Section 560.101  Purpose

a)         The subject of Chapter 5 of the Illinois Pollution Control Board Rules and Regulations (Title 35, Subtitle E, Chapter I) is Livestock Wastes. Rule 104(e) of Chapter 5 (35 Ill. Adm. Code 501.405) calls for the adoption of guidelines for livestock waste application to land.

b)         This technical policy statement has been developed in response to Rule 104(e) (35 Ill. Adm. Code 501.405), which reads as follows:

            Field Application of Livestock Waste.  The quantity of livestock waste applied on soils shall not exceed a practical limit as determined by soil type, especially its permeability, the condition (frozen or unfrozen) of the soil, the percent slope of the land, cover mulch, proximity to surface waters and likelihood of reaching groundwater, and other relevant considerations. These livestock waste application guidelines will be adopted pursuant to Rule 105, unless otherwise provided for by Board Regulations.

c)         The application of livestock wastes to the land is an acceptable and established practice in Illinois.  However, when wastes are not applied in a responsible manner, they can create pollutional problems.  The emphasis in land application should be on waste utilization rather than waste disposal. Considering the nutrient value of livestock wastes, there exist economic incentives for the efficient utilization of these nutrients.  Environmental concerns should also dictate the wise management and use of livestock wastes.

d)         The intent of this document is to present livestock waste application guidelines for the livestock producers of Illinois.  The guidelines must of necessity be given in general terms and cannot apply to each particular farm situation.  It is the responsibility of each individual who is applying livestock wastes to land to do so in a manner which will not cause pollution problems.  In some cases, this may require either more or less stringent application restrictions than indicated by these guidelines.