“Out of the long list of nature’s gifts to man, none is perhaps so utterly essential to human life as is soil.”
– Hugh Hammond Bennett

EMERGENCY DISPOSAL OF MILK FOR DAIRY FARMS 

Eau Claire County’s Manure Storage Ordinance

Eau Claire County has adopted an ordinance that oversees manure storage facilities and the land application of stored manure from these facilities.  The purpose of the ordinance is to regulate the location, design, construction, installation, alteration, operation, maintenance, closure, and use of manure storage facilities; ensure the proper application of waste and manure from all storage facilities, and prescribe performance standards and prohibitions related to manure management in order to prevent water pollution and thereby protect the health of Eau Claire County residents and visitors; prevent the spread of disease, and promote the prosperity and general welfare of the citizens of Eau Claire County. 

Chapter 17.04 Animal Waste Storage Ordinance

Construction and Alteration

A permit is required for the construction of a new manure storage facility, or the alteration of an existing facility.  The permit fee is based on the footprint of the liner of the storage facility:

Less than 6,000 square feet = $550.00

Equal to or greater than 6,000 square feet = $750.00

Manure Storage Construction Permit Application

A complete permit application for the construction or alteration for a manure storage facility meets or exceeds the requirements of the following technical standards, outlined in the Natural Resource Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide:

313 Waste Storage Facility

520 Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Soil Treatment

521 Pond Sealing or Lining, Geomembrane or Geosynthetic Clay Liner

522 Pond Sealing or Lining, Concrete

634 Waste Transfer

Certificate of Use

Once construction of a new manure storage facility is complete, a Certificate of Use must be obtained before manure may be storage in the facility (applies to manure storage facilities constructed after June 18, 2019).  The following is required to be completed before a Certificate of Use will be issued: safety devices installed, seeding and mulching installed, Nutrient Management Plan completed, and as-built drawings provided to the Land Conservation Division.  There is no fee associated with the Certificate of Use.

Certificate of Use

Manure storage facilities requiring a Certificate of Use will be mailed a Certificate of Use Checklist and Nutrient Management Checklist annually.  Both checklists must be completed and returned to the Land Conservation Division by April 15^th, annually.  Failure to do so will result in the revocation of the facility’s Certificate of Use.

Closure

A permit is required for the closure of a manure storage facility.  Storage facilities that have not had manure added to or removed from them for a period of 24 months are required to be properly closed.  The facility may be retained for longer than 24 months under certain circumstances.  The permit fee for the closure of a facility is $220.

Manure Storage Closure Permit Application

Manure Storage Facility Retention Form

A complete permit application for the closure of a manure storage facility meets or exceeds the requirements of the following technical standards, outlined in the Natural Resource Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide:

360 Waste Facility Closure

Spill Response

Creating a manure spill response plan?  Visit DNR’s Manure spills, response, planning, and prevention page:

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/agbusiness/manurespills.html

Remember, it is not illegal to have a spill, but it IS illegal to have a spill and not report it!