Webcast for Stakeholder Workshop December 9, 2009 on Strategic Directive 8.3

Date: December 8, 2009

To: All LEAs

Webcast Added for Input on Farm and Ranch Composting Issues

Provide input at the workshop Event Detail - CIWMB or via webcast regarding farm and ranch composting related regulations for storage volume limitations and beneficial use.

You may review the specific regulatory areas for storage limits in advance in the draft paper (Adobe PDF, 269 KB), but the key regulatory areas related to beneficial use will be presented during the workshop. That presentation, along with issues/comments from the workshop, will become the basis of the white paper on beneficial use of compostable materials on agricultural lands.

Key Regulatory Sections Regarding Beneficial Use (bold, italics added for emphasis).

Section 17855. Excluded Activities.
(a) (9) Beneficial use of compostable materials is an excluded activity. Beneficial use includes, but is not limited to slope stabilization, weed suppression, alternative daily cover, and similar uses, as determined by the EA; land application in accordance with California Department of Food and Agriculture requirements for a beneficial use as authorized by Food and Agricultural Code section 14501 et seq.; and reclamation projects in accordance with the requirements of the Office of Mine Reclamation of the Department of Conservation as authorized by Public Resources Code section 2770 et seq.

Section 17852. Definitions.
(a) (15) (C) disposal does not include land application of compostable organic material. "Land Application" means the application of compostable material, excluding food material or mixed solid waste for the following applications: to forest, agricultural, and range land at agronomic rates; in accordance with California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) requirements for beneficial use as authorized by Food and Agricultural Code section 14501 et seq.; or for beneficial uses that may be otherwise exempt or excluded from regulation by CDFA.

This announcement was sent on behalf of the Permitting and LEA Support Division of the California Integrated Waste Management Board.