Piggery Compliance

The objective of the AS-EPA Piggery Compliance Program is to protect human health and the environment by enforcing compliance for piggeries. To meet the objective, the Branch regulates and enforces compliance through a concerted program of educational outreach, inspections, warnings, citations, and follow-up. Implementation of this program will result in direct improvements to surface water quality, and subsequently reduce the incidence of leptospirosis and other diseases. A collateral benefit will be improved quality of life in crowded villages.

Currently, AS-EPA is authorized to enforce the following laws related to piggeries:

ASCA 25.1601 – Pigs running loose

ASCA 25.1602 – Operating a pigpen within 50 feet of human habitation

ASCA 25.1603 – Pigs kept between the highway and sea

ASCA 25.1604 – Operating a pigpen within 50 feet of any body of water or wetland

ASCA 25.1605 – Pigpen in unsanitary condition or inadequate waste disposal system

The AS-EPA piggery Compliance Program has approved a variety of alternative piggery designs that include the Portable Pig Pen, Dry Litter Piggery and Wash Down Piggery.  Because pigs generate a large quantity of high-strength effluent that overloads traditional septic systems, all of these designs include composting as a pig waste management technique.

Composting is important because:

 1.   It minimizes contact between pig waste and water, which reduces the public health and environmental hazards associated with pig waste contamination in our water.

 2.   It is a dry process, which reduces odors and wards off vermin such as flies and roaches that carry disease.

 3.   It kills pathogens that are found in pig waste.

 4.  Compost can be used as a fertilizer for plants.


AS-EPA approved piggery designs include:
 

1. THE PORTABLE PIG PEN

A Portable pig pen is a single pen built on the ground.Pig waste is composted in place, and the pen is moved on a regular basis.  Farmers are encouraged to visit a demonstration of this facility at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Land Grant.

2. DRY LITTER PIGGERY

A Dry Litter piggery is a permanent structure that uses dry litter (such as wood chips) to absorb moisture and compost pig waste in the pen.  Farmers are encouraged to visit a demonstration of this facility at ASCC Land Grant.

3. WASH DOWN PIGGERY

A Wash Down piggery uses water to clean the pens daily.The waste management system is comprised of a solid waste separator that filters out solid waste for composting.Liquid wastewater then enters an appropriately sized septic tank and drain field for proper disposal.  Solids are placed in compost bins and mixed with dry material.  Farmers are encouraged to visit a demonstration of this facility at ASCC Land Grant.
 

PIGGERY COMPLIANCE LINKS:
 
AS-EPA Piggery Guideline
 
Leptospirosis Information
 
Land Use Permitting - Description of process and deadlines for completion
  Photos of Demonstration Portable Pig Pen at ASCC
 
  Composting Instructions
 
  Septic Tank Decommissioning Instructions
 
  Percolation Test Instructions and Septic Tank & Drainfield Sizing Instructions
 
  GIS Map of Piggeries on Tutuila
 
Example Piggery Designs:
More Helpful Links:

Contact
Christianera Tuitele, Water Program Manager
Email: christianeratuitele3@gmail.com