ARCHIVED REPORTS_JULY 2014 FINAL RCSI

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WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS ORDER NO. R5-2014-0006 -9- FORWARD INC. AND REPUBLIC SERVICES INC. FORWARD CLASS II LANDFILL SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY waste, food waste (including garbage as defined in CCR Title14 Section 17225.30), food processing residue, biosolids, mixed solid waste, manure, mixed paper, ash, grit/grease, holding tank pumpings, cannery rinse water and agricultural waste. Green material, food processing residue, food waste, sewage sludge, mixed solid waste and manure are as defined in CCR Title 14 (Chapter 3.1, Article 1, Section 17852). Compost may be marketed offsite as a product or utilized on-site as a soil amendment or alternative cover (ADC). 26. Title 27 regulates waste classifications and waste management unit classifications designed to provide protection to beneficial uses of waters of the state for projects involving the discharge of solid waste to land for treatment, storage or disposal at landfills, surface impoundments, waste piles and land treatment units. Under this scheme, a composting operation that does not involve the processing of hazardous constituents may either be exempt from regulation under Title 27 or be a Class II waste pile for the treatment and storage of solid waste. 27. The feedstock and some additives for composting are classified as nonhazardous solid waste and some may be designated waste as defined in Title 27, depending on various factors including site-specific conditions and the types and volumes of feedstock and additives. Composting operations are regulated under Title 27 regulations at sites where groundwater could be impacted by compost leachate from the compost pads or the runoff retention basin. However, based on site specific factors including site location, fine grained soils and depth to groundwater, the threat to beneficial uses of surface water or groundwater posed by this operation is not commensurate with the stringent monitoring, siting, construction and design standards applicable to a Class II waste pile under Title 27 so long as it meets and continues to meet the requirements of this Order. The requirements of this Order include a runoff retention basin that can accommodate runoff from a 25-year, 24-hour storm event; installation of a synthetic liner in the retention basin; and construction and maintenance of low conductivity (minimum 1 X 10-5 cm/sec) composting and storage pads to minimize downward infiltration. The attached MRP requires quarterly monitoring of the retention basin liquid and of the leachate from active compost areas. The Regional Water Board may revise this Order with more stringent requirements if monitoring indicates the threat to waste quality is greater than expected. 28. Title 27, section 20200(a)-(a)(1) states that: “[For wastes that cannot be discharged directly or indirectly to waters of the state, the waste classification system under Title 27} shall provide the basis for determining which wastes may be discharged at each class of Unit. Waste classifications are based on an assessment of the potential risk of water quality degradation associated with each category of waste.” 29. Title 27 section 20200(a)(1) allows the Regional Water Board to make a finding that: “…a particular waste constituent or combination of constituents presents a lower risk of water quality degradation than indicated by classification according to this article.” Based on the Discharger submittals and on the lower risk to water quality cited in Finding 28 of this Order, the Regional Water Board finds, pursuant to Title 27 section 20200(a)(1), that the operation