laws, and regulations; and obtained the views of federal and state officials.
Item Description:	Title from title screen (viewed on Sept 25, 2008). "September 2008." "GAO-08-944." Electronic resource.
Physical Description:	iii, 79 pages : digital, PDF file.
Format:	Mode of access: Internet from GAO web site. Address as of 9/25/08: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08944.pdf ; current access available via PURL.
Bibliography:	Includes bibliographical references.