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Livestock producers from feedyards, dairy farms, and hog operations, along with environmental consultants and CLA staff, met in Aurora and were joined by representatives from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Environmental Ag Program.

Livestock producers from feedyards, dairy farms, and hog operations, along with environmental consultants and CLA staff, met in Aurora this past Tuesday. They were joined by representatives from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE): Sean Scott (Deputy Director, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability), Chad DeVolin (Environmental Ag Program Manager), Bonnie Laws (Work Group Lead), and Thaine Kramer and Mike Sherry (Environmental Protection Specialists).

Discussion topics included the status of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit lawsuit, updates on the Housed Commercial Swine Feeding Operations (HCSFO) Permitting/Monitoring Plan, the state budget shortfall and impacts of the federal shutdown, and the development and maintenance of extension fact sheets, among other items.

This meeting demonstrates the importance of collaboration between regulators and the agricultural community in ensuring the continuous improvement of our industry and the protection of natural resources.

In 2005, Colorado Livestock Association members played a key role in establishing the Environmental Ag Program, which focuses on permitting and compliance assurance for animal feeding operations. The program enforces state and federal air and water quality regulations through permitting, inspections, policy development, technical assistance, and enforcement initiatives in coordination with the Air and Water Quality divisions.

CLA members interested in participating in the CLA Natural Resources Committee are encouraged to contact the office at office@coloradolivestock.org or call (970) 378-0500.

About the CDPHE Environmental Ag Program

The CDPHE’s Environmental Agriculture Program focuses on permitting and compliance assurance for Colorado’s animal feeding operations. The Ag Program is primarily producer-funded, through fees set in state law. Since 2005, the Ag Program has collaborated with the agricultural sector through policymaking, regulation, technical guidance, inspections, compliance assistance, annual stakeholder meetings, and quarterly newsletters.

The Ag Program is comprised of Bonnie Laws, Workgroup Lead, and Technical Leads, Thaine Kramer and Mike Sherry, along with Chad DeVolin, the Program Manager. The Ag Program strives to be a “one-stop shop” for producers. Each technical lead is assigned a region of the state and they provide comprehensive assistance in those regions for the regulations that the Program administers. If Ag Program customers need assistance from other state programs, the Ag Program helps put producers in contact with the right people or the right information.

The Ag Program manages four regulations that apply to animal feeding operations. Regulation No. 61 assures clean water through federal law, and applies to permitted concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and housed commercial swine feeding operations (HCSFOs). Regulation No. 81 assures clean water through state law, and applies to permitted CAFOs, non-permitted CAFOs, and smaller animal feeding operations (AFOs). Regulation No. 66 regulates financial assurance for HCSFOs and Regulation No. 2 protects air quality through state law for HCSFOs.

If you are interested in learning more about the Ag Program, or would like to discuss issues affecting your operation, please contact the Ag Program at 303-692-3520 or by email at cdphe.cafo@state.co.us. Learn more online here.

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