2019 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 2. Agriculture
§2-20-50. Prevention of hydrologic connection between wastewaters and waters of state.
A. Any hydrologic connection between wastewater and waters of the state outside that authorized by the provisions of the Oklahoma Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Act shall constitute a discharge to waters of the state.
B. Site-specific conditions shall be considered in the design and construction of liners. Liners for retention structures shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of this section and generally accepted engineering practices established by rules of the Board or as required by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Liners for lagoons owned or operated by an animal feeding operation with less than one thousand (1,000) animal units may be designed and constructed pursuant to Technical Note 716 of the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service or its current equivalent so long as the facility is designed by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
C. 1. When a liner is installed to prevent hydrologic connection, the licensee or the owner shall maintain the liner to inhibit infiltration of wastewaters. Documentation of liner maintenance shall be maintained at the facility.
2. An environmental, agricultural, or other approved professional engineer licensed pursuant to Section 475.12 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall conduct a site evaluation every five (5) years on the retention structure of every concentrated animal feeding operation with such a structure to ensure liner integrity. If the owner or operator suspects that a retention structure is leaking, the owner or operator shall report suspected leakage to the Department.
D. All substances entering the retention structures shall be composed entirely of wastewaters from the proper operation and maintenance of an animal feeding operation and the runoff from the animal feeding operation area. The disposal of any materials, other than substances associated with proper operation and maintenance of the facility into the containment structures, including but not limited to human waste, is prohibited.
E. Documentation, sampling data, and any other records required by this section shall be maintained on site for as long as the facility is in operation. Samples collected during the first year of the retention structure may be considered the baseline data and shall be retained on site as long as the facility is in operation. Baseline data for the facility shall be determined based on the best information available.
Added by Laws 2007, c. 31, § 37, eff. Nov. 1, 2007.
