Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB4118 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version Filed 04/29/2024

                             
 
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