Confined Feeding Operations

Historically, neighboring landowners and environmental groups have challenged the siting of Confined Feeding Operations (CFOs) due to odor and groundwater quality concerns. In order to reduce the likelihood of litigation and other barriers to development, Mundell offers site characterization services to support improved decision-making regarding facility siting and the degree of institutional controls required to prevent groundwater and air contamination.

Our geology and engineering staff can provide an assessment evaluating the readiness of potential sites for development as a CFO facility. Our site review focuses on the following potential problem areas:

Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment

• Geologic and Hydrogeologic review – including:
  • Presence of susceptible areas such as karst, mining, unconfined aquifers
  • Aquifer vulnerability characteristics – type of soil stratigraphy and depth to aquifer
  • Regional groundwater flow direction (to determine potential areas that could be
    impacted)
• Groundwater Use Assessment – determine potable well locations and utilization

Surface Water Vulnerability Assessment

• Determine the distance/direction to nearest surface water bodies
• Assess the use of nearby surface water bodies (i.e. recreation, ditch; etc.)
• Assess site location in relation to agricultural drains to surface waters
• Review anticipated land application practices to determine potential risks to surface waters

Potential Air Issues

• Determine prevailing wind direction and proximity to residents to assess odor risk
• Evaluate general site layout relative to nearby land use and future development to determine
  potential air impact effects on nearby communities.

Using the above assessment criteria, each assessment concludes with a scoring metric providing an overall site rating for development readiness, including recommendations for further study and evaluation. The use of a scoring metric simplifies the site selection process when comparing several potential development sites.

Contact us for pricing information or to schedule your assessment.