2022 Digester System General Permits

About the 2022 general permits

The Division of Water Resources has been directed by the North Carolina General Assembly to develop general permits by July 1, 2022, for existing Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) that intend to build and operate a digester system. Senate Bill 605, known as the 2021 Farm Act, describes the general permit requirements. Currently, digester systems are processed as modifications to a facility’s existing permit.

The new general permits will include all of the existing and enforceable requirements of the 2019 State General Animal Waste Management Permits, including developing and maintaining a Certified Animal Waste Management Plan, and complying with siting, buffer, testing, inspection and reporting requirements.

The specific provisions of the new general permits for digester systems will be determined during the permit development process. DEQ is committed to public involvement during development of these new general permits, and will conduct a stakeholder process and public meetings in 2021 and 2022.

Animal waste digester systems

Animal waste digester systems are a combination of animal waste digestion equipment (digester) and covered lagoons that process animal waste and collect gases from animal waste. Learn more about the process from the Environmental Protection Agency.

General Permit development process

The new general permits will apply to currently permitted facilities seeking to add digester systems. The Department, under the 2021 NC Farm Act, maintains the authority to require individual permits for facilities when necessary.

Input process

Event	Type of Feedback	Timeframe
Stakeholder Process	Technical Workgroup Sessions	Fall 2021
Stakeholder Process	Public Meeting/Forum - oral, written and electronic comments accepted	Fall/Winter 2021
Public Comment Period	Public Meetings - oral, written and electronic comments accepted	Winter 2021/Spring 2022

Summary of stakeholder meetings

Recording of December 14, 2021, public input meeting

Spring 2022 public hearings

The upcoming public meetings on the Draft General Permits will begin at 6 p.m. The meetings will be facilitated by an independent moderator. Members of the public who wish to speak at the meetings will be able to sign up upon arrival.

Date and time	Location	Speaker sign-up
April 5, 2022 6 p.m.	James Sprunt Community College, Monk Auditorium 133 James Sprunt Drive, Kenansville, NC 28349 (Duplin County)	On-site
April 7, 2022 6 p.m.	Sampson County Exposition Center 414 Warsaw Road, Clinton, NC 28328 (Sampson County)	On-site
April 19, 2022 6 p.m.	Statesville Civic Center 300 S. Center Street, Statesville, NC 28677 (Iredell County)	On-site
April 21, 2022 6 p.m.	Online via Webex https://bit.ly/3FFGRLL \| Event number: 2436 024 6769 Event password: NCDEQ (62337 from phones) Join by phone: 415-655-0003 \| Access code: 2436 024 6769 Línea telefónica de interpretación en español: 415-655-0003 Access code: 242 976 22930	Sign up online by 4 p.m. on April 21

Recordings of public meetings

Presentation

Draft permits for public comment

Permit Draft - AWG400000 Swine: Redline | Clean | Español

Permit Draft - AWG500000 Cattle: Redline | Clean | Español

Permit Draft - AWG600000 Wet Poultry: Redline | Clean | Español

Public Notice | Aviso De Audiencia Pública

Press release (2.1.2022) | Comunicado de prensa

Draft Environmental Justice Report

Existing permits

As of Sept. 27, 2021, out of 2,083 total permitted swine facilities in North Carolina, there are 15 facilities which have one or more animal waste digester systems.

List of Permits