Special Environmental Concerns:  Concentrated (or Confined) Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)


 

The following information should be reviewed for projects that involve CAFOs:

  1. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is the primary agency that regulates CAFOs. Prior to approving a CAFO, please contact ISDA.
  2. A CAFO siting process conducted prior to approving a CAFO permit can help determine environmental risks. Projects may qualify for a state CAFO siting through ISDA. If a county requests a siting through ISDA, representatives from the Idaho Department of Water Resources, ISDA, and DEQ may review a site proposed for a CAFO, determine environmental risks, and submit a site-suitability determination.
  3. For proposed CAFOs, consider a requirement for an odor management plan, as the development of such a plan is not included within the CAFO siting process. (See the odor control section.)
  4. Contact EPA for more information on CAFOs.