ANNAPOLIS, MD (Feb. 28, 2008) – The Maryland departments of the Environment and Agriculture are holding public meetings for farmers and other interested parties to learn more about the proposed draft animal feeding operation permit requirements.

The meetings are as follows:

• Thursday, March 6 at 6:00 p.m., Ruthsburg Community Center, 105 Damsontown Road, Centreville.
• Tuesday, March 11 at 6:00 p.m., Washington County Cooperative Extension Office, 7303 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro.
• Monday, March 24 at 6:00 p.m., Wor-wic College, Room GH101, Salisbury. Directions and a campus map can be found at www.worwic.edu.

The new draft general permit will upgrade existing permit requirements for non-poultry facilities such as dairy farms and add a requirement for having a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) at farms with poultry houses 75,000 square feet of or larger.

The full text of the preliminary draft is available on the MDE website, http://mde.maryland.gov/assets/document/CAFO_Announcement.pdf. A hard copy can be obtained by calling 410-537-3599.

Note

Info on third meeting was added on March 14, 2008.

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