Draft CAFO Permit and Fact Sheet Released - PRO DAIRY
Camila Lage, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Draft CAFO Permit and Fact Sheet Released The Draft State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) General Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) is now available for public comment through February 18, 2022.
- View the draft permit here: Draft SPDES ECL General Permit for CAFOs (GP-0-22-001) (PDF)
- View the fact sheet here: Draft SPDES ECL General Permit for CAFOs (GP-0-22-001) Fact Sheet (PDF)
Notice of Issuance - Renewal of Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) is proposing a renewal of the ECL SPDES General Permit for CAFOs (GP-0-16-001) by publishing and requesting comments on the Draft ECL SPDES General Permit for CAFOs: GP-0-22-001. Construction of a point source that is designed, constructed, operated and maintained to not discharge manure or process wastewater is deemed eligible for coverage under ECL SPDES General Permit GP-0-22-001 and must obtain coverage prior to operation of the CAFO facility. Owners or operators of existing CAFOs eligible to be covered by GP-0-22-001 shall submit a Request for Continued Permit Coverage form and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) Certification to NYS DEC at least 30 calendar days prior to July 24, 2022 (the effective date this permit). Notifications for new facilities must be made at least 30 calendar days prior to commencing operation of the new facility. Refer to the General Permit and Fact Sheet for application requirements for existing and new facilities. Clean Water Act (CWA) SPDES General Permit GP-0-16-002 NYS DEC is not renewing the CWA SPDES General Permit GP-0-19-001. That permit will expire July 23, 2022. Following the date of that permit expiration, CAFOs designed, constructed, operated and maintained to discharge manure or process wastewater must apply for permit coverage by submitting an industrial SPDES NY-2C application. SEQR Determination Pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, General Permit GP-0-22-001 renews GP-0-16-001 and is a Type II action. Public Comment Information The Draft General Permit and Fact Sheet can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6285.html. Written comments must be formally submitted, by email to cafoinfo@dec.ny.gov, or to the contact listed below by the close of business, February 18, 2022. If submitting comments by email, please include "Comments on the Draft ECL SPDES CAFO General Permit GP-0-22-001" in the subject line. Contact: Sara Latessa, NYS DEC - Division of Water, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-3505, Phone: (518) 402-8279.
Upcoming Events
WNY Pastureland Conversion & Soil Health Field Day
July 16, 2025
Middleport, NY
Join American Farmland Trust for the Western New York Soil Health Field Day on July 16, 2025, at Zeliff Farm in Middleport, NY, from 9:00 AM-3:15 PM. Learn about pasture conversion, soil health benchmarking, biochar in grazing systems, and best grazing practices. Plus, enjoy hands-on demos with the NY Soil Health Trailer, drones, and cover crops! Check out the attached agenda for more information about the field day and REGISTER HERE. Zeliff Farms is a regenerative beef operation who has recently partnered with AFT on outreach and education to farmers including learning circles and evaluating biochar effects on soil health.
IPM Strategies to Protect Corn and Soybean Seed in NY

July 30, 2025
Hamburg , NY
SWNYDLFC and Cornell IPM are hosting a grower meeting to discuss integrated pest management strategies for protecting corn and soybean seed in New York.
FAMACHA Training for Sheep and Goat producers in Woodhull NY
August 13, 2025 : FAMACHA Training in Woodhull
Woodhull, NY
Join us for a discussion and hands-on training for internal parasite integrated pest management in sheep and goats. Certification is available to all students participating in the workshop.
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