BROWN, VENCE & ASSOCIATES

Review of Animal Waste Management Regulations

Task 4 Report: Evaluation of Alternative Confined Animal Facilities Criteria to Protect

Groundwater Quality From Releases

San Jose State University Foundation

Final Report | November 2004

This document was prepared through an agreement with the San Jose State University Foundation (Account Number 22-1509-3083) under the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Standard Agreement Number 01-281-150-0. Funds used relating to the preparation of this report were $111,897.36.

Statement of Preparation This final Task Four Report: Evaluation of Alternative Confined Animal Facilities Criteria to Protect Groundwater Quality From Releases was prepared by Brown, Vence & Associates (BVA) for the San Jose State University Foundation under Contract Account No. 22-1509-3083 under the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Standard Agreement Number 01-281-150-0. Principal authors of this study were:

Representing BVA:

Tim Raibley, PE

____________________________

PE 35322

Representing RMC Geoscience:

Richard A. Mitchell, CEG

______________________________

CEG 1371

Review of Animal Waste Management RegulationsTask 4 Report: Evaluation of Alternative Confined Animal Facilities Criteria to Protect Groundwater Quality From Releases

San Jose State University Foundation

Presented to | San Jose State University FoundationP.O. Box 720130San Jose, CA 95172-0130

Presented by | Brown, Vence & Associates198 Cirby Way, Suite 170Roseville, CA 95678

Final Report | November 2004

Table of Contents

i

Section 1 | Introduction ............................................................................................... 1

1.1 Purpose and Scope of Evaluation ............................................................. 3

1.1.1 Purpose of Investigation.................................................................. 3

1.1.2 Approach and Scope....................................................................... 4

1.2 Report Organization .................................................................................. 4

Section 2 | Factors Affecting Groundwater Quality ..................................................... 7

2.1 Groundwater Risk Factors......................................................................... 7

2.1.1 Waste Toxicity and Concentration................................................... 8

2.1.2 Input Loading ................................................................................ 11

2.1.2.1 Anaerobic Lagoons................................................................ 11

2.1.2.2 Corral/Feedlot Areas ............................................................. 12

2.1.3 Aquifer Vulnerability ...................................................................... 13

2.2 Numerical Modeling................................................................................. 13

2.3 Implications ............................................................................................. 15

Section 3 | Performance Goals ................................................................................. 17

3.1 Antidegradation Policy Requirements ..................................................... 17

3.2 Specified Performance Goals.................................................................. 17

3.2.1 No Release to Underlying Geologic Material ................................ 18

3.2.2 No Change in Groundwater Quality .............................................. 19

3.2.3 No Exeedances of Water Quality Objectives ................................ 19

3.2.4 Application of Goals to Current Evaluation.................................... 21

Section 4 | Identification of Alternative Minimum Criteria.......................................... 23

4.1 Site Characterization ............................................................................... 23

4.2 Alternative 1 ............................................................................................ 25

4.2.1 Siting ............................................................................................. 25

4.2.2 Design (Containment System) ...................................................... 25

4.2.3 Construction Quality Assurance.................................................... 26

4.2.4 Operations and Maintenance ........................................................ 27

4.2.5 Monitoring ..................................................................................... 27

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ii

4.2.6 Closure.......................................................................................... 27

4.3 Alternative 2 ............................................................................................ 28

4.3.1 Siting ............................................................................................. 28

4.3.2 Design (Containment System) ...................................................... 29

4.3.3 Construction Quality Assurance.................................................... 30

4.3.4 Operations and Maintenance ........................................................ 30

4.3.5 Monitoring ..................................................................................... 30

4.3.6 Closure.......................................................................................... 30

4.4 Alternative 3 ............................................................................................ 31

4.4.1 Siting ............................................................................................. 31

4.4.2 Design (Containment System) ...................................................... 31

4.4.3 Construction Quality Assurance.................................................... 33

4.4.4 Operations and Maintenance ........................................................ 33

4.4.5 Monitoring ..................................................................................... 33

4.4.6 Closure.......................................................................................... 34

Section 5 | Financial Evaluation of Alternatives ........................................................ 57

5.1 Cost Assumptions for Alternatives .......................................................... 57

5.1.1 Alternative 1 Costs ........................................................................ 59

5.1.2 Alternative 2 Costs ........................................................................ 60

5.1.3 Alternative 3 Costs ........................................................................ 60

5.2 Total Cost of Alternatives ........................................................................ 64

5.3 Available Funding Sources...................................................................... 65

5.3.1 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) ....................... 65

5.3.1.1 California County EQIP Program........................................... 65

5.3.2 Clean Water State Revolving Fund............................................... 67

5.3.3 Dairy Waste Management Loan Program..................................... 67

5.3.4 Proposition 50 ............................................................................... 67

Section 6 | Recommendations .................................................................................. 69

6.1 Recommended Minimum Criteria............................................................ 69

6.1.1 Preconstruction ............................................................................. 69

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iii

6.1.2 Siting ............................................................................................. 69

6.1.3 Design ........................................................................................... 70

6.1.3.1 Retention Ponds .................................................................... 70

6.1.3.2 Corrals ................................................................................... 70

6.1.3.3 Milk Parlor.............................................................................. 70

6.1.4 Construction .................................................................................. 70

6.1.5 Operations..................................................................................... 71

6.1.6 Maintenance.................................................................................. 71

6.1.7 Monitoring ..................................................................................... 71

6.1.8 Closure.......................................................................................... 71

6.2 Approach to Implement Minimum Criteria ............................................... 71

References................................................................................................................ 73

Appendix A - Numerical Modeling

Appendix B - Financial Evaluation of Alternatives

Tables

Table 1-1 Comparison of Different State Regulations Regarding Maximum Allowable Seepage Rate and Distance to Groundwater for Large Scale Animal Waste Lagoons........................................................ 3

Table 2-1 Summary of Principal Factors That Must Be Considered When Assessing Potential Effects of Confined Animal Facility Wastes on Groundwater Quality...................................................................... 8

Table 2-2 Chemical and Physical Characteristics of Waste From Anaerobic Lagoons Used to Contain Animal Waste ....................................... 9

Table 2-3 Summary of Saturated Paste Chemistry of Samples From the Surface of Active Feedlot Pen Surfaces ..................................... 10

Table 2-4 Summary Of Dairy Waste Characterization Milking Centers ........ 10

Table 4-1 Summary of Minimum Site Characterization Requirements for Confined Animal Facility Design and Permitting.......................... 24

Table 4-2 Summary of Alternative 1 Minimum Criteria And BPTC to Approach a No Release to Underlying Geologic Materials Performance Goal........................................................................ 35

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iv

Table 4-3 Summary of Alternative 2 Minimum Criteria and BPTC to Approach A No Change In Groundwater Quality Performance Goal ............................................................................................. 44

Table 4-4 Summary of Alternative 3 Minimum Criteria and BPTC to Approach A No Exceedances of Water Quality Objectives Performance Goal........................................................................ 50

Table 5-1 Well Installation Costs................................................................... 58

Table 5-2 Laboratory Testing Costs .............................................................. 59

Table 5-3 Summary of Costs for Alternative 1 .............................................. 61

Table 5-4 Summary of Costs for Alternative 2 .............................................. 62

Table 5-5 Summary of Costs for Alternative 3 .............................................. 63

Table 5-6 Summary of Net Present Value..................................................... 64

Table 5-7 Counties in the Central Valley Region with Specific Confined Animal Facility Opportunities ............................................................................ 66