EPA Closes the Book on 2005 Air Compliance Agreement
Published Friday, November 6, 2026
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Oct. 30 that it will not finalize emissions-estimating methods under the 2005 Animal Feeding Operations Air Compliance Agreement and that its enforcement office will move to terminate the agreement altogether.
The agreement dates back more than two decades. In 2005, livestock and poultry operations were invited to participate voluntarily in the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study, which collected data on ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds from 2005 to 2007. About 2,600 operations, representing nearly 14,000 farms, participated. The goal was to develop methods for farms to estimate their emissions. However, those methods were never finalized, leaving hog, broiler, egg and dairy producers uncertain about potential permitting or reporting requirements.
After reviewing the data, EPA concluded that it is too outdated and limited to support reliable emissions-estimating methods. Barn designs, herd sizes and manure management practices have changed substantially since the study, and many participating farms have changed ownership or closed. Draft methodologies released for public comment in November 2024 will not move forward.
EPA plans to notify participating operations, to the extent possible, before terminating the agreement. However, the decision does not change the agency's implementation of the Clean Air Act. EPA also plans to continue working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, land-grant universities and producers to develop practical approaches to understanding and reducing agricultural air emissions.
Producers who signed the 2005 agreement should watch for EPA's notice and contact California Farm Bureau with any questions.
Staff contact: Daniella Legostaev, dlegostaev@cfbf.com.
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