Water Quality and Animal Feeding Operations in Arizona: A Producer's Notebook

1. Regulatory Agencies

This list is intended to assist AFO owners but is not a comprehensive list of regulatory agencies that deal with AFOs. 

Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) Dairy and Dairy Products Control
www.agriculture.state.az.us
602-542-4189                                                             

The Dairy Products Control Office is responsible for enforcing the Federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO).  This office also enforces regulations on the production, transportation, labeling and handling of all milk products, including raw milk.  Under the PMO, the office issues operating permits to milk producers, distributors, companies and processing plants.

Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) Meat and Poultry Inspection
www.agriculture.state.az.us
602-542-4971     

The Meat and Poultry Inspection Office is responsible for examining meat and poultry and the sanitary conditions of facilities that slaughter animals or process meat products.

Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR)
www.adwr.state.az.us/
602-542-1512   

Water Use Allocations.  Dairies in the Active Management Areas (namely, Phoenix, Pinal, Prescott, Santa Cruz, and Tucson) are required to adopt water conservation measures that will bring them into allotment compliance. 

Reporting Requirements.  Dairies are required to report annual water consumption (including effluent) received from all sources.

Water Well Requirements.  ADWR also regulates the construction and abandonment of water wells, licensing of well drillers, and authorization for well drilling. A permit from ADWR is required for all well drilling within the State.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
www.adeq.state.az.us
602-207-4508

ADEQ regulates AFO operations and activities that may threaten water quality. 

Point source water quality regulations.  An Arizona NPDES general permit for CAFOs is suggested for all CAFOs (see next section on Federal Regulations).

Nonpoint source water quality regulations.  All agricultural producers are required to follow Arizona’s general CAFO permit and nitrogen fertilizer BMPs, where applicable, to minimize nitrogen contamination of surface and ground water (see State Regulations section). 

Arizona Drinking Water Rules.  Many livestock operations are required to comply with these rules if they have potable water service for 25 people or more, or 15 or more service connections for at least 60 days per year.

Dredge and Fill Rules.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers administers the dredge and fill permit program in Arizona that regulates the discharge of dredge or fill material into Waters of the State.  However the initial contact point is ADEQ which certifies the reviews for the permits that the Corps issues.  Activities covered under the 404 permit must meet Arizona's Surface Water Standards.

Regulatory Agencies:

Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX

EPA Region IX must be contacted to receive coverage under the Arizona NPDES general permit or individual permit.  You may submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to EPA at: US EPA, Region 9; Attn.: AZG800000/NOI, WTR-7; 75 Hawthorne St.; San Francisco, CA 94105.  Once an operator is covered by the Arizona NPDES permit, the permittee shall report any noncompliance which may endanger human health or the environment.  Any information must be provided orally via the 24-hour voice mail system, telephone number 415/744-1905 within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the noncompliance circumstances.  More information is available in the Arizona NPDES General 10Permit.

County Flood Control Districts

Anyone wishing to construct a dairy within a 100-year floodplain is advised to contact the Flood Control District to insure that all local requirements for floodplain management are met.  The review process is dependent on the area in question.  In general, it is not advisable to build in the floodplain or divert the natural flow of water. 

Maricopa County Flood Control District
www.fcd.maricopa.gov
602-506-1501           

Pinal County Planning and Development
520-868-6442

Pima County Flood Control District
www.dot.co.pima.az.us
520-740-6350

Yuma County Development Services
www.co.yuma.az.us/dds/main.htm
520-329-2300

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
602-230-5912

The Vector and Zoonotic Disease Section supports promotion, training, and development of local vector control programs under State Statutes ARS 36-104 and 36-102.

Vector Control

Vector Control is primarily concerned with control of the breeding of mosquitoes, flies and rodents.  Dairy waste ponds are considered to be potential sources for breeding these vectors and are checked routinely. 

Maricopa County Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Division of Water and Waste Management, Bureau of Vector Control:
www.maricopa.gov/envsvc/VECTOR/mosqprob.htm
602-273-0895

Also

Pima County Health Department
Consumer Health and Food Safety
520-740-2760

Pinal County Health Department
Environmental Health
520-868-7301

Yuma County Pest Abatement District
520-726-1030

Page updated 7/02


Acronyms and selected definitions


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