Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are large livestock and poultry operations that raise animals in a confined situation. CAFOs can improve the efficiency of animal production but large amounts of manure can degrade air and water quality. The EPA is responsible for regulating CAFOs and requires CAFOs that discharge certain pollutants to obtain a permit. This report discusses: (1) trends in CAFOs over the past 30 years; (2) amounts of waste they generate; (3) findings of key research on CAFOs¿ health and environmental impacts; (4) EPA¿s progress in developing CAFO air emissions protocols; and (5) effect of recent court decisions on EPA¿s regulation of CAFO water pollutants. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) are large livestock and poultry operations that raise animals in a confined situation. CAFOs may improve the efficiency of animal production, but the large amounts of manure they produce can, if improperly managed, degrade air and water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates CAFOs and requires CAFOs that discharge certain pollutants to obtain a permit.This testimony summarizes the findings of a September 4, 2008 GAO report (GAO-08-944) on (1) trends in CAFOs, (2) amounts of waste they generate, (3) findings of key research on CAFOs' health and environmental impacts, (4) progress made in developing CAFO air emissions protocols, and (5) the effect of recent court decisions on EPA's regulation of CAFO water pollutants. GAO analyzed U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) data from 1982 through 2002 for large farms as a proxy for CAFOs; reviewed studies, EPA documents, laws, and regulations, and obtained the views of federal and state officials.In the September 2008 report, GAO

Concentrated animal feeding operations : EPA needs more information and a clearly defined strategy to protect air and water quality from pollutants of concern : report to Congressional requesters

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: EPA Needs More Information and a Clearly Defined Strategy to Protect Water and Air Quality

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency that works for Congress. The GAO watches over Congress, and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayers dollars. The Comptroller General of the United States is the leader of the GAO, and is appointed to a 15-year term by the U.S. President. The GAO wants to support Congress, while at the same time doing right by the citizens of the United States. They audit, investigate, perform analyses, issue legal decisions and report anything that the government is doing. This is one of their reports.