April 25, 2017 • Page 10 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com DENR Reissues General Permit For Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced today the General Water Pollution Control Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations has been reissued and is now effective. There are 429 livestock operations covered under the existing general permit for concentrated animal feeding operations. “While the existing permit has been successful in protecting water quality in South Dakota, those operations now have one to four years to apply for and obtain coverage under the new reissued permit,” said Kent Woodmansey, administrator of DENR’s Feedlot Permit Program. “DENR will send letters to all permitted operations with information about the process and deadlines for applying.” Livestock operations need coverage under the general permit if they are a large concentrated animal feeding operation, or are required to obtain state permit cover- age by units of local government. Producers may also voluntarily apply for and obtain permit coverage. Large concentrated animal feeding operations confine at least 1,000 beef cattle, 700 dairy cows, 2,500 swine weighing 55 pounds or more, 10,000 swine weighing less than 55 pounds, 500 horses, 10,000 sheep, 55,000 turkeys, or 30,000 geese. Large concentrated chicken and duck operations range between 5,000 to 125,000 animals based on the type of operation and whether a liquid or solid manure containment system is used. The content of the reissued general water pollution control permit for concentrated animal feeding operations includes: • state and federal requirements for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of manure management systems to protect surface and ground water quality, • nutrient management plan requirements to ensure that nitrogen and phospho- rus in the manure are properly land applied as a fertilizer for crop production, and • a roadmap for livestock producers, design engineers, and crop consultants to reach environmental compliance in South Dakota. The process to reissue the general permit for concentrated animal feeding operations began two years ago during April 2015, when DENR staff started meeting and talking informally with agricultural groups, producer groups, and other interested parties. After a statewide webinar was held, DENR public noticed a draft general permit on Oct. 8, 2015, but it was contested by 11 intervention petitions. A contested case hearing initially scheduled for December 2015 was delayed, rescheduled, and held on Sept. 27-29, 2016. Petitioners represented at the hearing included Dakota Rural Action, South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, South Dakota Dairy Producers, South Dakota Pork Producers Council and Sonstegard Foods. After listening to two-and-a-half days of testimony at the contested case hearing, DENR Secretary Steve Pirner, acting as hearing chairman, approved revisions and adopted a final permit. Attorneys for the DENR Feedlot Permit Program submitted to the Secretary proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. Dakota Rural Action’s attorney submitted to the Secretary objections to the proposal. On March 10, 2017, the Secretary adopted final Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. Parties to the hearing had 30 days to appeal the Secretary’s decision to circuit court. Since the Secretary’s final Findings were not appealed, the general water pollution control permit for concentrated animal feeding operations is reissued and in effect. More information about the reissued general permit can be found on DENR’s Feedlot Permit Program website at http:// denr.sd.gov/des/fp/cafo.aspx. ********************************************* Yankton Area Banquet The Yankton Area Banquet is in its’ 20th year, it was started in August of 1997. The Banquet is held at United Church of Christ’s Pilgrim Hall each Thursday and the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6 pm to 7 pm. All are welcome at the Banquet for a wonderful free meal and fellowship. The meal is provided by our volunteer groups. The groups plan, prepare and serve the meal, along with help from the Banquet core volunteers. We have now served over 320,000 meals. It takes approximately 77 groups annually to serve the Banquet. The groups can be Churches, community groups, service clubs or school groups. Each group provides about 25 volunteers to serve for the evening. We are able to provide one free summer activity through the Yankton Summer Rec Program and also provide school supplies for the children at the Banquet. We are able to do this through the donations made to the Banquet. We also have a Big Red Bookshelf for the children that was provided by the United Way Literacy Council. The mission statement of the Banquet is to provide hospitality to our brothers and sisters through caring and a meal and to provide groups with an opportunity to share with others in the spirit of Jesus. We are very thankful for our volunteer groups, our Banquet coordinators (volunteers) and our Board of Directors, also for our guests which provide us with the opportunity to serve. We are always looking for more volunteer groups to serve the Banquet. If interested, please contact our scheduling coordinator, Laura: 605-665-7199. Our open dates for this year are June 22nd, Nov. 30th, Dec. 5th, and Dec. 28th. Donations can be sent to the Yankton Area Banquet, PO Box 278, Yankton, SD 57078. 605-665-3762 800-952-2424 certified public accountants Harry Lane, Electrical Contractor • Commercial • Residential • Farm Wiring • Prompt Service • Quality Work • Competitive Prices New Construction or Remodeling • Home 665-6612 For Flooring with a Professional Touch Yankton Office 207 Douglas Avenue • PO Box 1018 Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-4401 • Fax: 605-665-0592 208 Walnut Street, Historic Downtown Yankton 605-665-2067 1000 Cattle Drive • Yankton, SD We l c o m e t o Ya n k t o n ! 1-800-759-5275 1000 Cattle Dr., Yankton, SD Fax: 605-665-8908 665-1665 Yankton, SD • 605-665-3762 Freeman, SD • 605-925-4241 Wagner, SD • 605-384-4580 204 West 4th • PO Box 1077 Yankton, SD • 605-665-3611 Toll Free: 1-888-665-3611 Fax: 605-665-2560 DAKOTA ARCHERY & OUTDOOR SPORTS T rusTed F or G eneraTions 2901 Douglas Yankton, SD 57078-4841 DIRECTORS: 605-665-3644 Jim Wintz • Jerry Wintz Fax 605-665-3646 • Paul Wintz • Steve Wintz www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com 1-800-765-6213 2200 E. HWY. 50 YANKTON, SD 57078 M.T. & R.C. Smith Insurance, Inc. 605-665-8340 2305 E. Hwy. 50 • Yankton 2507 Fox Run Parkway Yankton, SD 57078 • (605) 665-8073 www.firstchiropracticcenter.com Open every night ‘till 9:00 p.m. 2100 BROADWAY • YANKTON, SD 605-665-3412 PHARMACY: 665-8261 • FLORAL: 665-0662