ENGR. S. A. TO ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED SENATE AMENDMENT TO ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 4118 By: Hardin of the House and Howard of the Senate An Act relating to agriculture; amending 2 O.S. 2021, Section 10-9.7, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 239, O.S.L. 2022 (2 O.S. Supp. 20 23, Section 10-9.7), which relates to Nutrient Management Plans; providing that compliance with a certain Nutrient Management Plan shall be deemed compliant with Best Management Practices; modifying requirements of a Nutrient Management Plan; amending 2 O.S. 2021, Section 10- 9.11, which relates to violations of the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act; establishing the exclusive enforcement jurisdiction of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry for acts or omissions relatin g to the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act; creating a presumption that compliance with a current Nutrient Management Plan insulates poultry growers, operators, integrators, and waste applicators from any private right of action or any col lateral enforcement; establishing that the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act grants statutory immunity from nuisance liability; and declaring an emergency. AMENDMENT NO. 1. Page 1, strike the title ENGR. S. A. TO ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Passed the Senate the 25th day of April, 2024. Presiding Officer of the Senate Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2024. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 4118 By: Hardin of the House and Howard of the Senate An Act relating to agriculture; amending 2 O.S. 2021, Section 10-9.7, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 239, O.S.L. 2022 (2 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 10 -9.7), which relates to Nutrient Management Plans; providing that compliance with a certain Nutrient Management Plan shall be deemed complian t with Best Management Practices; modifying requirements of a Nutrient Management Plan; amending 2 O.S. 2021, Section 10 - 9.11, which relates to violations of the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feedi ng Operations Act; establishing the exclusive enforcement jurisdiction of the Oklahoma Department of Agricult ure, Food, and Forestry for acts or omissions relating to the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act; creating a presumption that compl iance with a current Nutrient Management Plan insulates poultry growers, operators, integrators, and waste ap plicators from any private right of action or any collateral enforcement; establishing that the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act grants statutory immunity from nuisance liability; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2021, Section 10 -9.7, as amended by Section 1, Chap ter 239, O.S.L. 2022 (2 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 10-9.7), is amended to read as follows: ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 10-9.7 A. All poultry feeding operations shall utilize Best Management Practices and s hall meet the conditions and requirements established by subsection B of this section and by rules promulgated by the State Board of Agriculture pursuant to the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act. Compliance with a Nutrient Management Plan developed under subsection B of this section shall be deemed complian t with the Best Management Practices prescribed in this subsection, as well as the requirement s of subsection C of this section. B. The criteria for Best Management Pract ices shall be promulgated by rules by the Board and shall include, but not be limited to, the following when developing Nutrient Management Plans : 1. There shall be no Each Nutrient Management Plan shall contain measures designed to prevent the discharge of poultry waste to waters of the state; 2. Stored poultry waste shal l be isolated from outside surface drainage by covers, ditches, dikes, berms, terraces, or other such structures; 3. No Each Nutrient Management Plan shall contain measures designed to prevent waters of the state shall come from coming into direct contact with the poultry confined on the poultry feeding operation; and 4. Poultry Provisions designed to ensure that poultry waste handling, treatment, management, and removal shall: ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. not create an environmental or a public health hazard, b. not result in the contamination of waters of the state, and c. conform to such other handling, treatment, and management and removal requirements d eemed necessary by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to implement the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act and rules promulgated pursuant thereto. The rules promulgated by the Board pursuant to this section shall provide for exceptions to the storage requirements for poultry waste in emergency situations. Such exceptions shall include, but not be limited to, allowing a contract poultry grower to take such actions as are necessary to meet requirements imposed on a grow er by an integrator. In such situations, growers shall be required to take all actions feasible to prevent pollution from stored poultry waste. C. Every poultry feeding operation shall have a Nutrient Management Plan which shall include at a minimum: 1. A description of poultry waste handling procedures and availability of equipment and type of equipment to be used; 2. The calculations and assumptions used for determining land- application rates if land application is applicable; ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. All nutrient analysi s data for soil and poultry waste testing; 4. Legal description and latitude and longitude of lands to be used by an operation for land application; 5. Land-application rates of poultry waste shall be based o n the available nitrogen and phosphorous content of the poultry waste and shall provide controls for runoff and erosion as appropriate for site conditions; 6. The procedures documented in the Nutrient Management Plan shall ensure that the handling and uti lization of poultry waste complies with the following requirements: a. adequate poultry waste storage shall be provided consistent with rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry pursuant to subsection B of this section , b. poultry waste shall not be applied to land when the ground is saturated or during rainfall events. Poultry waste shall not be applied to land when the ground is frozen except in conformance with the Nutrient Management Plan, c. poultry waste shall on ly be applied to suitable land at appropriate times and rates. Discharge or runoff of waste from the application site is prohibited evidence that the Nutrient Management Plan requires ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 revisions. Timing and rate of applications shall be based on assimilation capacity of the soil profile, assuming usual nutrient losses, expected precipitation, and soil conditions, and d. poultry waste application shall be prohibited on land subject to excessive erosion; 7. Records shall be maintained of all poultry wastes applied on land owned or controlled by the operator, and sold or given to other persons: a. if the poultry waste is sold or given to other persons for land application or other use, the poultry feeding operation shall maintain a log of: date of removal from the poultry feeding op eration;, name of recipient the poultry waste is sold or given to;, and amount in wet tons, dry tons or cubic yards of poultry waste removed from the poultry feeding operation, and b. the poultry feeding operation shall make available to the recipient any nutrient sample analysis of the poultry waste from that year; 8. Any analysis required by the provisions of the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act or rules promulgated thereto shall be performed by a q ualified environmental testing laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Quality and ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 approved by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; and 9. Such other information deemed necessary by the Oklahoma Department of Agricul ture, Food, and Forestry to administer the provisions of the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Op erations Act and rules promulgated pursuant thereto. D. 1. The Nutrient Management Plan for new or expanding poultry feeding operations submitted afte r July 1, 1998, shall be prepared by the operator or designee of the operator. 2. After the plan is submitted to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry for review and approval i f the Department determines that a submitted plan needs or requires any corrections or modifications , the Department shall return the Nutrient Management Plan to the operator for corrections. 3. For a renewal, if the Department determines the Nutrient Management Plan needs or requires corrections or modifications, the Department shall make appropriate corrections, approve the plan, and notify the poultry feeding operation of the modifications. E. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this subse ction, a Nutrient Management Plan for every poultry feeding operation shall be renewed and an update d plan shall be submitted to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry every six (6) years from the date the initial or previous plan was s ubmitted. ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. The operator shall have the option to submit the renewed or updated plan through the D epartment's website or a printable online form designed by the Department. 3. A current operator may submit a one-page amendment to the most recently submitted plan in lieu of a renewal plan through the Department's website, if applicable. Poultry feeding operations submitting an amendment pursuant to this subsection shall still be subject to the soil and poultry waste testing requirements under subsections F and G of this section. The amendment shall contain the following statements: a. no changes in the Department's promulgated standards for land application of poultry waste have occurred since the most recently submitted Nutrient Management Plan, b. there has been no change to the number of poultry housed since the most recentl y submitted Nutrient Management Plan, c. there has been no expansion in the poultry feeding operation since the most recently submitted Nutrient Management Plan, and d. the entirety of the poultry waste is: (1) removed off-site as provided in the poultry feeding operation's annual report, as required by subsection J of this section, and will continue ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 to be removed off-site for the next six (6) years, or (2) land-applied and will continue to be land-applied for the next six (6) years. F. Every poultry feeding operation located in a non-nutrient- limited watershed and non-nutrient-vulnerable groundwaters shall perform soil testing on each land-application area and poultry waste testing at least once every three (3) years to determine: 1. Soil pH and plant-available nutrients including, at a minimum, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium; 2. Poultry waste nutrient concentrations and moisture; and 3. Application rate based upo n the Department's standards for land application for poultry waste as promulgate d by rules. G. Every poultry feeding opera tion located in a nutrient- limited watershed and nutrient-vulnerable groundwater s hall perform an annual soil test on each land-application area prior to the first application of the calendar year. Poultry waste testing shall be performed annually prior t o the first application of the calendar year. Soil and poultry waste testing shal l be performed to determine: 1. Soil pH and plant-available nutrients including at l east nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium; 2. Poultry waste nutrient concentrations and moisture; and ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. Application rate based upon the Department's standards for land application of poultry waste as promulgated by rules . H. 1. Soil and poultry waste analysis data shall be retained by the poultry feeding operation for a minimum of six (6) years. 2. All soil and poultry waste analysis data shall be dated prior to land applicatio n. I. 1. Poultry feeding operations shall dev elop a plan for the disposal of carcasses associated with normal mortality. 2. In the event there is an outbreak of a major disease or other emergency resulting in deaths significantly higher than normal mortality rates, the Oklahoma Department of Agricu lture, Food, and Forestry may approve, in writing, an alternate method of disposal of carcasses or the storage of pou ltry waste during the emergency period. J. Every poultry feeding operation shall file by Sep tember 1 of each year an annual report with t he Department regarding all poultry waste removed from or land-applied by the facility for the period from July 1 of the previous year through June 30 of that year. The report shall contain the following inform ation: 1. The date and amount of poultry wa ste removed from or land- applied at the facility; 2. The type of poultry waste removed or land-applied, whether a cake out, full clean out, in-house windrow or compost, poultry waste stack shed, or other type; ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. The county and, if applicable, the name of the Nutrient Limited Watershed where the poultry waste was produced; and 4. The location where the poultry wast e is removed to: a. if land-applied on-site, provide the following: (1) the date of the land application, (2) the total amount of poultr y waste land-applied in wet tons, dry tons, or cubic yards, (3) the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the poultry waste applicator, and (4) the number of acres under the control of the poultry feeding oper ation for land application of poultry waste, or b. if removed off-site, provide the following: (1) the date of the removal off-site, (2) the amount of poultry waste removed in wet tons, dry tons, or cubic yards, (3) the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the person the poultry waste is sold or transferred to, (4) the name, mailing address, telephone number, and poultry waste applicator lic ense number of the poultry waste applicator, if known, and (5) the name, mailing address, and telephone numb er of the hauler of the poultry waste. ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2021, Section 10-9.11, is amended to read as follows: Section 10-9.11 A. 1. Any person violating the provisions of the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Ope rations Act shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be pu nished by a fine not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). 2. The Attorney General or the district attorney of the appropriate district court of Oklahoma may bring an action in a court of competent criminal jurisdiction for the prosecution of a violation by any person of a provision of the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act or any rule promulgated thereunder. B. 1. In addition to the criminal penalties specifie d by this section, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestr y may: a. assess an administrative penalty of not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per day of noncompliance, or b. bring an action for injunctive relief granted by a district court. 2. A district court may grant injunctive relief to prevent a violation of, or to compel compliance with, any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Registered P oultry Feeding Operations Act or any rule promulgated thereunder or order, registrations , and certificates issued pursuant to the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act. ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. Nothing in this section shall preclude the Department from seeking penalties in district court in the maximum amount allowed by law. The assessment of penalties in an administrative enforcement proceeding shall not prevent the subsequen t assessment by a court of the maximum criminal penalties for violations of the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act. 4. Any person assessed an administrative penalty may be required to pay, in addition to such penalty amount and interest thereon, attorney fees and costs associated with the collection of such penalties. C. 1. Any action for injunctive relief to redress or restrain a violation by any person of the Okl ahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act, or for any rule promulgate d thereunder, or order issued pursuant thereto, or recovery of any administrative penalty assessed pursuant to the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act may be brought by: a. the district attorney of the appropriate district court of the State of Oklahoma, b. the Attorney General on behalf of the State of Oklahoma, or c. the Department on behalf of the State of Oklahoma. 2. The court shall have jurisdiction to determine the action, and to grant the necessary or appropriate relief, including , but not ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 limited to, mandatory or prohibitive injunctive relief , interim equitable relief, and punitive damages. 3. It shall be the duty of the Attorney General and district attorney if requested by the Commissioner of Agriculture to bring such actions. D. Except as otherwise provided by law, administrative and civil penalties shall be paid in to the State Department of Agriculture Regulation Revolving Fund. E. For the purposes of th e Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act, each day upon which a violation is committed or is permitted to continue shall be deemed a separate offense. F. Any contract poultry grower determined after notice and opportunity for a hearing by the Department as flagrantly disregarding Best Management Practices shall resul t in the Department notifying the integrator in writing. G. The Department shall notify all integrators of any violations assessed against an operator who is under a contract growing arrangement with that integrator and, upon the written request of the integrator, notify that integrator of all violations assessed against an operator with whom the integrator contemplates entering into a contract. H. In addition to other penalties as may be imposed by law, any person who knowingly makes any false statement, representation or certification form, notice or report, or who knowingly renders ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained by any rule promulgated by the Board, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be subje ct to a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for each such violation. I. Land application of poultry litter in compliance with a current Nutrient Management Plan shall not be the basis for criminal or civil liability in Oklahoma, whethe r relating to that single plan, or aggregated wi th the application of poultry waste pursu ant to other Nutrient Management Plans, nor shall an administrative violation be the basis f or a criminal or civil action, nor shall any alleged violation be the basis for any private right of action, nor any action other than enforcement of the terms of t he Nutrient Management Plan and other sections of this title by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. A current plan means a plan approved by th e Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and not yet revoked or rescinded by the state or suspended by a more recent plan. 1. This provision shall apply both direct ly and vicariously to the integrator with whom a contract poultry grower co ntracts, as well as to any poultry grower, operator, contractor of, or employee for a certified poultry waste applicator or a poultry waste owner's agent, so long as the land applic ation is performed pursuant to and in compliance with the current Nutrient Management Plan. ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Compliance with a current Nutrient Management Plan, as determined by the Oklahoma Departmen t of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, shall create a pres umption that no violation of this section has occurred and shall insulate the poultry gro wer, integrator, and waste applicator from any private right of acti on and shall constitute "express authority" for purposes of this title and Section 4 of Title 50 of the Oklahoma Statutes. 3. Nothing in this subsection shall restrict the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry's exclusive authority from enforcing the terms of Nutrient Management Plans or their authority to enforce the Oklahoma Register ed Poultry Feeding Operations Act and the Oklahoma Cert ified Poultry Waste Applicators Act. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. ENGR. H. B. NO. 4118 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Passed the House of Representatives the 19th day of February, 2024. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2024. Presiding Officer of the Senate