Posted: 02.19.2010

State environmental officials are proposing
a blanket permit for giant farms.

Right now, anyone who wants to start a farm with more than 1,000
of what the Department of Natural Resources calls animal units, the
equivalent of about 700 dairy cows, must obtain an individual
permit from the agency.

The permits prohibit spreading liquid manure when the ground is
frozen, among other things.
DNR regulators want to move to a general permit system for farms
between 1,000 and 5,700 animal units. Farms with 300 to 999 animal
units could be subject to a general permit if they have uncorrected
pollution problems.

The permit's restrictions wouldn't change, but agency officials
say the move would speed up the permit process. The agency plans to
put the plan out for public hearings later this spring.
 

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