Evaluation of CAFOs Using Sensor Technologies

Stuart Nagourney

NJ Department of Env. Protection

An EPA-funded study in collaboration with the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) is evaluating the efficacy of the use of nitrate and other sensors to monitor effluents from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in Oklahoma. CAFOs are a significant source of groundwater contamination in many parts of the United States. Due to the limited frequency of sampling that is currently performed at CAFOs (usually annually), a very real potential exists to miss contamination caused by groundwater flux from a significant event such as heavy rainfall. Decisions regarding the operational viability of these CAFOs must be made based on the data available; if high readings occur, quarterly sampling is commenced. This limited amount of information may compromise decision-making and exacerbate existing problems, delaying remediation before issues are identified and defined. Flush-out events that result from heavy rainfall may be missed with the current annual sampling practice. Continuous recording sensors are the most cost effective and practical way of recording these relatively transient events, and could provide early identification of potentially harmful pollution. If sensors prove to be a viable option for CAFOs, costs for manual sampling and laboratory testing could potentially be reduced or eliminated, saving environmental regulatory agencies in unnecessary analyses.

Stuart J. Nagourney New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Office of Quality Assurance (OQA), Trenton, New Jersey 08625 stu.nagourney@dep.state.nj.us, Telephone: (609)-292-4945, Fax: (609)-777-1774

Michael Brody, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Office of the Chief Financial Officer, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Mail Code 2722A, Washington, DC 20460, brody.michael@epa.gov, Telephone: (202)-564-7558, Fax: (202)-501-1890

Marissa McInnis, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Office of the Chief Financial Officer, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 2724A, Washington, DC 20460, mcinnis.marissa@epa.gov, Telephone: (202)-564-2467, Fax: (202)-564-1808

Danielle Salvaterra, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Office of the Chief Financial Officer, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 2724A, Washington, DC 20460 salvaterra.danielle@epa.gov, Telephone: (202)-564-1631, Fax: (202)-564-1808