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Weekly Update
 

September 26, 2008

Weekly Update is a publication of Western United Environmental Services (WUES), designed to bring you valuable information and helpful tips for compliance with the Waste Discharge Requirements of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Each week you will find features on compliance issues, regulatory changes or common questions, as well as workshop notices and introductions to the WUES technicians. If you have missed any of our past issues, they can be found on our website at www.wuenvironmental.com.

 

What is a ‘Significant Storm Event’?

 

October marks the official start of our storm season, and the calendar of monthly activities changes to reflect this. You will see new entries for a visual inspection of storm water containment structures following a significant storm event and for reporting and sampling following the first such event which results in a discharge from a land application area. So what exactly is a ‘significant storm event’? According to the General Order, a significant storm event is any storm which results in either continuous runoff of storm water for a minimum of one hour, or intermittent runoff of storm water for a minimum of 3 hours in a 12 hour period. This could be either a single heavy rain, or an extended period of intermittent rain. The key is the duration of the runoff and the time interval of occurrence. If you have any questions about this or any other reporting issue, feel free to contact your WUES technician.

l        Johne's Disease Testing Brochures Free to Producers - A free brochure on Johne’s disease is available from the National Johne's Education Initiative, a USDA-APHIS-VS program designed to help educate producers about Johne's disease. The testing brochure is written for producers and helps producers become familiar with recommended test regimen for the detection of Johne's disease in cattle based on herd type and testing purpose. To obtain your copy of "Think Healthier Bottom Line -Test for Johne's & Know Your Herd's Johne's Disease Status" or to learn more about Johne's disease, please visit  www.johnesdisease.org or call the National Institute for Animal Agriculture at (270) 782-9798. Sept. 23, 2008 NIAA Press Release

·      Dairy Situation & Outlook: Milk Production Up, Butter Prices Increase - Milk production continues to increase at a slower rate than during the first six months of the year. For the 23 reporting states August milk production was only 1.5 % higher than a year ago, the result of 1.6% more milk cows but milk per cow two pounds lower. Milk cow numbers which have been increasing month to month since May 2007 were 3,000 head lower than July. U.S. milk production for August is estimated at just 1.1% higher than a year ago. Unfavorable weather explains much of the smaller increase in milk production. For example, due to hot weather California's milk production was 1.9% lower than a year ago. Milk per cow fell 60 pounds or 3.2%, more than offsetting 1.3% more cows. Idaho also experienced a decrease of 10 pounds or 0.5% per cow, but with 6.7% more cows total milk production was still 6.3% higher. <more> Sept. 20, 2008 CattleNetwork.com

·      EPA to deny perchlorate standards -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will deny calls to set drinking water safety standards for the chemical perchlorate, documents show.  The federal agency says there's no need to legally regulate the chemical, a component of rocket fuel found in soil and groundwater that affects thyroid development in newborns and young children, a draft of the decision, obtained by The Washington Post, recommends. Environmentalists and child safety advocates have been battling for six years to force the EPA to set drinking water standards for perchlorate, saying 20 million to 40 million people are exposed to the chemical at levels that some scientists consider unsafe. However, the U.S. Defense Department and White House officials oppose setting perchlorate standards saying cleanup costs would be prohibitive, the Post said. <more> Sept. 23, 2008 UPI

 

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES

 

September

1st of the month

 Photograph Free Board in Ponds

Each month

 Visual inspection (production and waste storage areas; ponds)

Process wastewater application

 Visual inspections, volume, date

Solid Manure applications

 Volume/density OR weight/moisture

Manure Exports

 Measure volume/density OR weight/moisture (require lab analysis)

Harvest

 Yield, lab analysis

Irrigation event

 Volume, source, date

Tail water discharge

 Date, time, volume, duration, location, destination, field measurements

 & lab analysis if within 60 days of manure application.

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