This bill aims to enhance the protection of public health and drinking water supplies from the impacts of publicly owned or operated game farms, particularly concerning nitrate pollution. It establishes new requirements for these facilities to obtain permits for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) if they exceed certain thresholds, similar to those imposed on private agricultural operations. The legislation mandates that the Department of Ecology explicitly include pheasants and similar game birds in the CAFO permit framework, ensuring that publicly operated game farms adhere to the same environmental standards as their private counterparts.

Additionally, the bill introduces specific permit requirements for publicly owned facilities, including the development of manure pollution prevention plans, monitoring protocols, and compliance measures to prevent water quality violations. It stipulates that any facility with more than 5,000 game birds will be classified as a large CAFO, subjecting it to the most stringent water quality standards. The overarching goal is to reduce nitrate contributions from public facilities, safeguard groundwater quality, and promote transparency and accountability in manure management practices.