CNMP - What's Happening Across the Country?

CNMP – What’s Happening Across The Country?

Jeff Porter Environmental Engineer

Manure Management Team Greensboro, NC

What is a CNMP?

• Plan not design • Landowner/Operator’s plan • Identifies management and

conservation actions for an animal feeding operation (AFO)

• Help to meet production and resource protection goals

• Addresses erosion, water quality and air quality (if mitigation is feasible)

Conservation Planning Process

Working Toward an RMS

Conservation Plan

Soil Erosion Water Quality

RMS

CNMP

Soil

Water

Air

Plants

Animals

Humans

Energy

Why Do a CNMP?

• Evaluate potential risks • Prioritize addressing those

risks • Addresses regulatory issues • Can help with the permit

process. – Permitting is the responsibility of the

landowner/operator

• Disaster/Emergency plan • Improve livestock operation efficiency • Prepare for expansion/downsize • Neighbor relations

Manure Management and Regulations • Illinois River (Arkansas and Oklahoma)

– Downstream state can dictate upstream state water quality at state line

• Suwannee River (Florida) – EPA Developed TMDLs

– Could also impact Georgia and Alabama on allowable discharge

• Chesapeake Bay (6 states and DC) – EPA “Pollution Diet”

• Mississippi River Basin (all or part of 27 states) – Potential water quality standards for all US waters

– Mississippi River Basin one of first to be addressed

Mississippi River

When to Implement a CNMP?

• Provide technical and/or financial assistance to an AFO or CAFO in the production area and/or

• Provide technical and/or financial assistance for nutrient management that involves the application of manure and wastewater

NRCS General Manual Title 190, Part 405, Subpart B - Policy

Region

Year Central East West Nationwide

2009 1,219 1,401 127 2,747

2010 1,110 1,577 140 2,827

2011 1,009 1,591 204 2,804

2012 813 1,396 168 2,377

2013 601 1,313* 137 2,051

Total 4,752 7,278 776 12,806 *Includes new Northeast and Southeast Regions

CNMPs Across The Country

Numbers based on NRCS Performance Results System (PRS)

This accounts for 5% of potential CNMPs

State

Year IA KS MN MT NE ND SD

2009 122 53 128 3 2 28 27

2010 110 48 111 7 3 34 16

2011 96 31 69 11 9 41 12

2012 93 32 42 1 48 11 9

2013 72 21 87 2 162 14 1

Total 493 185 437 24 224 128 65

CNMPs Per State

Numbers based on NRCS Performance Results System (PRS)

Issues • Not the Landowner’ plan

• Size of plan

• Quality of plan

• Plan vs. Engineering Design

• Conservation Plan vs. CNMP

• Technical Service Provider may not be qualified or feel qualified to do the entire CNMP

CNMP Planning Group

• Training

• Communication

• Policy and Format

• Certification

Proposed Training

• CNMP Introductory Course

• Conservation Planning Modules 1-9

• Nutrient Management Modules 1-7

• Agricultural Waste Management Systems - Level 2

• Assessment and Technology Development Tools

Improved Communication

• Conservation planner leads landowner/operator through the conservation planning process

• Ensure document is landowner’s plan

• Improved communication between landowner and Technical Service Provider (TSP)

• Improved communication between TSP and NRCS

CNMP Format

• Format – Production Area

– Land Treatment Area

– Nutrient Management

• Coordinate with Conservation Plan (eliminate redundancies)

• Split Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) 102 into three components

CNMP CAP 102 • CNMP • Current - All or nothing • Splitting CAP

– TSPs can focus on strengths

– Can do all or part – Require more coordination

Certification

• Evaluate Criteria

• TSPs and NRCS

• Quality Assurance

• Continuing Education

Summary

• CNMP is the landowner’s plan

• Tremendous amount work yet to be done

• National CNMP planning group is evaluating the process

• Expect some changes in the near future

Your Input How can we improve CNMPs and the process of generating

them?