Preparing for an EPA or DNR Inspection: Part 1

11-14-2016 in Livestock

Iowa’s livestock farmers are subject to inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Because these assessments usually occur with little or no notice to the farmer, it is essential to be prepared for your livestock or poultry farm to be inspected at any time. Follow these simple compliance checks to ensure your farm is in accordance with the environmental rules and regulations, and to learn how to best respond to potential DNR or EPA inquiries.

Part I: Before the Inspection

1.) Collect Background Information & Take Corrective Action

The EPA is not legally required to notify farmers before assessing livestock farms. However, if you are contacted prior to inspection, collect as much information as possible about the investigation. Consider presenting the following questions to the inspection agent:

-What prompted the inspection?

-What areas of the farm will be inspected?

-How much time will the inspection take?

-How many inspectors will be assessing the farm?

-Does the inspector intend to interview farm employees?

-Does the inspector intend to collect samples?

After gathering this information, complete a self-assessment of your farm as a compliance check and take corrective actions to fix any issues. Consider your farms proximity to water sources, potential for manure discharge or other areas of improvement of your management practices.

2.) Review Your Records & Identify Confidential Information

Confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are required to keep detailed records. Whether or not your farm meets the definition of a CAFO, you should maintain monthly records to verify your animal inventory, document manure storage levels and track manure application dates, acres applied and nutrient testing results.

Of course, there are other farm records that you are entitled to identify as confidential information. For example, legal correspondence or environmental audits. Prior to inspection, determine which records will remain off-limits, and which records may be made available to the inspector but claimed as confidential business information (CBI). You should also consider what areas of the farm may be off limits due to safety or biosecurity requirements.

3.) Designate a Point of Contact & Develop an Inspection Plan

Do not give an inspector unaccompanied access to your property. Instead, select a point of contact to be present while the agent is assessing the farm. Designate either a family member or an employee who is most familiar with your farm’s environmental compliance and management practices, and develop an action plan so all members of the farm know who to notify as well as under what conditions the inspector should be granted access to documents and property. All parties involved should be courteous, truthful and answer only the questions asked of them.

4.) Consider Legal Counsel or an Environmental Consultant

While most farms do not have legal counsel on-site during an inspection, it may be wise to request assistance from an attorney or your environmental consultant if the inspection is unannounced or not routine, if a state enforcement action is threatened or pending, or if there are indications of a criminal investigation.

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