The state is accepting feedback at public hearings scheduled for October and submitted written comments through Nov. 3 on draft animal feeding operations general permits for eligible nondischarge swine, cattle and poultry facilities with liquid waste management systems, and animal feeding operations with farm digester systems.
Copies of the draft permits, draft annual report forms and related fact sheets are at https://www.deq.nc.gov/animalpermits2024. Documents translated into Spanish can be found at that link, as well.
Sponsor Spotlight
The public is invited to give input on any aspect of the existing three state general permits for animal operations and three existing state general permits for animal farm digester systems.
The feedback collected will be considered in the development of the general permits, which will become effective in Fall 2024, officials said.
Division of Water Resources staff will hold the public hearings at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville, Oct. 10 at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, and Oct. 24 at Statesville Civic Center in Statesville. Speaker and attendee registration starts at 5:30 p.m.
A virtual meeting through WebEx is set for Oct. 26. Speaker registration and meeting links are the DEQ website.
In the event of weather conditions preventing a public meeting, a backup in-person hearing will be held Oct. 19 at James Sprunt Community College.
Sponsor Spotlight
Comments also can be mailed to Ramesh Ravella, Animal Feeding Operations, N.C. Division of Water Resources, 1636 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1636; left on a voicemail at 919-707-3705; or emailed to publiccommentsDWR@deq.nc.gov.
DEQ is conducting this input session as part of its commitment to a transparent public engagement process during the development of these general permits, officials said. In addition to this session, the department held two technical stakeholder workgroup meetings in April and May 2023 as well as a public input session in May.
More information and updates on the stakeholder process are available online.
