6100-075 MPP Census Questionnaire

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE MEAT AND POULTRY
PRODUCTS EFFLUENT GUIDELINES
DRAFT

Form Approved
OMB Control No. 2040-NEW
Approval Expires [Date]
The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 6 hours
per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate,
maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This estimate includes the time
needed to review instructions, develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and
providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete
and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose information. An agency may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
To comment on the Agency’s need for this collection, the accuracy of the provided burden estimate, and any
suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the use of automated collection techniques, EPA
has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0736, which is available
for public viewing at the Water Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading
Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water Docket is (202) 566-2426. An electronic
version of the public docket is available through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at
http://www.regulations.gov. Use FDMS to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the
contents of the public docket, and access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically.
Once in the system, select “search”, then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please include the EPA
Docket ID No. (EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0736) and OMB control number (2040-NEW) in any correspondence.

November 5, 2021

NOTE: This questionnaire will be administered as an electronic questionnaire; therefore, this
paper copy may not accurately reflect final formatting and spacing.
NOTE: For the purposes of this draft paper copy, all tables include minimal rows for data
entry, these tables are intended to show the types of data EPA is requesting. In the final
format, electronic or hardcopy, will come prepopulated with additional rows.
NOTE: This questionnaire will include confidential business information (CBI) checkboxes for
each question, allowing the respondent to indicate if a response contains CBI. This paper copy
does not include these CBI checkboxes.
INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE, AND AUTHORITY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting a survey of the Meat and Poultry
Products (MPP) industry as part of its effort to review and revise, as appropriate, effluent
limitations guidelines and standards for this industry (40 CFR Part 423). This questionnaire
requests data from sites engaged in MPP operations for human consumption and/or animal
food and feeds. EPA will use the data collected in this questionnaire to determine rates and
characteristics of wastewater generated by the MPP industry, to develop treatment technology
options, and to evaluate incremental costs and benefits associated with different regulatory
options.
This questionnaire is being conducted under the authority of Section 308 of the Clean Water
Act (Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1318). All facilities that receive this
questionnaire must respond within 60 days of receipt. Failure to respond, late filing, or failure
to comply with the instructions may result in fines, civil penalties, and other sanctions, as
provided by law.
For detailed information on how EPA plans to use these data obtained from each question, see
the document titled “Supporting Statement – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Meat and
Poultry Products Industry Data Collection” at EPA Docket ID No. (EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0736).
EPA’s Office of Water will administer the Census Questionnaire to all facilities engaged in Meat
and Poultry production. EPA requests information for calendar year 2021.
Respondents will be required to complete and submit an electronic version of the
questionnaire unless internet access is not available at the facility. Facilities without access to
internet should refer to QUESTIONNAIRE ASSISTANCE for contact information for the Helpline.
Duplicate questionnaires. If you received multiple notifications to complete questionnaires for
the same facility, please contact the Helpline; refer to QUESTIONNAIRE ASSISTANCE for contact
information for the Helpline.

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Multiple facilities. If you received too few questionnaire notifications for your facilities, decide
which of your facilities is missing a request. Refer to QUESTIONNAIRE ASSISTANCE for contact
information for the Helpline from which you may receive direction on how to complete multiple
questionnaires.
Incorrectly identified. If you received a questionnaire notification and you do not operate an
MPP facility or this facility is no longer operating, select the appropriate responses in Section 1
for that questionnaire, then certify and submit your response.
DATA CONFIDENTIALITY
If no business confidentiality claim accompanies the information when it is received by EPA,
EPA may make the information available to the public without further notice.
Regulations governing the confidentiality of business information are contained in 40 CFR Part
2, Subpart B. You may assert a business confidentiality claim covering part or all information
you submit, other than effluent data and information or data that is otherwise publicly
available, as described in 40 CFR 2.203(b):
“(b) Method and time of asserting business confidentiality claim. A business
which is submitting information to EPA may assert a business confidentiality
claim covering the information by placing on (or attaching to) the information, at
the time it is submitted to EPA, a cover sheet, stamped or typed legend, or other
suitable form of notice complying language such as ‘trade secret,’ ‘proprietary,’
or ‘company confidential.’ Allegedly confidential portions of otherwise
nonconfidential documents should be clearly identified by the business and may
be submitted separately to facilitate identification and handling by EPA. If the
business desires confidential treatment only until a certain date or until the
occurrence of a certain event, the notice should so state.”
You may claim as confidential all information included in the response to a question by
checking the Confidential Business Information (CBI) box next to each question for which
responses contain CBI. If you do not check this box, any individual response where "CBI" is NOT
checked will be considered nonconfidential. Note that you may be required to justify any claim
of confidentiality made after questionnaire submission. Note also that plant effluent data are
not eligible for confidential treatment, pursuant to Section 308(b) of the Clean Water Act, and
thus will be treated as nonconfidential even if the CBI boxes are checked for those questions.
If you claim any questionnaire response or other data as CBI, you must specify the portion of
the response or document for which you assert a claim of confidentiality by reference to page
numbers, paragraphs, and lines, or specify entire document. In addition, you must provide
information to identify and justify the basis of your CBI claim. This information must be
provided as part of the submission of the completed questionnaire. If you believe that facts
and documents necessary to substantiate confidentiality are themselves confidential, please
identify them as such so that EPA may maintain their confidentiality pursuant to 40 C.F.R. Part
2, Subpart B.
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Information covered by a claim of confidentiality will be disclosed by EPA only to the extent of,
and by means of, the procedures set forth in 40 CFR Part 2, Subpart B. In general, submitted
information protected by a business confidentiality claim may be disclosed to other employees.
officers, or authorized representatives of the United States concerned with implementing the
Clean Water Act.
Information covered by a claim of confidentiality will be made available to EPA contractors to
enable the contractors to perform the work required by their contracts with EPA. All EPA
contracts provide that contractor employees use the information only for the purpose of
performing the work required by their contracts and will not disclose any CBI to anyone other
than EPA without prior written approval from each affected business or from EPA’s legal office.
Any comments you may wish to make on this issue must be submitted in writing along with
your completed survey.
HOW TO NAVIGATE AND COMPLETE THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE
EPA intends to create an electronic web-based questionnaire to minimize burden. This
questionnaire will be available in electronic format via a web address and facility-specific entry
code, and respondents will be required to submit the completed questionnaire to EPA in
electronic format. The electronic questionnaire has been developed to meet the 1998
Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA).
EPA designed the electronic questionnaire to include burden-reducing features. For example, it
contains “screening” questions that direct respondents to skip specific questions or sections
that are not relevant. The questionnaire is also designed with drop down choices to simplify
responses, minimizing the number of text responses.
Each facility required to complete this questionnaire will be notified in writing. In this
notification, EPA will include a web address and facility-specific entry code that should be used
to access the electronic questionnaire. This facility-specific entry code is a unique facility
identifier (ID) for each MPP facility that will be used within this questionnaire and on any
supplementary documents (e.g., process flow diagrams, environmental assessment reports,
permits) submitted along with responses to the questions. These entry codes should not be
used to access a questionnaire for another facility.
This questionnaire should be completed by personnel most knowledgeable about the
operations of the facility. Please read each question carefully and provide the appropriate
response(s).
Each facility must have the corporate official or designee responsible for directing or
supervising the questionnaire response sign the Certification Statement (located on page 15) to
verify and validate the information provided, or to certify that this site does not engage in MPP
processes.

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EPA is not requesting you perform non-routine tests or measurements solely for the purpose of
responding to this questionnaire. In the event exact data or information are not available,
provide responses using your best professional judgement. Please note the basis for any
estimates in the COMMENTS section located at the end of the questionnaire. You may also
provide any clarifying notes in the COMMENTS section. For example, you may indicate if
information provided for calendar year 2021 is not representative of normal operations.
Key terms are defined in the GLOSSARY and acronyms are described in the ACRONYMS section
on page viii. Additional information needed to respond to questions throughout the
questionnaire are found in the REFERENCES section on page xiv.
If your facility lacks electronic access or you are unable to submit an electronic questionnaire,
please contact the Helpline to request an official hardcopy be mailed to you; refer to
QUESTIONNAIRE ASSISTANCE for contact information for the Helpline. Only official paper
copies requested from the Helpline will be accepted as hardcopy submission; submissions of
the draft copy available for printing on the MPP ELG website will not be accepted.
[Specific instructions on electronic navigating the questionnaire to be completed at a later
date.]
QUESTIONNAIRE ASSISTANCE
If you have any questions about completing this questionnaire, you can request assistance
using the e-mail and telephone Helplines provided below.
EPA MPP Questionnaire Helplines
Eastern Research Group, Inc
E-mail

Local: 703-633-xxxx or Toll-free: 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx
TBD

WHEN TO RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRE
The response to this questionnaire is due 60 days after receipt. If you wish to request an
extension, you must do so in writing within xx days of receipt of this questionnaire. Written
requests may be e-mailed (preferred) or mailed to:
E-mail address TBD
OR
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
c/o Eastern Research Group, Inc.
MPP Industry Questionnaire
14555 Avion Pkwy, Suite 200
Chantilly, VA 20151-1102
Extension requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Submittal of an extension request
to EPA does not alter the due date of your questionnaire unless and until EPA agrees to the
extension and establishes a new date.
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WHERE TO RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRE
EPA intends to create an electronic web-based questionnaire to minimize burden and allow for
electronic submittal. However, EPA also recognizes there may be cases where facilities may lack
electronic access and require a format that can be mailed to EPA.
If you request a hardcopy questionnaire from the Helpline: after completing the entire
questionnaire and certifying the information that it contains, use the enclosed mailing label to
mail the completed questionnaire to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
c/o Eastern Research Group, Inc.
MPP Industry Questionnaire
14555 Avion Parkway, Suite 200
Chantilly, VA 20151-1102

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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Read all question-specific instructions (throughout the questionnaire). Refer to the
ACRONYMS section and GLOSSARY for terms which are used in this questionnaire. Refer to the
REFERENCES section for codes and other information required to respond to specific questions.
Complete this questionnaire for your entire facility. A facility is one contiguous physical
location at which processing of meat or poultry products occurs. In some instances, a facility
may include properties located within separate fence lines but located close to each other.
Enter responses for each question. Fill in the appropriate response(s) to each question. If the
space allowed for the answer to any free-response question is inadequate for your complete
response, continue the response in the COMMENTS section at the end of the questionnaire,
cross-referencing the appropriate section and question number.
[Specific instructions for submitting supplemental files to the electronic format to be completed
at a later date.]
Answer all questions to which you are directed. The purpose of this questionnaire is to gather
necessary information pertinent to meat and poultry processing. Report only whole numbers,
unless instructed otherwise. Enter zero where appropriate; do not leave an entry blank if the
answer is zero. You are required to provide best professional judgements when data are not
readily available. If you provide an estimate, note the basis for the estimate in the COMMENTS
section at the end of the questionnaire. EPA does not intend for facilities to conduct detailed
studies to obtain the data. If you feel you need to conduct a detailed study, please call the
Helpline noted in the QUESTIONNAIRE ASSISTANCE section.
Pay close attention to the measurement units requested. Be careful to provide data in the
requested units, where available, or note where alternate units are used.
Retain a copy of the completed questionnaire for your records. EPA recommends those
submitting a hardcopy make a copy of your completed questionnaire and keep it for two years.
Those responding through the electronic format will be provided a copy of their responses via
e-mail after submission, and EPA also recommends keeping this e-mail for two years. EPA will
review the information submitted and may request, if necessary, your cooperation in answering
follow-up clarification questions to complete the data collection effort. Retain a copy of your
responses, including attachments, in case you (i.e., the contact identified in Question 3) are
contacted to clarify your responses. Also, please maintain a record of sources used to complete
your response.
If you have any comments or clarifications on a question, use the COMMENTS section at the
end of the questionnaire. Be sure to cross-reference your comments by section and question
numbers.
Indicate atypical data in the COMMENTS section at the end of the questionnaire. Year-to-year
operations are expected to fluctuate but note in the COMMENTS section if any information is
not representative of normal operations and why.
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Indicate information which should be treated as confidential by checking the CBI check box
next to each question with responses containing CBI. Any response where "CBI" is not
individually checked will be considered nonconfidential. Refer to the instructions given in the
DATA CONFIDENTIALITY section for additional information regarding EPA's confidentiality
procedures set forth in 40 CFR Part 2, Subpart S. While not present in this draft paper copy
questionnaire, CBI check boxes will be included in the final electronic format and in the
hardcopy questionnaire.
[Specific instruction on how the electronic survey functions to be completed at a later date.

Details include the following:
The electronic questionnaire will include automatic checks of the responses to ensure
completeness. These checks will require respondents to complete all required questions before
responses can be submitted.
Skipped questions and sections will be automatically programmed as part of the electronic
survey. Skipped questions or sections are noted in this draft paper copy but respondents will
automatically be directed to the next applicable question in the electronic format.
EPA does NOT intend for facilities to complete the questionnaire in one sitting. The electronic
format will allow facilities to complete portions of the questionnaire, save responses, and
return to complete remaining questions.]

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ACRONYMS
BOD5
CBI
CFR
COD
CBOD
CY
DAF
ELWK
EPA
FRS
FSIS
FTE
GPD
LWK
MPP
NAICS
NPDES
PFD
POTW
PrOTW
SBA
TDS
TKN
TOC
TSS
USDA

5-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Confidential Business Information
Code of Federal Regulations
Chemical Oxygen Demand
Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Calendar Year
Dissolved Air Flotation
Equivalent Live Weight Killed
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Facility Registry Service
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Full-Time Equivalent
Gallons per day
Live Weight Killed
Meat and Poultry Products
North American Industry Classification System
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Process Flow Diagram
Publicly Owned Treatment Works
Privately Owned Treatment Works
Small Business Administration
Total Dissolved Solids
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Total Organic Carbon
Total Suspended Solids
United States Department of Agriculture

GLOSSARY
Batch Discharge: Discharge only occurs at certain times or during certain times of the year. Also
referred to as controlled or intermittent discharge.
Biological Treatment: Wastewater treatment intended to degrade and reduce organic matter
in wastewater, primarily in the form of soluble organic compounds.
Blood Processing: Activities include but are not limited to blood healing through coagulation to
the albumin, albumin and fibrin separation (e.g., with a screen or centrifuge), further blood
processing, and blood water or serum processing.
Canned Meat Processor: An operation which prepares and cans meats (such as stew, sandwich
spreads, or similar products) alone or in combination with other finished.
Complex Slaughterhouse: A slaughterhouse that accomplishes extensive byproduct processing,
usually at least three such operations as rendering, paunch and viscera handling, blood
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processing, hide processing, or hair processing.
Continuous Discharge: Discharge occurs non-stop throughout the year or processing day.
Deep-Well Injection: Long-term or permanent disposal of untreated, partially treated, or
treated wastewaters by pumping the wastewater into underground formations of suitable
character through a bored, drilled, or driven well.
Disinfection: Destruction of pathogenic microorganisms in wastewater, typically achieved
through chemical and/or physical treatment.
Dry Rendering: The process of cooking animal byproducts by dry heat in open steam-jacketed
tanks.
Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards: Regulations promulgated by U.S. EPA under
authority of Sections 301, 304, 306, and 307 of the Clean Water Act that set out minimum,
national technology-based standards of performance for point source wastewater discharges
from specific industrial categories (e.g., iron and steel manufacturing plants). Effluent
limitations guidelines and standards regulations are implemented through the NPDES permit
and national pretreatment programs and include the following:
•

Best Practicable Control Technology Currently Available (BPT)

•

Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BAT)

•

Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BCT)

•

New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)

•

Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources (PSES)

•

Pretreatment Standards for New Sources (PSNS)

The pretreatment standards (PSES, PSNS) are applicable to industrial facilities with process
wastewater discharges to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). The effluent limitations
guidelines and new source performance standards (BPT, BAT, BCT, and NSPS) are applicable to
industrial facilities with direct discharges of process wastewaters to waters of the United States.
Facility: A facility is generally one contiguous physical location at which manufacturing
operations related to the meat products industry occur. This includes, but is not limited to,
slaughtering, processing, and rendering. In some instances, a facility may include properties
located within separate fence lines but located close to each other.
Facility Registry Services (FRS): A centrally managed database that identifies facilities, sites, or
places subject to environmental regulations or of environmental interest using a unique
identifier (e.g., 110012345678).
Finished Product: The final manufactured product produced onsite, including products
intended for consumption with no additional processing as well as products intended for
further processing, when applicable.
First Processing: Operations which receive live meat animals and produce a raw, dressed meat
product, either whole or in parts.

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Further Processing: Operations that utilize whole carcasses or cut-up meat or poultry products
for the production of fresh or frozen products and may include the following types of
processing: Cutting and deboning, cooking, seasoning, smoking, canning, grinding, chopping,
dicing, forming, breading, breaking, trimming, skinning, tenderizing, marinating, curing, pickling,
extruding, and/or linking.
Ground Water: Water in a saturated zone or stratum beneath the surface of land or water.
Ham Processor: An operation which manufactures hams alone or in combination with other
finished products.
Hide Processing: Wet or dry hide processing. Includes demanuring, washing, and defleshing,
followed by curing.
High-Processing Packinghouse: A packinghouse which processes both animals slaughtered
onsite and additional carcasses from outside sources (Definition for 40 CFR 432, Subpart D).
Live Weight Killed (LWK): The total weight of the total number of animals slaughtered during
the time to which the effluent limitations apply (i.e., during any one day or any period of thirty
consecutive days).
Low-Processing Packinghouse: A packinghouse that processes no more than the total animals
killed at that plant, normally processing less than the total kill.
Meat and/or poultry products: Include meat and poultry from cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens,
turkeys, ducks and other fowl, as well as sausages, luncheon meats, and cured, smoked or
canned or other prepared meat and poultry products from purchased carcasses and other
materials intended for human consumption. Meat and poultry products for animal food and
feeds include animal oils, meat meal and facilities that render grease and tallow from animal
fat, bones, and meat scraps.
Meat: Includes all animal products from cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, and lambs, etc., except
those defined as Poultry.
Meat Cutter: An operation which fabricates, cuts, or otherwise produces fresh meat cuts and
related finished products from livestock carcasses.
Meat Operations/Meat Product Operations: Includes meat slaughtering operations, byproduct
operations, rendering, and further processing.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): The national program authorized by
Sections 307, 318, 402, and 405 of the Clean Water Act for issuing, modifying, revoking and
reissuing, terminating, monitoring and enforcing permits, and imposing and enforcing
pretreatment requirements under the Clean Water Act. The NPDES permit number is assigned
by the respective state or EPA Region and generally includes the state abbreviation in the
number.
Nitrogen Removal: The biological removal of nitrogen from wastewater in a two-step process,
beginning with nitrification and followed by denitrification.
Noncontact Cooling Water: Water used for cooling in process and non-process applications

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which does not come into contact with any raw material, intermediate product, byproduct,
waste product (including air emissions), or finished product.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): The standard used by Federal
statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting,
analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. Each facility is
categorized within a NAICS code based on the type of operations conducted at the facility (e.g.,
NAICS code 311611 is for Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering).
Nutrient Removal: Wastewater treatment that is engineered or operated to remove the
nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus in amounts greater than the basic metabolic needs of the
biological treatment system. Nutrient removal may be accomplished through biological or
chemical means or a combination thereof.
Packinghouse: A plant that both slaughters animals and subsequently processes carcasses into
cured, smoked, canned, or other prepared meat products.
Phosphorus Removal: The removal of phosphorus from wastewater through either biological or
chemical means or a combination thereof.
Poultry: Products derived from the slaughter and processing of broilers, other young chickens,
mature chickens, hens, turkeys, capons, geese, ducks, small game fowl such as quail or
pheasants, and small game such as rabbits.
Poultry Operations: Includes poultry slaughtering operations, byproduct operations, rendering,
and further processing.
Primary Treatment: An initial wastewater treatment stage that is intended to remove floating
and settleable solids.
Privately Owned Treatment Works (PrOTWs): Any device or system owned and operated by a
private entity and used for storage, treatment, recycling, or reclamation of liquid industrial
wastes.
Process Wastewater: Any water which, during meat or poultry operations, comes into direct
contact with or results from the storage, production, or use of any raw material, intermediate
product, finished product, byproduct, or waste product. Wastewater from equipment cleaning,
direct-contact air pollution control devices, rinse water, storm water associated with industrial
activity, and contaminated cooling water are considered process wastewater. Process
wastewater may also include wastewater that is contract hauled for offsite disposal. Sanitary
wastewater, uncontaminated noncontact cooling water, and storm water not associated with
industrial activity are not considered process wastewater.
Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs): Any device or system owned and operated by a
public entity and used in the storage, treatment, recycling, or reclamation of liquid municipal
sewage and/or liquid industrial wastes. The sewerage system that conveys wastewaters to
treatment works is considered part of the POTW.
Raw Material: The basic input materials to a renderer composed of animal and poultry
trimmings, bones, meat scraps, dead animals, feathers, and related usable byproducts.

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Renderer: An independent or offsite rendering operation, conducted separate from a
slaughterhouse, packinghouse, or poultry dressing or processing plant, which manufactures
meat meal, tankage, animal fats or oils, grease, and tallow and may cure cattle hides but
excludes marine oils, fish meal, and fish oils.
Rendering: An operation, which is conducted separate from a slaughterhouse, packinghouse or
poultry dressing or processing operation that uses raw material, produces meat meal, tankage,
animal fats or oils, grease, and tallow and may cure cattle hides. Excludes marine oils, fish meal,
and fish oils.
Simple Slaughterhouse: A slaughterhouse which accomplishes very limited byproduct
processing, if any, usually no more than two such operations as rendering, paunch and viscera
handling, blood processing, hide processing, or hair processing.
Sausage and Luncheon Meat Processor: An operation which cuts fresh meats, grinds, mixes,
seasons, smokes, or otherwise produces finished products such as sausage, bologna, and
luncheon meats.
Slaughterhouse: A plant that slaughters animals and has as its main product fresh meat as
whole, half, or quarter carcasses or smaller meat cuts.
Slaughtering: Operations that kill animals for the purpose of food for human consumption
and/or animal food and feeds.
Small processor: An operation that produces up to 2,730 kg (6,000 lbs.) per day of any type or
combination of finished products.
Solids (Biosolids) Handling: Disposal or destruction of biosolids generated during the treatment
of wastewater.
Surface Water: Waters of the United States as is consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory
regime. Refer to the Current Implementation of Waters of the United States for further detail
and definition of terms (https://www.epa.gov/wotus/current-implementation-waters-unitedstates#Pre-2015).
Ultimate parent company: A business organization that owns more than 50 percent of one or
more other domestic businesses and is not a subsidiary to another domestic business
organization. Subsidiary business organizations to the ultimate parent can include
“headquarters” business organizations. A “headquarters” is a business that has branches or
divisions reporting to it. Branches or divisions can also report directly to the Ultimate Parent
Company. In this case, the Ultimate Parent Company is also a headquarters organization. The
Ultimate Parent Company typically resides in a different physical location than its subsidiary
headquarters or division/branch locations.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS): A
federal program that works to protect the public’s health by ensuring the safety of meat,
poultry, and processed egg products. Establishments that are part of this program are assigned
a unique letter/number combination identification (e.g., M1234).
Viscera Handling: Wet or dry viscera handling. Includes removal of partially digested feed and

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washing of viscera.
Wastewater Treatment: The processing of wastewater by physical, chemical, biological, or
other means to remove specific pollutants from the wastewater stream or to alter the physical
or chemical state of specific pollutants in the wastewater stream. Treatment is performed for
discharge of treated wastewater, recycle of treated wastewater to the same process which
generated the wastewater, or for reuse of the treated wastewater in another process.
Wet Rendering: The process of cooking animal byproducts by steam under pressure in closed
tanks.

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REFERENCES
Common Wastewater Treatment Processes: List of common wastewater treatment at MPP
facilities. Keep these common treatment units in mind when developing the process flow
diagram and responding to Section 7 on Wastewater Treatment.
Primary Treatment
• Screening
• Flow Equalization
• pH Adjustment
• Grease Recovery System
o Catch Basin
o Wet Well
o Sump
• Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF; with or without Chemical Coagulation)
• Electrocoagulation
Biological Wastewater Treatment Systems
• Lagoons (Stabilization Ponds)
o Anaerobic (Facultative)
o Aerobic (Oxidation)
o Aerated
• Activated Sludge
o Conventional
o Oxidation Ditch
o Extended Aeration
o Step Aeration
o Contact Stabilization
• Trickling Filter
• Rotating Biological Contactors
• Anaerobic Digestion
Nutrient Removal
• Nitrification
• Nitrification/Denitrification
• Ammonia Stripping
• Breakpoint Chlorination
• Chemical Oxidation
• Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR)
• Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)
• Bardenpho (e.g., 4-stage, 5-stage)
• Modified activated sludge (e.g., Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE); University of Cape
Town (UCT); Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR); Johannesburg; A2O)

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Other Wastewater Treatment
• Air stripping
• Carbon Adsorption
• Clarification
o Primary
o Secondary
o With Chemical Coagulation
• Chemical Precipitation
• Disinfection
o Chlorine
o Ozone
o Ultraviolet Light
• Electrodialysis
• Evaporation
• Filtration
o Sand
o Mixed-Media
o Packed Bed
o Filter Cloth
• Ion Exchange
• Microscreen/Micro-strainer
• Neutralization
• Reverse Osmosis
Biosolids Handling
• Thickening
o Gravity thickening
o Air Flotation
o Centrifugation
• Stabilization
o Anaerobic Digestion
o Aerobic Digestion
o Heat Treatment
• Dewatering
o Vacuum Filtration
o Drying Beds
o Filter Press
o Centrifugation

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1. Provide the name and physical street address of your facility.

Facility Name
Facility Street Address

City

Facility Street Address Line 2

State

ZIP Code

2. Provide contact information for the ultimate parent company. If your facility does not have an
ultimate parent company, please indicate so using the checkbox.
☐

No ultimate parent company.

Ultimate Parent Company Name
Primary Contact Name

Primary Contact Title

Mailing Address or P.O. Box
City

State

ZIP Code

Telephone Number

Email address

3. Provide the name, title, telephone number, email address, and office location of a primary and
secondary contact at your facility for information supplied in this survey.

Primary Contact Name

Primary Contact Title

Telephone Number

Email address

City

State

Secondary Contact Name

Secondary Contact Title

Telephone Number

Email address

City

State

1

4. Did your facility engage in the slaughter, further process, or render of meat and/or poultry products
for human consumption and/or animal food and feeds at any time between January 1, 2017 to
December 31, 2021?
☐ Yes
☐ No

IF YOU ANSWERED “No” TO THIS QUESTION, DO NOT COMPLETE THE REMAINDER
OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. PROCEED TO COMMENTS SECTION.

5. Has your facility permanently closed or ceased operation as of January 1, 2021?
☐ Yes
☐ No

IF YOU ANSWERED “Yes” TO THIS QUESTION, DO NOT COMPLETE THE REMAINDER
OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. PROCEED TO COMMENTS SECTION.

6. In calendar year 2021, what was the average number of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees at
your facility. For example, four half-time employees would be listed as two full-time equivalent
employees. Only directly employed personnel should be counted; contracted workers should not be
included.
FTEs:
7. Provide the applicable 12-digit Facility Registry Service (FRS) identification associated with your
facility (also known as EPA Registry ID). If you do not know your facility’s FRS number, visit EPA’s FRS
Search Website (https://www.epa.gov/frs/frs-query#facility) and search for your facility using your
facility’s address and/or name. If your facility does not have an associated FRS ID, select ‘Do not
have an FRS ID.’
FRS ID Number:
OR

☐ Facility does not have an FRS ID

2

8. Provide the establishment alpha-numeric ID assigned to your facility through the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) grant of inspection. If
you do not know your facility’s USDA FSIS establishment number, visit the USDA FSIS website
(https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/fsis-inspected-establishments ) and search for your facility
using your facility’s address and name. If your facility does not have a USDA FSIS establishment
number, select ‘Facility does not have an Establishment ID.’
Establishment ID Number:
OR

☐ Facility does not have an Establishment ID
9. List all six-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code(s) applicable to your
facility and your ultimate parent company. If you do not know which NAICS code(s) your facility falls
under, visit the NAICS website (https://www.census.gov/naics/) and search for the operation(s) that
most accurately describes your facility’s operation (NAICS codes starting with 31 through 33 are for
manufacturing facilities). If your facility and/or ultimate parent company are associated with more
than three NAICS codes, list additional codes in Section 12. Comments.
Facility NAICS Code(s)
☐ Primary NAICS code
Primary NAICS code:
☐ Secondary NAICS code
Secondary NAICS code:
☐ Tertiary NAICS code
Tertiary NAICS code:
Ultimate Parent Company NAICS Code(s)
☐ Primary NAICS code
Primary NAICS code:
☐ Secondary NAICS code
Secondary NAICS code:
☐ Tertiary NAICS code
Tertiary NAICS code:

3

10. If your facility is regulated by any existing wastewater permit(s) (e.g., National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit, pretreatment agreement, subsurface injection permit), provide
the permit number(s) below and attach a copy of the permit documents to your response.
☐ Facility does not hold any wastewater permit(s)
Permit
Number

Type of Permit (check one)

Regulating Body

Date Issued

__________

☐ General NPDES Permit
☐ Individual NPDES Permit
☐ Pretreatment Agreement/Permit
☐ Subsurface Injection Permit
☐ Other, specify: ______________

____________________

__ / __ / ____

__________

☐ General NPDES Permit
☐ Individual NPDES Permit
☐ Pretreatment Agreement/Permit
☐ Subsurface Injection Permit
☐ Other, specify: ______________

____________________

__ / __ / ____

__________

☐ General NPDES Permit
☐ Individual NPDES Permit
☐ Pretreatment Agreement/Permit
☐ Subsurface Injection Permit
☐ Other, specify: ______________

____________________

__ / __ / ____

11. If your facility has an individual NPDES permit, indicate the basis for the limitations established in
the permit. Select all that apply.

☐ No individual NPDES permit
☐ Technology-based limitations (from 40 CFR 432)
Identify the subcategory used as the basis for these limitations:

☐ A – Simple slaughterhouses
☐ B – Complex slaughterhouses
☐ C – Low-processing packinghouses
☐ D – High-processing packinghouses
☐ E – Small processors
☐ F – Meat cutters
☐ G – Sausage and luncheon meats processors
☐ H – Ham processors
☐ I – Canned meats processors

4

☐ J – Renderers
☐ K – Poultry first processing
☐ L – Poultry further processing
☐ Based on Total maximum daily load (TMDL) established for the facility and waterbody. Identify
the waterbody, pollutant, and TMDL.
Waterbody Name

Pollutant

TMDL

Units

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

☐ Water quality-based limitations other than a TMDL
☐ Other basis. Please specify basis for limitations:
_________________________________________________________________________________
12. Is your facility planning to close or cease operations by December 31, 2027?
☐ Yes
☐ No
13. Is your facility planning to significantly increase or decrease production in the next five years? If yes,
provide a description of the significant change.
☐ Increase Production
Describe Change:

☐ Decrease Production
Describe Change:

☐ No significant change to production planned

5

14. Indicate which of the following meat or poultry operations your facility conducted in calendar year
2021.
Meat Poultry

Operations

☐

☐

Slaughter

☐

☐

Further processed meat from onsite slaughtering

☐

☐

Further processed meat from offsite slaughtering

☐

☐

Rendered products from onsite slaughtering

☐

☐

Rendered products from offsite slaughtering

15. Effluent limitations guidelines for the Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category are
presented at 40 CFR Part 432. Indicate which subcategory(ies) applies to the operations conducted
at your facility.

40 CFR Part 432
A. Simple Slaughterhouses
Simple slaughterhouse means a slaughterhouse that provides only minimal, if any,
processing of the by-products of meat slaughtering. A simple slaughterhouse would
include usually no more than two by-product processing operations such as rendering,
paunch and viscera handling, or processing of blood, hide or hair.
B. Complex Slaughterhouses
Complex slaughterhouse means a slaughterhouse that provides extensive processing of
the by-products of meat slaughtering. A complex slaughterhouse would usually include at
least three processing operations such as rendering, paunch and viscera handling, or
processing of blood, hide or hair.
C. Low-Processing Packinghouses
Low-processing packinghouse means a packinghouse that processes no more, and usually
fewer than, the total number of animals slaughtered at that plant.
Packinghouse means a plant that both slaughters animals and subsequently processes
carcasses into cured, smoked, canned or other prepared meat products.
D. High-Processing Packinghouse
High-processing packinghouse means a packinghouse which processes both animals
slaughtered at the site and additional carcasses from outside sources.
Packinghouse means a plant that both slaughters animals and subsequently processes
carcasses into cured, smoked, canned or other prepared meat products.
E. Small Processors
Applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the production of finished
meat products such as fresh meat cuts, smoked products, canned products, hams,
sausages, luncheon meats, or similar products by a small processor.
Small processor means an operation that produces no more than 6000 lbs (2730 kg) per
day of any type or combination of finished products.

6

Check all
that apply

☐

☐

☐

☐

☐

40 CFR Part 432
F. Meat Cutters
Applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the production of fresh meat
cuts, such as steaks, roasts, chops, etc. by a meat cutter.
Meat cutter means an operation which cuts or otherwise produces fresh meat cuts and
related finished products from larger pieces of meat (carcasses or not carcasses), at rates
greater than 6000 lbs (2730 kg) per day.
G. Sausage and Luncheon Meats Processors
Applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the production of fresh meat
cuts, sausage, bologna and other luncheon meats by a sausage and luncheon meat
processor.
Sausage and luncheon meat processor means an operation which cuts fresh meats,
grinds, mixes, seasons, smokes or otherwise produces finished products such as sausage,
bologna and luncheon meats at rates greater than 6000 lbs (2730 kg) per day.
H. Ham Processors
Applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the production of hams,
alone or in combination with other finished products, by a ham processor.
Ham processor means an operation producing hams, alone or in combination with other
finished products, at rates greater than 6000 lbs (2730 kg) per day.
I. Canned Meats Processors
Applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the production of canned
meats, alone or in combination with any other finished products, by a canned meats
processor.
Canned meats processor means an operation which prepares and cans meats (stew,
sandwich spreads, or similar products), alone or in combination with other finished
products, at rates greater than 6000 lbs (2730 kg) per day.
J. Renderers
Applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the production of meat meal,
dried animal by-product residues (tankage), animal oils, grease and tallow, and in some
cases hide curing, by a renderer.
Renderer means an independent or off-site rendering operation, which is conducted
separate from a slaughterhouse, packinghouse or poultry dressing or processing
operation, uses raw material at rates greater than 10 million pounds per year, produces
meat meal, tankage, animal fats or oils, grease, and tallow, and may cure cattle hides,
but excludes marine oils, fish meal, and fish oils.
K. Poultry First Processing
Applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the slaughtering of poultry,
further processing of poultry and rendering of material derived from slaughtered
poultry. Process wastewater includes water from animal holding areas at these facilities.
Poultry first processing means slaughtering of poultry and producing whole, halved,
quarter or smaller meat cuts.
L. Poultry Further Processing
Applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from further processing of poultry.

7

Check all
that apply

☐

☐

☐

☐

☐

☐

☐

16. Did your facility slaughter or further process poultry in calendar year 2021?
☐ Yes
☐ No

IF YOU ANSWERED “No” TO THIS QUESTION, SKIP TO QUESTION 19.

17. Did your facility slaughter or further process any type of poultry in calendar year 2021? Select the
most appropriate response and provide the annual capacity in live weight killed as indicated.
☐ Slaughtered only
Live Weight Killed (LWK) in 2021:
☐ Slaughtered and further processed poultry from onsite slaughtering.
LWK in 2021:
Pounds Finished Product in 2021:
☐ Slaughtered and further processed poultry from both onsite and offsite slaughtering.
LWK in 2021:
Pounds Finished Product in 2021:
☐ Further processed poultry slaughtered offsite.
Pounds Finished Product in 2021:
☐ No slaughtering or further processing of poultry in 2021.
18. Identify the type(s) of further processing of poultry conducted by your facility? Select all that apply.

☐ No further processing of poultry performed
☐ Cutting and/or deboning
☐ Cooking
☐ Seasoning
☐ Smoking
☐ Canning
☐ Grinding

8

☐ Chopping
☐ Dicing
☐ Forming
☐ Breading
☐ Breaking
☐ Trimming
☐ Skinning
☐ Tenderizing
☐ Marinating
☐ Curing
☐ Pickling
☐ Extruding
☐ Linking
19. Did your facility slaughter meat in calendar year 2021?
☐ Yes
LWK in 2021:
☐ No

IF YOU ANSWERED “No” TO THIS QUESTION, SKIP TO QUESTION 21.

20. Did your facility process any type of meat by-product in calendar year 2021? Select all that apply.
☐ None
☐ Yes
Select all further processing operations that apply:
☐ Processing Hides
☐ Processing Blood
☐ Wet or Low-Temp Rendering
☐ Dry Rendering
☐ Processed Hair
☐ Other Processing Operation

9

Describe other processing operation:
21. Did your facility only further process meat in calendar year 2021? This includes cutting meat,
smoking products, or producing sausage or luncheon meat.
☐ Yes
Pounds of Finished Product in calendar year 2021:
☐ No

IF YOU ANSWERED “No” TO THIS QUESTION, SKIP TO QUESTION 23.

22. Identify the type(s) of further processing of meat conducted at your facility. Select all that apply.

☐ Cutting and/or deboning
☐ Cooking
☐ Seasoning
☐ Smoking
☐ Canning
☐ Grinding
☐ Chopping
☐ Dicing
☐ Forming
☐ Breading
☐ Breaking
☐ Trimming
☐ Skinning
☐ Tenderizing
☐ Marinating
☐ Curing
☐ Pickling
☐ Extruding
☐ Linking

10

23. Did your facility operate as an independent or offsite renderer of meat in calendar year 2021?
☐ Yes
☐ No
24. Did your facility generate process wastewater from operations engaging in meat and/or poultry
product operations at any point from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021?
☐ Yes
☐ No
25. Does your facility treat MPP process wastewater onsite prior to its final destination? Treatment can
include separation (e.g., settling, Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF), or grease traps), filtration (e.g., grit
chambers, screening, etc.), or other more advanced treatment processes.
Note: Equlization tanks should be identified here as treatment.
☐ Yes
☐ No
26. How many discharge locations (final outfalls) and other permit monitoring locations are present at
your facility? Include discharge locations discharging to surface waters, publicly owned treatment
works (POTWs), and privately owned treatment works (PrOTWs). Do not include internal outfalls.
Number of locations/outfalls:
Number of locations/outfalls that contain MPP process wastewater: ___________________

11

27. Please identify the types of wastewaters transferred to each final outfall identified in Question 26. Include the outfall name, location
(latitude and longitude should be submitted in decimal degrees to at least three decimal places), annual flow for calendar year 2021 in
gallons per day (GPD), details on the wastewater contributions relative to the total outfall flow for 2021, and discharge destination. Each
final outfall should be identified in a separate row in the table below. If the immediate receiving water is unknown, please provide the name
of the closest downstream water (e.g., unnamed tributary of the Snake River).

Outfall Name
& Location
Name/Number:
_______________
Latitude:
_______________
Longitude:
_______________

Flow
Rate in
CY 2021
(in GPD)

Type(s) of Wastewater & Relative
Contributions to the Outfall
(Select all that apply)
☐ Process wastewater (other than
stormwater associated with industrial
activity)
Percentage of total outfall flow: __________
☐ Landfill leachate
Percentage of total outfall flow: __________
☐ Sanitary wastewater
Percentage of total outfall flow: __________
☐ Non-contact cooling water
Percentage of total outfall flow: __________
☐ Stormwater associated with industrial
activity
Percentage of total outfall flow: __________
☐ Stormwater not associated with industrial
activity
Percentage of total outfall flow: __________
☐ Other, specify:
________________________
Percentage of total outfall flow: __________

Discharge Destination

☐ Receiving Water, Type and
Name of receiving water:
____________________________
____________________________
☐ POTW, Name: ______________
☐ PrOTW, Name: _____________
☐ Land applied onsite or offsite
☐ Underground injection onsite or
offsite
☐ Reused
☐ Other, Specify:
____________________________

12

Has mixing
zone been
applied at
the
outfall?
☐ Yes
☐ No

Frequency of
Discharge
☐ Continuous
☐ Once per shift
☐ Once per day
☐ Once per week
☐ Other, describe below
_________________

28. Select all pollutants that are known to be present in your facility’s untreated process wastewater
(before any treatment) in calendar 2021 and provide the average concentrations of the pollutants
identified below. For each pollutant, indicate whether the concentration is measured, estimated, or
unknown.

Pollutant

Average
Concentration in
Untreated
Process
Wastewater

Units

Measured or
Estimated
(Select One)

☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated
☐ Measured
☐ Estimated

Total Nitrogen
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)
Ammonia (as N)
Nitrate-N
Nitrite-N
Total Phosphorus
Phosphate
Orthophosphate
5-day Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD5)
Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (CBOD)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Oil and Grease (O&G)

13

Unknown
Concentration

☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐

Comments
NOTE: The electronic questionnaire format will allow facilities to navigate to the comments
section from individual questions, then navigate back from the comments section to
individual questions. The comments section is being shown here, at the end, in this draft
paper copy as an example.
Section
Number

Question
Number

Comment

THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS NOW COMPLETE. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR RESPONSES,
COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENT, AND PROCEED TO SUBMIT
RESPONSES AS INDICATED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS.

14

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
The individual responsible for directing or supervising the preparation of the questionnaire
must read and sign the Certification Statement listed below. The certifying official must be a
responsible corporate official or his/her authorized representative.
Certification Statement
I certify under penalty of law that the submitted questionnaire was prepared under my direction
or supervision and that qualified personnel properly gathered and evaluated the information
submitted. The information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, accurate and
complete. In those cases, where we did not possess the requested information for questions
applicable to our company, we provided best estimates. We have to the best of our ability
indicated what we believe to be company confidential business information as defined under 40
CFR Part 2, Subpart B. We understand that we may be required at a later time to justify our
claim in detail with respect to each item claimed confidential. I am aware that there are
significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fines and
imprisonment as explained in Section 308 of the Clean Water Act.

Signature of Certifying Official

Date

Printed Name of Certifying Official

Telephone Number

Title of Certifying Official
Company Name

ONCE COMPLETE, THE ELECTRONIC QUESTIONNAIRE PLATFORM WILL DIRECT FACILITIES TO
SUBMIT A COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE.

15