A story in the Kalamazoo Gazette gives some details on the Michigan DEQ’s decision to turn down a discharge permit for large dairy - the first time ever:

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on Monday denied a discharge permit for a proposed concentrated-animal-feeding operation, siding with opponents who claimed the environmental and economic impact of the dairy farm would adversely affect the quality of life in this corner of St. Joseph County.

The decision is considered precedent-setting because it is the first time in fielding more than 200 such requests that the Michigan DEQ has turned down backers of a proposed CAFO seeking the discharge permit, said Bob McCann, press secretary for the state agency.

Without a discharge permit, the farm could have no more than 699 head of cows.