Weekly Update May 22, 2009

May 22, 2009

Welcome to Weekly Update, a publication of Western United Environmental Services (WUES). Our goal is to provide you with the latest information about the WDRs from the water board and how our organization can help you with your environmental challenges. All previous publications of the Weekly Update can be found in the news section on our website at www.wuenvironmental.com.

Cost-share workshops for air quality emissions

A series of workshops will be held during the next few weeks to update farmers and ranchers about a new cost-share program to help reduce air quality emissions from off-road mobile or stationary agricultural sources. Fifteen workshops are scheduled in various agricultural production areas throughout the state, beginning on Wednesday May 27 in Fresno and concluding on Tuesday, June 16 in Stockton.

The cost-share program is administered by the USDA — Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as part of a new air quality provision of the 2008 Federal Farm Bill, provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Under the program, agricultural producers can apply for cost-share funds to replace, repower, or retrofit existing combustion engines. The deadline to apply is June 26, 2009.

Producers in 36 counties are eligible to use the funds to help reduce ozone and particulate matter emissions. Priority will be given to replacing older, higher-polluting engines with newer, reduced-emission technology engines that meet or exceed current emission standards. Stationary, portable and heavy-duty off-road mobile systems are eligible. Other eligible practices to reduce fugitive dust (particulate matter) include conservation tillage, harvest activities, precision pest control and manure injection. Up to $22 million is available for this program. In addition, certain regional Air Pollution Control Districts may provide co-funding opportunities.

The workshops are hosted by the USDA’s NRCS and Farm Service Agency, regional Air Pollution Control Districts, Far West Equipment Dealers Association, and Agriculture Improving Resources (A.I.R), a coalition of agricultural and governmental agencies formed to help educate farmers and ranchers about air quality issues. The workshops will provide detailed information and applications for the program. Representatives from the USDA's NRCS and Farm Services Agencies, regional Air Districts, agricultural associations and farm equipment dealers will be at each workshop to answer questions and to help producers determine if they are eligible for the program.

Agriculture Air Quality Workshops

Wednesday, May 27

9 a.m. –Thomason Tractor, 985 12th St., Firebaugh

2 p.m. – Fresno County Farm Bureau, 1274 W. Hedges Ave., Fresno

6 p.m. – Madera County Fairgrounds, Van Alen Hall, 1850 W. Cleveland Ave., Madera

Friday, May 29

9 a.m. – Kern Ag Pavilion, 3300 E. Belle Terrace, Bakersfield

2 p.m. – Tulare County Ag Commissioner/UCCE Auditorium, 4437 S. Laspina, Tulare

Tuesday, June 2

10 a.m. – San Mateo County Fairgrounds, EXPO Cafe, 2495 S. Delaware St, San Mateo

3 p.m. – Sonoma County Farm Bureau, 970 Piner Rd., Santa Rosa

8 a.m. – Yuba-Sutter County Fairgrounds, Franklin Hall, 442 Franklin Ave., Yuba City

1:30 p.m. – Riverside County Farm Bureau, 21160 Box Springs Rd., Ste. 102, Moreno Valley

As anticipated, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District today voted at its board meeting to suspend Rule 4570 that regulates emissions from dairies and other confined animal facilities. The action comes after a court ruled that the district did not sufficiently address the public health impact of the rule. The district's governing board heard today a staff recommendation to set aside the rule's enforcement until the health study has been completed. The Fifth Appellate District Court ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed in July 2006 by the Association of Irritated Residents (AIR) challenging the rule on a number of substantive issues and one procedural matter regarding the adequacy of the staff report on the public health impact. The court found against AIR on all of the substantive issues raised in the suit. WUD had intervened in the case on behalf of California dairy families. The air board’s action does not change dairy families’ commitment to air quality, said Western United Dairymen President Ray Souza. “We will continue our role in enhancing air quality in the San Joaquin Valley," said Souza. "This is not a responsibility that dairy families will shy away from. We are proud of the role that we play, along with our fellow Californians, in making our state a better place to live." WUD's field staff and environmental staff will "continue to work with our members to help with their continued compliance with these regulations," said CEO Michael Marsh. "Dairy producers have made great strides, at a considerable financial cost, in implementing these regulations. They will continue to rely on science-based approaches to these complex and critical air quality issues. Our members are not about to walk away from the responsible, thoughtful approach they have taken to solving our valley's air quality problems." The air board will now consider the health study at its June meeting and decide whether to re-adopt the rule in its original form or to direct staff to being the public process for amending the rule.

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

1^st 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, field & lab analysis
Solid manure application	Volume/density OR weight/moisture, and lab analysis 2 x per year
Manure Exports	Measure volume/density OR weight/moisture
Harvest	Yield, lab analysis
Irrigation event	Volume, source and date
Tail water discharge	Date, time, volume, duration, location, source, destination, field measurements & lab analysis if within 60 days of a manure application