Environmental Services Department
When do I Need an Animal Feedlot Permit?
Certain permits may be required for the operation, expansion, modification, or construction of an animal feedlot in Stearns County.
Many factors such as animal unit numbers; animal type; feedlot location; and proximity to municipalities, residences, and surface waters may determine which type of permit is required.
The following permits are available through the Stearns County Environmental Services Department and the State of Minnesota:
Stearns County Permits
New animal feedlots and modifications or expansions to existing animal feedlots must apply for a Feedlot Construction Site Permit (C.S.P.), now known as the Feedlot Construction Short Form Permit (C.S.F.), or a Feedlot Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P.) according to Section 4.8 of the Stearns County Zoning Ordinance (# 209) and Successor Ordinances.
The following table illustrates the type of permit that is needed for an Animal Feedlot project.
|
Zoning District | ||||||
|
A-160 |
A-80 |
A-40 |
T-20 |
R-20 &R-10 |
All other districts | |
|
CLASS A- 700 animal units* or greater | ||||||
|
Category 1- 15% or more are swine |
C.U.P** |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
|
Category 2- less than 15% are swine |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
|
CLASS B- 500-699 animal units | ||||||
|
Category 1- 15% or more are swine |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
|
Category 2- less than 15% are swine |
C.S.P.*** |
C.S.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
|
CLASS C- 50-499 animal units | ||||||
|
Category 1- 20% or more are swine |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
|
Category 2- less than 20% are swine |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
|
CLASS D – 10-49 animal units | ||||||
|
Category 1- 20% or more are swine |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
|
Category 2- less than 20% are swine |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
|
CLASS E- less than 10 animal units | ||||||
|
Category 1- 20% or more are swine |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
|
Category 2- less than 20% are swine |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.S.P. |
C.U.P. |
C.U.P. |
Not permitted |
|
*Animal Unit numbers in this table are based on cumulative numbering of animal units **C.U.P. means Conditional Use Permit ***C.S. P. means Construction Site Permit | ||||||
Notes:
- New animal feedlots and expansions to existing animal feedlots located in shoreland are permitted as a C.U.P.
- A C.U.P. is not required for modifications to improve manure management or when the number of animal units is not increased.
- New animal feedlots or expansions to existing animal feedlots where the cumulative number of animal units exceeds 300 and proposed within one (1) mile of the corporate limits or established annexation zone of any city are permitted as a CUP.
Feedlot Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P.)
A C.U.P. is required for those Animal Feedlot projects that fall into one of the categories listed in the table above (under the Stearns County Permits section).
The C.U.P. process begins with the completion of two forms:
- The Stearns County Application for Conditional Use Permit for Animal Feedlots, and
- The Joint Stearns County/State of Minnesota Permit Application for Construction and Operation of an Animal Feedlot.
Both forms are available for downloading from the Feedlot section of our Forms page.
Once all materials have been received and completed, if the project does not require additional permits, comments, or review periods from the State of Minnesota, the Feedlot C.U.P. is then presented to the Stearns County Feedlot Review Committee for further discussion.
After review by this committee, the project is then submitted to the Stearns County Planning Commission which either approves or denies the application for a Feedlot C.U.P. The Planning Commission makes decisions based on information and comments provided by Feedlot Staff, Feedlot Review Committee, other County Departments, State Agencies, and interested citizens.
Feedlot Construction Short Form (C.S.F.)
Construction Short Form permits will be used for construction activities related to manure storage and for new and expanding feedlots under 1,000 animal units where there is no potential pollution hazard. If a potential pollution hazard exists, an Interim, SDS or NPDES will be required.
A Feedlot C.S.F. can be issued in a timely manner by the Environmental Services Department if all Feedlot C.S.F. application materials have been received and are completed. A Feedlot C.S.F. can also be issued efficiently if the project does not require additional comments or review from the State of Minnesota and if and the project does not require additional permits from Stearns County or the State of Minnesota.
Variance
A variance for feedlot projects may be required for a variety of situations and can include but not be limited to the following example situations:
- The inability to meet property line setbacks
- The inability to meet the setbacks from the Ordinary High Water Mark of a lake
- To intent to expand feedlot operations closer to residences than allowed by existing Stearns County regulations
The variance process begins by completing the Stearns County Variance Application Form and the Stearns County Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Permit Application for an Animal Feedlot or Manure Storage Area. Both forms are available for downloading from the Feedlot section of our Forms page.
Once all materials have been received and completed, if the project does not require additional permits, comments, or review periods from the State of Minnesota, the project is then presented to the Stearns County Board of Adjustments for approval or denial. This Board makes decisions based on information and comments provided by Feedlot Staff, other County Departments, State Agencies, and interested citizens.
Interim Permits
If (as determined by a site visit) a point of discharge has been identified and a runoff problem exists at an animal feedlot, an Interim Permit is issued to allow an animal feedlot operator 24 months to develop and implement a plan to correct runoff or pollution problems.
Certificate of Compliance
A Certificate of Compliance is issued to an animal feedlot operator if it is determined that the operation meets the Animal Feedlot Performance Standards of the Stearns County Zoning Ordinance # 209 and Successor Performance Standards.
An operation is in compliance if existing runoff or pollution problems are corrected. An operation is also in compliance if it has been determined via a site visit that a point of discharge to surface or ground waters does not exist. A Certificate of Compliance becomes invalid upon altering the operation of the animal feedlot or by increasing Animal Units.
State of Minnesota Permits
A permit or environmental study from the State of Minnesota is often required for large animal feedlots that may include (but not be limited to) those operations that are typically over 1,000 Animal Units, located in ecologically sensitive areas, or pose a threat to surface and or ground water supplies.
Environmental Assessment Worksheet (E.A.W.) and Environmental Impact Statements (E.I.S.)
An E.A.W is a document that is designed to determine whether an E.I.S is required for an animal feedlot project. For more information about the E.A.W and E.I.S processes, refer to the Environmental Quality Board at www.mnplan.state.mn.us/eqb/index.html.
Minnesota Statutes and Rules regarding the E.A.W and E.I.S process can be obtained at Minnesota Statutes 116D.04 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 4410.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (N.P.D.E.S.)
An N.P.D.E.S. Permit is required for animal feedlots that have over 1,000 Animal Units. For more information about this permitting program, see the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (this link is to an Adobe Acrobat .PDF file).
State Disposal System Permit (S.D.S.)
An S.D.S. Permit may be required by the State of Minnesota for the operation of a large animal feedlot using new technology for odor or manure management. S.D.S. permits can also be used for an operation that doesn't meet the technical standards outlined in the rule or for sites with less than 1000 animal units that cannot be fixed with a 2-year interim permit. Please refer to the MPCA Internet site for more information.
Water Appropriations Permits (W.A.P.)
A W.A.P. is required for those animal feedlots that draw more than 10,000 gallons per day or more than one million gallons per year from aquifers and waters of the State of Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources administers the WAP program. For more detailed information or to download permit forms, please visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Waters.
Minnesota Department of Health Review
The Minnesota Department of Health has the authority to review and provide comment regarding new, expanding, or modified animal feedlots that will accommodate an additional 500 Animal Units within two miles of a Vulnerable Public Water Supply Well.
The Department of Health may also review and provide comment regarding any new animal feedlot that has 200 Animal Units or more (cumulative number) within one mile of a Public Water Supply Well.