Comment submitted by T. Burns

EPA-HQ-OW-2005-0037 I strongly oppose your proposal to allow CAFOs to self select themselves for regulation. I doubt very many will voluntarily apply for permits to discharge. I think all CAFOs should be registered with EPA, just as blood facilities must be registered with FDA. All CAFOs should have nutrient management plans. I strongly support the proposed use of the zero discharge requirement, and the use of Best Practicable Technology limits for coliform standards. The Clean Water Act was intended to return our waters to swimmable fishable conditions. Rampant unregulated animal waste discharges, either intentional or as "acts of nature" in stormwater runoff, are completely contrary to the Clean Water Act. These discharges are neither unexpected nor unpreventable. The huge volumes of wastes generated by CAFO must be planned for via the NMP process, with zero discharges into the environment as the goal. This process should apply to all CAFOs, large or small. NO exception should be made for "agricultural stormwater", and CAFOs that don't "plan" discharges. Thank you, T. Burns