On August 8, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will hold a critical public hearing to determine the future of the state’s 2020 General Permit for Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). This permit regulates how CAFOs manage and discharge pollutants under the federal Clean Water Act, and it's essential for protecting Michigan’s rivers, lakes and drinking water from agricultural pollution.
The 2020 permit includes significant improvements over previous versions, such as stricter discharge limits and stronger oversight of waste spreading practices. However, it has never gone into effect. CAFO industry groups challenged the permit in both court and administrative proceedings. While the Michigan Supreme Court upheld EGLE’s authority to issue the permit in 2024, an administrative law judge later struck several key protections from the permit in a separate decision earlier this year.
Now, EGLE Director Phil Roos has the power to review that decision and restore the most important safeguards. Environmental and community groups — represented by the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) are urging the Director to reinstate vital provisions that would:
- Ban the spreading of CAFO waste on frozen, snow-covered ground;
- Require more transparency and data sharing when CAFOs transfer waste to other parties;
- Strengthen pollution controls on fields with tile drains; and
- Ensure better monitoring and enforcement to meet water quality standards.
This hearing is a key opportunity for the public to speak up for clean water and science-based protections. The stakes are high; Michigan’s waters, communities and ecosystems deserve stronger safeguards against factory farm pollution.
Join us on August 8 to show your support for a strong CAFO permit that puts people and water first.
We need a strong showing of public concern to ensure EGLE adopts the most protective version of the permit possible.
👉 Sign up to attend or speak at the August 8 hearing here: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po000011rVB6IAM
Together, we can protect Michigan’s water for future generations.