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v Staff Report 11 July 2003 Central Valley Regional Water Control Board Meeting Resolution Considering Approval of a Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Small Food Processors, Including Wineries, Within the Central Valley Region As directed by the Regional Board at its March 2003 meeting, staff has prepared a proposed "Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Small Food Processors, Including Wineries". Those food processors who qualify for coverage under this waiver will discharge waste in a manner that constitutes a low or negligible threat to water quality. Applicability of the Waiver The waiver applies to small food processors and wineries who discharge wastewater and residual solid waste in one of three ways: • If wastewater and solid waste is applied to cropland at reasonable agronomic and hydraulic loading rates,then the following facilities may be covered: (a) wineries that crush less than 80 tons of grapes per year, (b)wineries that crush over 80 tons of grapes but generate less than 100,000 gallons of wastewater per year and meter their flows; (c) other small food processors that generate less than 100,000 gallons of wastewater per year and meter their flows. • If(a)wastewater is stored in a tank on-site prior to being hauled off-site for disposal at a permitted facility and(b) solid waste is applied to land at agronomic rates, then the waiver applies to any size winery or food processor. • If,because of land constraints, a small food processor or winery applies some of its wastewater and solid waste to land at reasonable agronomic and hydraulic loading rates, and removes the remainder of its wastewater through tanking and hauling to a permitted facility, then the waiver applies to any small food processor or winery that generates less than 100,000 gallons of wastewater per year and meters its flows. Major Components of the Waiver To receive coverage, a Discharger would submit a short Report of Waste Discharge(RWD)and a one-time filing fee (currently$400, corresponding to the lowest threat and complexity rating). Upon receiving written notification of coverage by the Executive Officer,the Discharger would be required to comply with the specifications and provisions of the waiver, and to submit a simple monitoring report once per year. The waiver is designed such that a Discharger should be able to complete both the RWD and monitoring reports without needing to obtain the services of a California Registered Engineer or Geologist. The California Water Code states that a Regional Board must review waivers at least once every five years. This waiver would be in effect for the entire five year period, after which time the Regional Board would review available information, including the annual monitoring reports,to determine whether the waiver should be renewed as is, renewed with modifications, or not renewed.