October 30, 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.
Waste Management Plan workshops get underway Nov. 3
A series of workshops designed to help Central Valley dairy producers prepare and submit engineered Waste Management Plans (WMP) begin Nov. 3 in Tulare and run until Nov. 18.
The workshops are sponsored by the California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP) 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, WUD’s director of environmental services.
Among the key topics to be covered during the workshops:
· Deliverables due for the next deadline, including what needs to be started now and other items needing to be finished before July 1, 2010.
· Important updates on groundwater monitoring requirements, on-farm inspections and implementing/modifying Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs).
· Critical information on avoiding the most common types of Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) violations.
· Tips on working with outside consultants and your employees to maximize efficiency and reduce costs.
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 owner/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 workshop schedule
Tulare County (2 workshops)
Tuesday, November 3, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. and
Thursday, December 3, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Tulare County Ag Center Auditorium,
4437 S. Laspina, Tulare (please use the back
entrance on November 3 as the election polling
place will be in the lobby)
Stanislaus County (2 workshops)
Thursday, November 5, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. and
Wednesday, December 2, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Harvest
Hall, 3800 Cornucopia Way,
Modesto
Glenn County
Monday, November 9, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Glenn County Farm Bureau Board Meeting Room,
831 5th Street, Orland
Merced County
Tuesday, November 17, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
UC Cooperative Extension classroom,
2145 W. Wardrobe Avenue, Merced
San Joaquin County
Thursday, November 19, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Robert J. Cabral Ag Center Conference Room,
2101 E. Earhart Ave., Stockton
Fresno County
Wednesday, November 18, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Riverdale Memorial Hall, 3085 W. Mount Whitney
Water reform package moving forward, but conflicts remain
The promise of a water deal moved closer this week as a diverse coalition of agricultural, urban and environmental groups rallied behind a policy proposal authored by Senate leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. But Republicans balked at the measure, citing concerns over how the bill would impact small farmers. What it all means for those hoping for a comprehensive water package is unclear. The Steinberg and Assembly GOP proposals only deal with changes in water policy. They do not address the other major part of these negotiations – a bond that would have to be put before voters to pay for new water storage and infrastructure projects. <more> Oct. 29, 2009 Capitol Weekly
Legislators unveiled a $9.4 billion water bond Wednesday, but critics said there is not enough money for the Delta - the "bull's-eye" of the state's future water policy - and warned that California's cumbersome debt will make another bond hard to swallow for voters. The bond, authored by state Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, would buy $3 billion for new water storage, $2 billion for the Delta's ecosystem, agriculture and levees, and $1.5 billion for watershed projects across the state, among other things.<more> Oct. 29, 2009 Stockton Record
Cow Burps OK: House, Senate Block EPA From Regulating Livestock Emissions
You may remember the “cow tax” rumors that floated around late last year and caused uproar among farmers and ranchers worried the EPA planned to regulate methane gas emitted from livestock. The EPA has said — repeatedly — it has no plans to impose a cow tax. But the idea was still worrisome for ranchers and farmers. House and Senate conferees made it official Tuesday and approved an amendment to block agency efforts to require Clean Air Act permits for greenhouse gases emitted by livestock, according to reports from Greenwire and Scientific American. Under the amendment, the EPA cannot use funds to implement rules requiring livestock producers to obtain Clean Air Act operating permits for the biological emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases, according to the Scientific American report.<more> Oct. 29, 2009 bnet.com
CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES
OCTOBER
|
1st 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:
Phone (209) 238-3818
Fax (209) 238-3808
Email: info@wuenvironmental.com