Bill > HB2343

This bill aims to protect public drinking water by requiring publicly owned game farms, such as those operated by the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife, to obtain permits for managing animal waste, similar to private agricultural operations. Specifically, it mandates that these public facilities must acquire a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit from the Department of Ecology if the number of animals, including pheasants and similar game birds, exceeds certain thresholds that would trigger permitting for private facilities. The bill also directs the Department of Ecology to update its CAFO permit rules to explicitly include pheasants and other game birds, ensuring that these public operations implement comprehensive manure management plans, runoff controls, land application limits, and protocols for handling dead animals to prevent pollution of groundwater and drinking water supplies, thereby aligning public environmental stewardship with private sector regulations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2343&Year=2025&Initiative=false