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rows for composting. No material will remain in this staging area for more than 36 hours, and is usually ground and incorporated within the same day. Composting The facility uses a thermophillic, aerated windrow composting process. This process allows materials to be blended to provide aeration and proper moisture content. The materials form windrows which will be approximately 7 feet high, 18 feet wide and 250-450 feet long. Windrow composting is efficient; it produces high quality product with relatively low technological input, and achieves high temperatures insuring that pathogen reduction, seed inactivation, vector attraction reduction, and odor control are accomplished. Once the thermophillic environment is established, the process is maintained by monitoring the temperature, moisture, and oxygen in the windrows. The moisture and temperature monitoring program are developed and maintained by the turning and water schedule of the windrows. This process is key to creating and maintaining the aerobic thermophillic environment essential for microbial respiration requiring high temperatures in the presence of oxygen. It is important in that the micro-organisms that thrive at these temperatures contribute to the composting process Compost pile internal temperatures are monitored by readings taken with a long stemmed windrow thermometer at various depths along the formed windrows. The readings will begin two days after the formation of a new windrow. Initially, they are made daily and taken at a minimum of 100 feet along the windrow at various depths. Once the minimum windrow temperature reaches 131 degrees F, the five turnings during the required 15 day period are taken to complete pathogen reduction requirements. Once requirements are met, daily temperature monitoring is conducted. The watering regimen, also dictated by the air district, includes water to be applied to each windrow within three hours of turning at a depth of three inches to control VOC emissions. Temperature logs, including time and date of the reading, are maintained as required by regulation and kept in the onsite office. In addition to the time and temperature requirements, physical inspection is made of the windrows at the same time. This is important to track moisture content and locate point sources of internal odors. The irrigation of the windrows will maintain 50-60% moisture content. The green and food materials are mixed and blended and formed into windrows. They are approximately 7 feet high, 18 feet wide and 8 feet apart. They are turned with a mechanical compost turner, which is self-propelled. The turning frequency is dictated by temperature, moisture and vector attraction generation time after the initial requirements are met. During the compost cycle the windrows lose approximately 50 percent of their original size. The processing time is approximately 8 -25 weeks, dependent on feedstock, bulking agent, composition and climatic conditions. The compost is then stockpiled for curing and finishing. It is stable when transferred to the curing area, with little decomposition taking place, thus the 5