Weekly Update Oct. 19, 2009

Welcome to Weekly Update, 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. We strive to provide your dairy with quality service, while at the same time saving you money as you face the challenges of compliance. Each week you will find features on compliance issues, regulatory changes or common questions, as well as workshop notices. If you have missed any of our past issues, they can be found on our website at www.wuenvironmental.com.

The groundwater well monitoring requirements of the San Joaquin Valley’s Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) are now being implemented. To date, some 25 dairies have received instructions to install ground water monitoring well systems. The WDR allow for the installation of 100 to 200 wells per year until all dairies have installed a monitoring well system. However, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control board staff is looking at alternatives to wells. Western United Dairymen is working with other dairy organizations and the regional board on a program that would more efficiently represent dairy impacts on groundwater and evaluate the most effective manure management practices. WUD will keep its members informed as developments warrant.

Gov. Schwarzenegger has signed legislation that will revise and expand the feed-in tariff program for renewable energy facilities. The legislation, Bill 32, by Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-San Bernardino), was supported by Western United Dairymen. Adoption by the Public Utilities Commission of feed-in tariff programs and rate schedules will significantly benefit on-farm use of methane biogas projects in the near future.

In the Governor’s signing message he said, " In order to meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and a Renewable Portfolio Standard of 33% by 2020, we will need to use all of the tools available under our existing programs to get to that goal. By increasing the size of projects allowed under the FIT program and increasing the cumulative cap for investor-owned utilities for FIT projects, this bill is a step in the right direction. The PUC is also currently exploring an expanded FIT for small to medium scale renewable generation using a market-based pricing approach."

Legislation that ends the practice of docking tails of dairy cattle, SB 135 by Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter) has been signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. The bill was supported by the Humane Society of the United States, as well as the California Veterinary Medical Association, ASPCA, California Cattlemen’s Association and California Farm Bureau. Western United Dairymen adopted a neutral position on the bill after forcing significant amendments to the bill. Historically, tail docking has been used to prevent fecal matter, mud and other contaminants from becoming a problem in the milking parlors. Jim Cullor, director of the University of California's Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center in Tulare, said that only about 2.5% of the state's 1.5 million dairy cows have their tails docked.

The U.S. Senate has given final approval to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which includes an amendment by California U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein that will allow for water transfers to help agricultural communities in the Central Valley that have been hard hit by three years of drought. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature. “This measure is a critical first step toward improving water management to help ease the water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley,” says Ms. Boxer. “The legislation will enable water transfers between the east and west sides of the valley, offering some much-needed relief to agricultural communities that are suffering from drought conditions.” “Three consecutive years of severe drought has left the Central Valley desperate for more water, and Congress is taking steps to try to bring some timely relief, the senators say.” “This spending bill includes a provision that will make it possible to transfer up to 50,000 to 80,000 acre-feet of surplus water from communities with water to spare to communities in desperate need,” says Ms. Feinstein. <more> Oct. 15, 2009 Central Valley Business Times

San Joaquin Valley lawmakers failed Wednesday in efforts to turn a Bay Area water recycling bill toward the valley's advantage. Following heated debate and some political gamesmanship, a key House committee blocked valley representatives from trying to add irrigation delivery provisions to the Bay Area bill. The unadorned bill comes to the House floor today."If we're going to have a bill that affects the Bay Area, we ought to have a bill that helps the rest of the state, too," said Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. Nunes and Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, brought five separate amendments designed to increase irrigation deliveries or, at the least, send a political signal about the valley's water shortages. The proposals included suspending the Endangered Species Act and speeding construction of certain water delivery projects. The House Rules Committee, an arm of the House Democratic leadership, blocked the proposed water delivery amendments by a series of largely party-line 6-5 votes. Rep. Dennis Cardoza of Merced was the only Democrat to support bringing the amendments to the floor, where the entire House could have voted on them."These are very serious issues for the people in the San Joaquin Valley," Cardoza said. "This is an urgent situation, and we have to move quickly." <more> Oct. 15, 2009 Modesto Bee

A labor workshop focusing on wage and hour requirements will be held on Thursday, October 22, at the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau office, 1201 L Street, Modesto, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Labor attorney Anthony Raimondo will provide the latest information on wage and hour requirements and answer questions about other labor issues. For more information, contact Western United Dairymen field representative Darrin Soares at (209) 535-7881.

1^st of the month	Photograph Free Board in Ponds
Weekly	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.

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