WCN_Dec17WEB
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into groundwater aquifers, an issue<br />
that the SWB is focusing on heavily in<br />
various regulatory efforts and programs.<br />
At the beginning of the season, a<br />
call was made to the State Water Board<br />
regarding the continuance of the study,<br />
and what the State Water Board was<br />
planning on doing at the conclusion<br />
of the sampling season. WAPA was informed<br />
that the SWB would ultimately<br />
like to develop a Waste Discharge<br />
Requirement for walnut hullers. They<br />
found the sampling data very helpful,<br />
which ultimately will help develop a<br />
less restrictive order based on the data<br />
that we were able to provide. While<br />
the development of a Waste Discharge<br />
Requirement is not the most ideal<br />
scenario, WAPA will remain involved in<br />
the WDR development process and will<br />
voice opposition to any restrictions and<br />
limitations proposed by the Regional<br />
Board.<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us<br />
at article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
(WDR), aimed specifically at the walnut<br />
hulling facilities located throughout the<br />
state. This WDR would align the walnut<br />
hulling industry along with various other<br />
commodity processing facilities that utilize<br />
water, and require that these hulling facilities<br />
pay into the Waste Discharge Program<br />
implemented by the Regional Water Quality<br />
Control Board (Regional Board). Fees Associated<br />
with WDR’s have drastically increased<br />
over the past five years.<br />
For the past four seasons, WAPA has<br />
sampled discharged water from four walnut<br />
hulling operations, located throughout the<br />
state. Samples are pulled from the well prior<br />
to the beginning of the hulling season to determine<br />
what the water makeup was prior to<br />
its inclusion in the hulling process. Samples<br />
are then taken from the discharge ponds at<br />
various points during the season representing<br />
the beginning, middle and end of the<br />
season. A hull sample is also taken at the<br />
end of the season, as a limitation on spreading<br />
hulls was included in the SWB’s original<br />
Waste Discharge Proposal. The limitation<br />
on hull disposal through land application is<br />
aimed at reducing nitrogen sources leaching<br />
December 2017<br />
www.wcngg.com<br />
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