OVERVIEW OF DIFFERENT LAGOON EFFLUENT APPLICATION METHODS ON ODOR AND AMMONIA EMISSIONS

In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on controlling odor from animal operations. Historically, animal operations have been exempted from odor regulations in North Carolina, and no stipulations regarding odor emissions or their abatement are contained in animal waste management system permits. However, as part of a waste utilization plan (WUP), a part of the overall certified animal waste management plan (CAWMP), an odor “checklist ” must be completed and submitted. Only three of seventeen listed odor sources in the checklist are related to land application, and two of those three relate to slurries or sludge. While not currently regulated through the permitting process of animal operations, there is a mechanism in place to allow registering of complaints due to objectionable odors from animal operations, for follow-up inspections of the complaints, and evaluation and recommendation to be made by the Division of Air Quality (DAQ). As such, air quality enforcement is complaint-driven. DAQ may require the owner or operator of an animal facility to submit information pursuant to the complaint. In addition, the Director may require a best management plan for controlling odors. If the plan fails either by lack of submission of the plan or non-implementation of the plan, the Director may require the owner or operator of the facility to submit an application for a “control technology