RALEIGH -- The N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission today approved emergency provisions for managing animal waste through the winter in wake of recent hurricanes and associated flooding.

Officials with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the best management practices, which amend an emergency waste management policy announced last month, are intended to offer growers operating flexibility in an effort to protect lagoons from seepage, overflows and potential failure. Lagoons at five pork facilities in eastern North Carolina failed in the aftermath of the storm and more than 40 other animal operations were flooded.

Under the emergency provisions, growers in disaster counties can begin implementing the BMPs and use them up until March 31. Growers, however, must get approval from a technical specialist and apply to DENR by Dec. 1 to add these emergency practices and standards to their certified animal waste management plans. Facilities that can currently comply with their existing permit and certified plan must do so.

DENR continues to work with affected groups to identify additional measures to minimize risks to the environment and management options for the industry. The agency anticipates that major swine integrators will commit to managing movement of hogs from facilities to comply with these emergency best management practices and amended waste plans.

The emergency practices, developed following discussions with stakeholders, include the following:

• Growers can only restock as many animals that the operation can accommodate and still meet either its existing or amended certified animal waste management plan;
• Growers have to manage the movement of animals to and from the facility to minimize environmental impacts, ensure compliance with their permit and to avoid discharges to surface waters (In some cases animals may need to be moved to another facility or delivery delayed);
• Revises spray-application ratios in recognition of dilution in lagoons from heavy rainfall and flooding;
• Temporary addition of new land application sites and crops, such small grains and woodlands; and
• Extension of the land-application period for coastal Bermuda grass and other summer perennials until the first killing frost.

DENR's rebuilding policy for flooded animal operations, outlined in last month's emergency strategy, remains in effect. Animal waste systems that need to be replaced or that sustained damage in excess of 50 percent during the flooding may not be rebuilt in the 100-year floodplain, according to the policy. Operations with less than 50 percent in damages will be required to meet certain siting and construction standards.

Gov. Jim Hunt has asked for $50 million to move swine farms out of the floodplain. In April, Hunt unveiled a lagoon conversion plan for growers to convert to more effective treatment technologies.

Since Hurricane Floyd struck, DENR staff has conducted assessments of most lagoons affected by flooding with a focus on evaluating their structural integrity. Producers have been instructed to contact the Division of Water Quality for guidance on managing their waste systems in order to protect their lagoon integrity and address inadequate freeboard issues.

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