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ORDER NO. R5-2006-0054 _10 - <br />INDIVIDUAL <br />10 - <br />INDIVIDUAL DISCHARGER CONDITIONAL WAIVER OF <br />WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS <br />FOR DISCHARGES FROM IRRIGATED LANDS <br />SCOPE AND DESCRIPTION OF <br />INDIVIDUAL DISCHARGER CONDITIONAL WAIVER <br />39. The Conditional Waiver applies to discharges of waste from irrigated lands to surface <br />waters, which are waters of the State. The Conditional Waiver is not intended to regulate <br />water in agricultural fields, including, but not limited to, furrows, beds, checks, and <br />ancillary structures, contained on private lands associated with agricultural operations. The <br />Conditional Waiver is not intended to address the lawful application of soil amendments, <br />fertilizers, or pesticides to land. <br />40. Since the adoption of the 2003 Conditional Waiver, there has been some uncertainty in <br />determining whether or not a particular parcel of irrigated land discharges waste to waters <br />of the State, and if there may be discharges, whether such discharges are intended to be <br />covered within the scope of the Conditional Waiver. This Order provides clarification for <br />Dischargers to determine whether a particular parcel of land discharges waste and provides <br />clarification of the intended scope of the Conditional Waiver with respect to stormwater <br />discharges. <br />41. The Conditional Waiver applies to discharges of waste from irrigated lands to surface <br />waters of the State, as described by the scope of the Conditional Waiver. A discharge of <br />waste to surface water subject to the Conditional Waiver is one that could directly or <br />indirectly reach surface waters of the State, which include natural streams, constructed <br />agricultural drains, agricultural dominated waterways, and other non -stream tributaries (see <br />Attachment A, Information Sheet), or to other waters which may be hydrologically <br />connected to such waters of the State. Direct discharges may include, for example, <br />discharges directly from piping, tile drains, ditches or sheet flow to surface waters of the <br />State. Indirect discharges may include, for example, discharges from one parcel to another <br />parcel and then to surface waters of the State. This Conditional Waiver applies to <br />discharges of waste to surface waters of the State as a result of irrigation activities, certain <br />water district operations, and stormwater runoff. <br />42. This Conditional Waiver is not intended to apply to those lands that discharge waste to <br />waters of the State only on rare occasions during large storm events. Whether or not an <br />individual parcel will discharge waste to surface waters of the State depends on a number <br />of factors that vary significantly from site to site. These factors include the amount and <br />timing of rainfall, land topography, soil type, and proximity to a surface water body. It is <br />the responsibility of the potential discharger to determine whether or not they discharge <br />waste to waters of the State. The Executive Officer will provide a Fact Sheet to assist <br />owners and operators of irrigated lands in determining whether or not there is a discharge <br />of waste from their lands that is within the scope of this Conditional Waiver. <br />43. The Conditional Waiver does not cover discharges of waste from irrigated lands that <br />receive liquid waste from sources such as dairy operations and food processors. Owners <br />and/or operators of facilities that receive such liquid waste must obtain WDRs or a separate <br />