Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) General Permit: Making Changes to an approved Notice of Intent

A large CAFO or a state-only CAFO proposing any change to the CAFO that increases the manure production at the CAFO by more than 50% above the maximum operating capacity stated in the initial authorization for the facility under TXG920000.

You must complete and submit a new Notice of Intent (— Form TCEQ-20111) to apply for coverage.

Visit the CAFO Significant Expansion webpage for additional resources on what changes are considered a significant expansion and how to apply for coverage.

The following changes to a large CAFO are considered a substantial change:

• Changing animal type.
• Increasing headcount (with 50% or less increase in manure production when compared to the initial authorization).
• Adding new LMUs.
• Increasing the size of an existing LMU
• Adding crops or yield goals.

How do I apply?

You must complete and submit a Notice of Change (NOC) ( Form TCEQ-20511) to amend your existing coverage. 

What is the review process?

TCEQ will review and file substantial change applications with the Office of the Chief Clerk (OCC) for public notice and public participation prior to approval.

Note: A manure production increase of greater than 50% from the initial authorization is a significant expansion and cannot be processed as an NOC (see Significant Expression).

Visit the CAFO Substantial Change webpage for additional details on how to apply and the review process.

The following changes to a large CAFO are considered non-substantial changes. 

• Decreasing the number of confined animals.
• Removing LMUs or reducing the size of an existing LMU, or reconfiguring existing LMUs without changing the approved boundaries.
• Removing crops/yield goals.
• Installation of digester.

How do I apply?

You must complete and submit an NOC ( Form TCEQ-20511) to amend your existing coverage. 

What is the review process?

TCEQ will review, approve, and post the public notification notice to the TCEQ GP webpage for CAFO Non-substantial Changes. The non-substantial change applications will not be filed with the OCC and do not require public participation.

Visit the CAFO Non-Substantial Changes webpage for additional details on how to apply and the review process.

The following minor changes can be made by both large CAFOs and state only CAFOs.

• Address or phone number change.
• Update to facility maps or a change to your property boundary (but not using the added property for land application).
• Construction of RCSs or modification of existing RCSs.
• Changes to wastewater production and use.
• Changes to air authorization.

How do I apply?

You must complete and submit an NOC ( Form TCEQ-20511) to amend your existing coverage.

What is the review process?

TCEQ will review and approve these changes. Regular NOC applications will not be filed with the OCC or uploaded to the TCEQ webpage.

If you operate a state only CAFO as defined in the CAFO general permit, you must submit an application to make any of the following changes:

• Change the animal type.
• Increase the number of confined animals (headcount) with an increase in manure production up to 50% of the initial approved Notice of Intent.
  Note: If the increase in the number of animals will meet the headcount threshold for a large CAFO, as defined in the GP, then the facility will no longer be a state-only CAFO. You will be regulated as a large CAFO and must comply with Item 1 above.
• Decrease headcount.
• Add new land management units (LMUs).
• Change the boundary of or reconfigure existing LMUs.
• Construct a new retention control structure (RCS) or modify existing RCSs.
• Make any change to your site map.

How do I apply?

You must complete and submit an NOC ( Form TCEQ-20511) to amend your existing coverage. 

What is the review process?

TCEQ will review and approve these changes. State-only CAFO NOC applications are not filed with the OCC or uploaded to the TCEQ webpage.

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If you have questions, please see our Contact Page or e-mail us at CAFO@tceq.texas.gov.