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WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS ORDER NO. R5-2014-0006 -21- FORWARD INC.AND REPUBLIC SERVICES INC. FORWARD CLASS II LANDFILL SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY groundwater quality. Constituents of concern that have the potential to degrade groundwater at the land application area include nitrogen, iron and manganese as discussed below: a. For nutrients such as nitrate, the potential for degradation depends not only on the character of the waste, but on loading rates, crop uptake and the ability of the vadose zone below the land application area to provide an environment conductive to nitrification and denitrification to convert the excess nitrogen to nitrate and the nitrate to nitrogen gas before it reaches the water table. This Order requires that the measured total nitrogen concentration in soil not increase on an annual basis (over a waste application/crop growth cycle). Therefore, no degradation is expected to occur and this Order does not allow nitrate degradation of shallow groundwater. b. For metals such as iron and manganese, the waste is not expected to contain significant concentrations. However, as noted above, excessive BOD loading rates can deplete oxygen, resulting in anoxic conditions that can solubilize naturally occurring metals in the soil. Based on the depth of shallow groundwater and BMPs that this Order requires, degradation of shallow groundwater with metals due to reducing conditions is not expected to occur and this Order does not allow degradation of groundwater with metals. 88.This Order establishes operational requirements, nutrient loading rate limits and groundwater limitations for the land application area that will not unreasonably threaten present and anticipated beneficial uses or result in groundwater quality that exceeds water quality objectives set forth in the Basin Plan. The discharge does not pose a threat of degradation and the requirements of this Order do not allow any degradation to occur. 89.Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations (hereafter Title 27) contains regulatory requirements for the treatment, storage, processing and disposal of solid waste. However, Title 27 exempts certain activities from its provisions. Cannery waste discharges that comply with this Order are exempt from Title 27 pursuant to provisions that exempt domestic sewage, wastewater and reuse. The exemption referred to in this Order is specifically limited to those cannery wastes described in Finding 31 above. Title 27, section 20090 states in part: ..."The following activities shall be exempt from the SWRCB-promulgated provisions of this subdivision, so long as the activity meets, and continues to meet, all preconditions listed:" "(1) Soil Amendments— Use of nonhazardous decomposable waste as a soil amendment pursuant to applicable best management practices, provided that RWQCBs may issue waste discharge or reclamation requirements for such use." 90.Therefore, the land application of cannery wastes authorized herein is exempt from the requirements of Title 27 because the cannery wastes are a nonhazardous decomposable waste and will be used as a soil amendment using best management practices.