Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 509 - Odor management plans(a) Requirement.--(1) The following operations shall develop and implement an odor management plan as described in this chapter: (i) Existing concentrated animal operations and existing concentrated animal feeding operations, when doing any of the following: (A) Erecting or constructing a new animal housing facility or a new manure management facility. The odor management plan required by this paragraph shall be developed and implemented only with respect to the new facility.(B) Erecting or constructing an expansion of an animal housing facility or a manure management facility. The odor management plan required by this paragraph shall be developed and implemented only with respect to the newly erected or newly constructed portion of the facility.(ii) Existing agricultural operations which, because of an increase, resulting from expansion or construction, in the number of animals maintained at the operation, will become regulated as either a concentrated animal operation or a concentrated animal feeding operation. The odor management plan required by this paragraph shall be developed and implemented only with respect to the newly expanded or newly constructed portion of the operation.(iii) New agricultural operations which will be regulated as either a concentrated animal operation or a concentrated animal feeding operation.(2) The operations described in paragraph (1)(i) and (ii) shall obtain approval of their odor management plan prior to the earlier of erection or construction of new or expanded animal housing facilities or the construction of new or expanded manure management facilities.(b) Certification of plans.--All odor management plans and plan amendments shall be developed by odor management specialists who shall certify that the plans are in accordance with the requirements of the odor management regulations promulgated under this chapter.(c) Reviewing entities.--Odor management plans or plan amendments required by this section shall be submitted to the commission for review and approval or, at the commission's discretion, to the appropriate local conservation district for review and approval.(d) Plan review and approval.--Any person performing the plan review must be certified in accordance with section 508 (relating to nutrient management certification program and odor management certification program). Within 90 days of receipt of an odor management plan or plan amendment, the reviewing agency shall approve or disapprove the plan or plan amendment. Approvals shall only be granted for those plans or plan amendments which satisfy the requirements of the regulations promulgated under this chapter. Notice of determination to approve or disapprove a plan or plan amendment shall be provided in writing to the person submitting same. Notice of a determination to disapprove shall include an explanation specifically stating the reasons for disapproval. If a plan or plan amendment is disapproved, the person submitting a plan or plan amendment for the first time shall have 90 days after receipt of notice of disapproval to resubmit a revised plan or plan amendment. An existing or proposed concentrated animal operation or concentrated animal feeding operation that submits a complete plan or plan amendment is authorized to implement the same if the reviewing agency fails to act within 90 days of submittal.(e) Implementation.--A person required to have an odor management plan under this section shall fully implement the plan prior to commencing use of the new animal housing facility or animal manure facility.(f) Voluntary plans.--Any agricultural operation which is not required to comply with subsection (a) may voluntarily develop an odor management plan and have it reviewed pursuant to this section. To the extent possible, the commission, the Cooperative Extension Service, the department, the Department of Environmental Protection and conservation districts shall assist and promote the development of voluntary plans.(g) Transferability of plans.--A plan approved under this section shall be transferable to a subsequent owner of an agricultural operation upon notification thereof to the district unless the transfer results in operational changes requiring plan modification pursuant to the criteria established in this section.(h) Effectiveness of the section.--The requirements of this section shall become mandatory 90 days following the effective date of the regulations promulgated under section 504(1.1) (relating to powers and duties of commission). 2005, July 6, P.L. 112, No. 38, § 1, imd. effective.