Weekly Update

 

Welcome to the first edition of Weekly Update, a publication of Western United Environmental Services (WUES). Our goal is to provide you with the latest information about WUES and how our organization can help you with your environmental challenges.

 

Who are we?

 

Due to the Central Valley Water Discharge Requirements (WDRs) a familiar name,

Western United Dairyman has developed a new organization known as Western United Environmental Services (WUES) to help the dairy producers with the complex requirements that they must comply to.  WUES has hired 5 well qualified Environmental Technicians and one well qualified Office manager to use their experience, knowledge and expertise to provide and elite service for you, the dairy producer. WUES is a non profit entity that will provide a service to dairy producer regarding environmental, water regulations and issues

 

How can we help you?

 

Our services are outlined below.

 

Nutrient Management Plan – certified by a Certified Nutrient Management Specialist

1.  Dairy facility assessment

·        Land application area

·        Sampling and analysis

·        Nutrient budget for crops

·        Setbacks, buffers, protection of surface water

·        Field risk assessment

·        Record keeping

2.  Nutrient management plan review

·        Technical standards

·        Portions require certification by a Certified Nutrient Management Specialist

Waste Management Plan

• Facility Description
• Operation and maintenance plan
• Interim modifications to improve storage capacity

Monitoring & Reporting

Samples necessary for:

• All materials applied to land
• Solid & liquid manure leaving property
• Unauthorized applications of solid and liquid manure
• Off-site discharges
• Supply well sampling - groundwater monitoring wells, if installed

Sampling Needs:

• Detailed protocols and requirements
• Documentation and reporting required (Chain of Custody)
• Agricultural or laboratory accredited by Department of Public Health Services
• Sampling to start by May 3^rd
  • Storm water monitoring of runoff from the first and a mid season significant storm
  • Irrigation water
  • Solid manure
  • Process wastewater (liquid manure)
  • Forage
  • Soil

Reports:

Dec 31^st reports required (07 & 08)

• Annual reports beginning July 31, 08

o       Summaries of discharges

o       Copies of sample analyses

o       Source water, tile drain, storm water

o       Tabulated results of data for nutrient monitoring

o       Liquid manure, solid manure, soil, plant tissue, irrigation water

o       Detailed maps for WMP, NMP

o       Dairy Facility Assessment

o       Copies of manifests & written agreements

Reports for Special Situations:

• Material change (amount, character, or location of waste) due 140 days prior to change
• Facility change in ownership/operator
• Facility closure
• Unauthorized discharge / noncompliance events
• Exceeding groundwater limitations or surface water quality objectives

Visual Monitoring:

Production Areas:

• Weekly--Oct 1 to May 31
• Monthly--June 1 to Sept 30
• During and after each significant storm event
• Monthly photograph of pond freeboard
• Maintain written records of findings

Land Application areas:

• Daily inspections of land application area when process wastewater is applied
• Maintain written records of findings

Supply Well and Tile Drain Sampling:

• All supply well sources (analyze for electrical conductivity (EC) and Nitrate)
• Domestic wells
• Agricultural wells (irrigation, barn)
• Tile drains (EC, nitrate, and Phosphorus)
• These samples go to an ELAP accredited lab for drinking and wastewater analyses
• Results submitted in annual report

Monitoring Off-Site Discharges:

• Storm water from the production area;
• Storm water from land application area; and
• Tailwater from land application area.

Maps:

• The first maps due December 31, 2007
• Detailed maps for the Waste Management Plan and the Nutrient Management Plan due July 1, 2008

 

 

To receive more information on WUES please contact your WUES Technician or WUES Office

• Phone (209) 238-3818
• Fax (209) 238-3808

·        Email info@wuenvironmental.com

·        www.wuenvironmental.com

 

 

Calendar of up coming deadlines

 

-  By March 3, 2008 – Begin taking and analyzing samples of lagoon water, manure, plant tissue, soil, and irrigation water and document the monitoring.