Enforce Existing Animal Feeding Operations Regulations to Reduce Pollutants

Animal feeding operations are being targeted as sources of point and nonpoint pollutants. In response to the need to improve water quality, governments and agencies are enacting new regulations proscribing activities to reduce pollutants entering waters. Pursuant to the Clean Water Act, the United States federal government regulates concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) as point sources of pollution. In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advanced more stringent regulations for CAFOs despite the fact that approximately80% of the CAFOs have not secured permits as required by federal law. An analysis of enforcement mechanisms and opportunities for greater enforcement suggests that reductions in pollution could come from more effective enforcement. Rather than adopting more regulations for animal feeding operations, governments might direct their resources towards detecting and enforcing existing provisions. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2002