February 19, 2010

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.

Environmental stewardship classes set for Modesto, Tulare

The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP) is once again offering free classes in air quality, one of the components needed for environmental stewardship certification.  Dr. Frank Mitloehner, UC Davis, will teach the classes, which cover air quality-related environmental issues, regulatory requirements and management practices for dairy producers. Producers wishing to pursue certification in the Environmental Stewardship Program must complete two hours of air quality (if operating in an air basin with air quality regulations for dairies) and six hours of water quality education prior to the third-party evaluation. The classes will be offered March 16 in Modesto and March 18 in Tulare.

The classes provide practical, clear, and timely information relating to environmental regulations. Those attending will have a better understanding of their regulatory requirements and how to comply, thereby reducing the risk of facing unnecessary enforcement actions, fines and other penalties. Classroom education is also the first step toward environmental certification of your dairy. Benefits of certification include discounts on some regulatory fees, eligibility for certain types of grants, and potentially meeting business requirements. The certification process offers a comprehensive review by a third party of all environmental regulatory requirements and compliance activities for California dairy producers. The State Water Resources Control Board offers a 50 percent reduction on annual water quality permit fees to certified dairies. Depending on the size of a dairy, this can result in savings between $210 and $2,800 per year. Producers with additional questions can call the CDQAP toll-free, (866) 662-3727.

Workshop schedule

Tuesday, March 16, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Stanislaus Building, “HI” Room, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto

Thursday, March 18

10 a.m. – 12 noon, Tulare County Agricultural Center, 4437 Laspina Street, Tulare

WUD offers informational sessions on diesel truck rules

Western United Dairymen is offering informational meetings for members who want to learn more about the diesel truck rule being implemented by the state Air Resources Board. 

A Diesel Truck Rule Informational Meeting will be held Friday, Feb. 26, at 11 a.m. at the SFA Portuguese Hall, 800 South 3rd Street, Chowchilla. Paul Sousa, WUD’s environmental specialist, will discuss the rule. 

Another informational session will be held at WUD’s annual convention on Wednesday, March 10, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. "Diesel Truck Rule - How to Comply"   by Kathleen Mead, Manager, California Air Resources Board will be held in the Arbor Theatre. More sessions are planned in various WUD district in the near future. Interested WUD members are asked to contact their field representative if they would like a session held in their area. Here is some additional background on the rule:
Trucks used on agricultural operations, including dairies, have received some exemptions from a new rule regulating all diesel trucks that were originally designed for on-road use. Pickups are exempt from the rule.  The exemptions were granted due to the types of uses and the economic impact the rule would have on agriculture. However, dairy producers must file for the exemptions by March 31, 2010. In order to qualify for these exemptions, producers were required to record the odometer reading of all of their trucks as of January 1. That information, plus information about the truck and its owner, must be reported to the California Air Resources Board by March 31, 2010. WUD’s environmental specialist, Paul Sousa says, “Agriculture got some valuable exemptions from this rule; however, dairy producers must register for those exemptions through this process. If a producer fails to register they will have to comply with the rule, which means turning over your truck fleet on an accelerated basis.” The exemptions forms can be downloaded from the ARB website at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/documents/TBReportingForm091222.pdf

Air quality regulators reach out to business community

An olive branch went out to Bakersfield's business community Tuesday as state air quality regulators took an opportunity to quiet suspicions that they're bent on quashing profits and costing people their jobs. At the annual Energy & Clean Air Business Exposition, high-ranking officials from Sacramento and Fresno staked out the disputed assertion that recent legislation won't necessarily hurt business, let alone reduce California's competitive advantage against other states without aggressive air quality rules. Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the state Air Resources Board, said far-reaching rules expected to result from AB 32 -- the 2006 law that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- presents the "potential for prosperity here if we do it right." That was no easy sell, even for an audience that spent much of Tuesday morning hearing how environmentally responsible measures such as ridesharing and energy efficiency improvements can lower business costs and improve employee productivity. Joe MacIlvaine, president of Paramount Farming Co., and Bruce Freeman, president of Castle & Cooke California, Inc., spoke as panelists following Nichols' luncheon speech. Although they proudly shared their various voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce air pollution, neither offered much of an endorsement of the state's regulatory activities. <more> Feb. 16, 2010 Bakersfield Californian

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES

February 2010

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Email: info@wuenvironmental.com

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