August 30, 2007

The Department of Environmental Quality and the Partnership for the Saginaw Bay Watershed will be hosting a presentation on Michigan Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Surface Water Discharge Permits on September 5, at 7 p.m. at the Bay City State Recreation Area Visitors Center.

Carrie Monosmith of the Department of Environmental Quality will address CAFO permit requirements and the status of CAFO permitting and regulation in Michigan. Monosmith is a Section Chief in the DEQ's Water Bureau Field Operations Division. She has worked for the department for over 17 years and has experience in three divisions: Water Bureau, Air Quality, and Environmental Sciences and Services. Monosmith is the Water Bureau contact on issues related to agricultural compliance and co-chairs two department level committees formed to work on environmental issues at agricultural operations.

Monosmith's presentation is the second in a series of discussions to look at animal agriculture and its impacts on Saginaw Bay, a priority issue identified through the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative.

Details of the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative and additional information are available online at http://www.michigan.gov/deq under "Issues to Watch."

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised August 30, 2007 by Pat Watson