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CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER,QUALITY CONTROL ROA-RD <br /> F CENTRAL VALLEY REGION <br /> Fact Sheet No. 3 For Dairies <br /> Enforcement of Water Quality Laws And Regulations That Apply To Dairies <br /> F, <br /> The California Water Code (the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act) requires that manure and <br /> other wastes be managed to protect water quality. State regulations that apply to dairies and other confined <br /> animal facilities have been established pursuant to the Water Code and are contained in the California Code <br /> of Regulations, Title 27, Division 2, Subdivision 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 2, (see Fact Sheet for Dairies <br /> ,I No. 2). Any dairy that causes a pollution of surface water or groundwater can be required to conduct an <br /> r i assessment of the water body and clean up the pollution. In addition, the dairy operator and owner may be <br /> subject to fines if wastes are discharged off their property. <br /> FTo ensure com liance with the Water Code Re Water P g�tonal Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs) can impose <br /> Waste Discharge Requirements for individual facilities. The RWQC13s can also take enforcement action by <br /> issuing a Notice of Violation, Cleanup and Abatement Order, Cease and Desist Order, or Administrative Civil <br /> Liability Complaint. These actions are described below. <br /> F, Waste Discharge Requirements'(WDRs may be established after a dairy provides a Report of Waste <br /> Discharge (RWD) and pays a 52,000 filing fee. Dairies are usually requested to file a RWD only when it <br /> appears that waste management practices at the facility can adversely impact water quality. If review of the <br /> RWD indicates a waiver is appropriate, WDRs are not issued and a portion of the filing fee inay be refunded. <br /> WDRs specify certain actions that must be .met, prohibit other actions, and establish monitoring and <br /> reporting requirements including submission of annual reports to the RWQCB. <br /> A Notice of Violati n N V can be issued to the operator and owner of any facility where wastes are <br /> discharged in violation of laws, regulations, or orders. The NOV will specify the problem that must be <br /> A corrected and generally will require that a time schedule be established for necessary improvements. If the <br /> F improvemerits are completed within the approved time schedule, the RWQCB generally does not assess <br /> oversight charges in conjunction with the NOV. If the problem is not corrected, and/or required information <br /> is not submitted, a RWQCB can initiate enforcement actions that may result in imposition of monetary <br /> penalties. <br /> A ClcanLp and Abatement C&A Order can be issued when wastes have been, or threaten to be, improperly <br /> F�� discharged and corrective action is needed to protect water quality. The C&A Order will identify the <br /> discharge of conceni and establish a schedule for corrective actions. The C&A Order may provide for <br /> reiniburseinent of RWQCB staff time to oversee corrective action. However, in cases where corrective <br /> actions are completed quickly, charges for staff time are minimal and may even be waived as not worth the <br /> i <br /> administrative effort to collect. <br /> A tease and Desist fC&D) Order can be issued when Waste Discharge Requirements are viblated. It is similar <br /> to a C&A Order in that it will specify the problem that must be corrected, will require that a time schedule be <br /> F established for necessary improvements, and may provide for reimbursement for staff time, An ACL may be <br /> issued concurrently with a C&D Order. <br /> An Administrative Civil Liability ACL is a monetary assessment issued to a facility t that violates Waste <br /> I Discharge Requirements or an enforcement order. The amount of the ACL is related to the violation that <br /> occurred up to a maximum of$25,000 for each day of occurrence. failure to pay an ACL can result in <br /> �{ referral to the Attorney General's office for prosecution. <br /> In addition to the state laws and regulations enforced by the RWQCBs, there are state laws and regulations <br /> enforced by other state agencies such as the Department of Fish and Game. There are also federal lativs and <br /> F!_ <br />