Weekly Update Nov. 20, 2009

November 20, 2009

Weekly Update is a publication written by the staff at Western United Environmental Services (WUES) to show you how our organization can assist you with your environmental challenges. Each week you will receive valuable information and helpful tips from the team at WUES. Our purpose is to help you comply with the Waste Discharge Requirements from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. If you missed any of our publications, you can find them in the “news” section of our website at www.wuenvironmental.com.

Waste Management Plan workshops wrap-up Dec. 2-3

A series of workshops designed to help Central Valley dairy producers prepare and submit engineered Waste Management Plans (WMP) wrap up Dec. 2-3. The workshops, sponsored by the California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP), are well in advance of the July 2010 submittal deadline. In addition to submitting their annual Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) reports, dairy operators will also be required to prepare and submit engineered Waste Management Plans. “Because WMPs require professional assistance and significant time and cost to prepare, it makes good sense to get an early start,” notes Paul Martin, director of environmental services for Western United Dairymen. The workshops will cover several timely issues important to dairy owners and operators in the Central Valley. In addition, the workshops will include the latest news and information on the next annual report form and mortality management option research. All workshops are open to dairy owners or operators, their employees, consultants, and other dairy professionals. The workshops are free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations are not required. Fall 2009 WMP schedule of remaining workshops:

Managing price risk on your dairy will be the topic of an educational seminar set for Dec. 15 in Modesto and Dec. 16 in Tulare. The sessions are hosted by Western United Dairymen. Sponsors are American AgCredit; Bank of America; F&M Bank; Western Milling and Yosemite Farm Credit. The meetings will provide an introduction to price risk management. Information will be provided by the leading brokers and consultants in the field: Blimling, Downes-O'Neill/FC Stone and First Capitol Ag. Seminar topics include The Changed Economic Landscape; Risk Management as Margin Management and California Uniqueness, Execution and Outlook. The Modesto seminar will be held Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Stanislaus County Ag Center, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Tulare seminar will be held Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tulare Ag Center, 4450 S. Laspina Street, Tulare. Registration is free to WUD members. Non-member registration fee is $30. Registration deadline is Dec. 9, 2009.

Growers in the eight-county San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District have until January 2010, to replace older, high-polluting, Tier 0 diesel engines greater than 50 hp with EPA-certified Tier 3 or Tier 4 engines. The rule is the latest installment in complying with District Rule 4702, which regulates air pollution emissions from ag engines not used in tractors or ag implements, such as irrigation pump engines. Growers statewide will need to meet a similar requirement by January 2011 under parallel rules by the State Air Board. In addition, San Joaquin Valley growers after January face more onerous permitting requirements if they plan to install or modify ag engines, depending on whether or not they qualify as a "significant polluter." The cut-off for "significant polluter" will be lowered from 12.5 tons per year due to the severe non-attainment for ozone status of the SJV. The classification is based on NOx and VOC emissions determined by type and number of internal combustion motors and hours of operation. Estimates indicate growing operations with as few as two or three irrigation pump motors greater than 50 hp may exceed the limit that allows them to register under the District's Permit Exempt Equipment Registration (PEER) program. Those growers will instead need an "Authority to Construct" permit, which requires significantly more process and paperwork. Contact the SJV Air District at (559)-230-6000 for additional information.

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.

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