Updated: 3/3/11

Nutrient Management Plans

All newly licensed Grade A milk producers are required to have an approved Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) on site within six months of licensing, and a certified  NMP on site within two years of licensing.   

Approved means the local conservation district has determined that the operation's plan to manage nutrients meets all the elements identified on a checklist established by the Washington Conservation Commission.

Certified means the local conservation district has determined all plan elements are in place and implemented as described in the plan.  To be certified, both the dairy operator and an authorized representative of the local conservation district must sign the plan.

Dairy NMP Minimum Elements

CAFOs:  All permitted CAFO's, dairy and non-dairy, are required to have a NMP that meets the CAFO permit requirements established by Ecology in the July 2006 General CAFO permit or, in an individual CAFO permit.  For new CAFOs, a NMP must be submitted with the CAFO permit application.

CAFO NMP Minimum Elements

All Dairies and CAFO's are required to have their Nutrient Management Plans and application records on site.

Nutrient Management Plans are individually designed to satisfy the requirements of Washington State's Dairy Nutrient Management Act and/or CAFO permit requirements.  The purpose of the NMP is to provide the dairy manager with a system that allows operation of the facility while preventing pollution or degradation of waters of the state. 

Each basic function of the operation - production, collection, storage, transfer, treatment and use - is covered by the NMP.  The foundation of nutrient management is the agronomic use of the solid and liquid components of manure.  If followed, the plan will help facilities meet existing regulations and will also protect both surface and ground water from contamination. 

Objectives of the plan will include:

• Preventing discharge of contaminated waste water to streams, drainage ditches, or other surface waters from the facility

• Preventing migration of contaminants from the facility to the underlying aquifer

• Using facility nutrients to supply crop nutrient needs at rates and times tailored to reach realistic yield goals.

• Meeting the requirements of the Dairy Nutrient Management Act of 1998 (RCW 90.64), the Clean Water Act and compliance with Federal, State And local laws regarding water quality standards.

The term "waters of the State" is defined at RCW 90.48.020 which includes but is not limited to:

• Lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, inland waters, underground waters, salt waters

• All other surface waters and watercourses within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington.

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