Tech Manual Update Bulletin

Transcription

1 Tech Manual Update Bulletin Pennsylvania s Nutrient Management Act Program VERSION 10 OCTOBER 2017 The Pennsylvania Act 38 Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been developed in order to provide consistent program guidance, further refining the requirements in the regulations, to be utilized in the development, review, and implementation of Act 38 nutrient management plans. This update bulletin highlights the most important changes and revisions made in the new manual Version 10 released in October 2017 which supports Version 6.x of the Nutrient Management Plan Standard Format, Version 4.x of the Nutrient Balance Sheet Standard Format, and Version 2.x of the Pennsylvania Phosphorus Index. The guidance in Technical Manual Version 10 is required for nutrient management plan submissions for Crop Year 2019 and beyond. CONTENTS Creation of User Guides NMP 6.0 Word Updates NMP 6.0 Excel Update - Multi-Species Grazing Calculator NBS 4.0 Excel & Word Updates.. 3 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Bulletin Notices... 3 Identification of Concentrated Animal Operations (CAO) Calculation Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Site Name Custom Applicators an Rented Manure Application Equipment Appendix 3 Updates Appendix 4 Updates Appendix 5 Updates.. 7 Appendix 6 Updates.. 8 Appendix 8 and Nutrient Balance Sheets.. 8 Broker Agreements... 9 Manure Exporter Table. 9 Manure Storages. 10 Supplement 1 Updates Supplements 3 & 4 Updates.. 11 Supplement 5 Updates Supplement 6 Updates Rainfall Data Weblink.. 12 Exporter Agreements P age

2 Food Processing Waste & Sewage Sludge Contact Information CREATION OF USER GUIDES With the formation of the NMP and NBS User s Guide, those portions in the NM Tech Manual that detailed the how to complete portions of the NMP Spreadsheet were removed. NMP and NBS User s Guides have been developed to assist in completing Nutrient Management Plans and Nutrient Balance Sheets. They will be posted on the Nutrient Management website. NMP 6.0 WORD UPDATES Updates were made to the following sections of the Word portion of the standard Nutrient Management Plan 6.0 October 2017: Appendix 6: Manure Management Appendix 7: Stormwater Control In both sections brief descriptions to the content sections in order to clarify the specific information that must be included in each of the sections of Appendices 6 and 7. NMP 6.0 EXCEL UPDATE - MULTI-SPECIES GRAZING CALCULATOR Planning for different animal types that will graze a single pasture can be challenging. It requires the completion of multiple manure applications for a field. If the pasture is a P Index Part B field, this becomes a challenge because a maximum six instances of a field can be entered in Appendix 4 Input for a Part B field. Guidance to remind planners will be included in the NMP Users Guide section How to complete App 4 Input. To overcome this limitation, a Grazing Calculator worksheet was developed for NMP Version 6.0. This worksheet will calculate the amount of uncollected manure generated and the weighted average of the manure nutrients deposited on a pasture by grazing animals. The calculations are based on the animal types using the pasture, the number of days, and the hours per day the animals are on the pasture. The grazing calculator would also be useful for a rotational grazing operation where a herd of cattle, sheep, or goats rotate through a series of pastures during the year. By combining uncollected manure from different animal species or animal groups then fewer multiple manure applications will be required when planning for uncollected manure on pastures. Instructions on how to use the Grazing Calculator will be included in the NMP Users Guide. 2 P age

3 NBS 4.0 EXCEL & WORD UPDATES The release of Nutrient Balance Sheet 4.0 October 2017 includes significant changes: A change in the overall planning approach used. New criteria in the manure plan basis options. A rework of the Excel spreadsheet planning tool. Planning Approach Both the Excel and Word NBS planning tools now start with Crop Groups rather than CMU/Fields in the planning process. The planning tools have been revised so that each planning scenario is built around crop groups. Manure Plan Basis Each of the manure plan basis options were revised to address winter applications of exported manure on importing operations. Option 1-P Removal and Option 2-N Requirement may no longer be used for winter applied manure. All winter manure applications must now use Option3-P Index. In addition, Option 3-P Index also requires the Winter Manure Application Matrix evaluation for the fields being planned for winter manure applications. Excel Improvements The NBS Excel planning tool has undergone a major reworking so that it is now very similar to the NMP Excel planning tool. A data entry page is now used to enter planning information for each crop group scenario. This especially makes planning the following significantly easier and more efficient: Double crops Multiple applications Winter applications Legume recommendations CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION BULLETIN NOTICES The Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Bulletin Notice guidance was updated per legal advice. The updated guidance reads: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) nutrient management plan (NMP) or plan amendment submissions should be submitted by the plan writer to both the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regional office and to the Act 38 reviewing agency (either the conservation district or SCC) for review and action under the Act 38 program. The plan writer should initially submit the NMP or plan amendment to the conservation district (or SCC) for administrative review. Once the planner is informed that the NMP is administratively complete, the planner should then send a copy of the administratively complete NMP to the DEP regional office for their concurrent review. DEP accepts these NMP submissions in electronic format. DEP may communicate any comments regarding the CAFO NMPs to the reviewing entity (generally the conservation district or alternatively to the SCC) within the 30 days comment period afforded by the PA Bulletin Public Notice. DEP comments will be included with the district review comments to the plan writer. As a result, 3 P age

4 the plan writer only has one person to work with for review comments. CAFO NMPs submitted for review are required to be noticed in the PA Bulletin prior to action by the Conservation District Board (or SCC). The conservation district or Commission is not permitted to act on this NMP or plan amendment until at least 30 days have elapsed since the date when receipt of the plan or plan amendment was published in the PA Bulletin. If a plan writer withdraws a CAFO NMP prior to action by the Conservation District Board (or SCC) when the NMP is resubmitted, it will be treated as a new NMP submission (administratively completeness, etc.) and must be re-published in the PA Bulletin. If a plan writer makes significant changes to the CAFO NMP, due to comments received by the plan reviewer, then the CAFO NMP should be re-published in the PA Bulletin for another 30-day comment window, before plan action can occur. Example of significant changes may include such items as the number of AEU s increasing by more than 10% or the operation not being described correctly in the initial PA Bulletin publication. Additionally, if there is significant public interest in the NMP the final form of the NMP should be advertised in the Pa Bulletin for an additional 30 days. If at any time, there is a question about whether to re-publish a NMP, please reach out to the SCC Regional Coordinator to discuss and for a final determination. The SCC Regional Coordinator may also discuss with legal counsel. NMP Submission: Required Appendices and Supplemental Information in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. IDENTIFICATION OF CONCENTRATED ANIMAL OPERATIONS (CAO) CALCULATION Clarification was added that manure application setbacks and buffer areas are to be included in the acreage for the CAO calculation. The specific guidance reads: Those areas that may not have mechanical manure application due to manure application setbacks, are included in the acres available calculation. The entire mapped CMU acres for cropland, hayland, or pastureland should be included. Section I: Identification of CAOs in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION SITE NAME The Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Site Name has been added to the Nutrient Management Plan cover page. The updated guidance reads: If the operation is a CAFO and the CAFO operation has a name, that CAFO name should be 4 P age

5 included here. Section II: Cover Page in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. The NMP 6.0 Word Version October 2017 has also been updated. CUSTOM APPLICATORS AND RENTED MANURE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT When the plan indicates that a custom applicator is used or that manure application equipment is rented the NMP should state the name (s) and contact information (phone number and address) for the custom applicator or how spreader calibration is recorded on rented equipment. The specific guidance states: The NMP shall list the custom applicators name and their current manure hauler or broker license number. For Operations that rent manure application equipment: If manure spreader calibration is impractical at the time of plan development due to the operator renting application equipment, and not receiving the same equipment year after year, the equipment still needs to be calibrated and records of those calibrations should be maintained with the manure application records. Section II, Appendix 2: Operation Information and Nutrient Management Plan Summary in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. APPENDIX 3 UPDATES Appendix 3: Manure Group Information received an overall reorganization with the removal of content that is now located in the standalone Nutrient Management Plan Excel User Guide. The only guidance update to Appendix 3 provides more clarification on the number of days used included in the plan for each manure group period. This number of days is also used by the NMP Spreadsheet to calculate the Animal Equivalent Units on the operation. The added guidance states: It is acceptable to use 30 days per month rather than adding the exact days for each month in the manure group collection period. The exception to this guidance is operations with an AEU/Acre total very close to 2.00 AEU/Acre. In those cases, the exact days for each month should be used. Section II, Appendix 3: Manure Group Information in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. 5 P age

6 APPENDIX 4 UPDATES Appendix 4: Crop and Manure Management Information received an overall reorganization with the removal of content that is now located in the standalone Nutrient Management Plan Excel User Guide. In addition, there were four guidance updates regarding the following topics in Appendix 4: Atypical Manure Planned Manure Application Rates Over 9000 Gallons Vegetable Crop P Removal Fallow Fields Atypical Manure Guidance was added to Appendix 4 that provides a definition and a list of common types of atypical manure. This guidance states: Atypical manure is defined as the end product of any manure treatment process in which the typical ratio of ammonium and organic nitrogen is altered and thereby influencing the nitrogen availability when this manure end product is land applied for crop production. The nitrogen availability for atypical manure in Act 38 nutrient management plans must be determined by utilizing the N Fractions Method using the Penn State Agronomy Guide Table Below is a partial list of several types of manure treatment processes that result in atypical manure types that require the N Fractions Method of nitrogen availability determination. 1. Mechanically Separated Manure The end products of manure that is run through equipment that separates or removes the solids from the liquids. 2. Manure Separated by Settling The end products of manure that is run through a treatment system using a series of settling tanks or ponds in order to separate the solids from the liquids. 3. Unagitated Liquid Manure The liquid and solid portions of manure (layers created by the settling of solids in a liquid storage) that are land applied without the manure being sufficiently agitated to create a homogenous product. 4. Composted Manure Manure that is actively composted by adding the appropriate amount of a carbon source, routinely turning or mixing and monitoring temperature. 5. Mortality Compost Livestock and poultry mortality that is actively composted by adding the appropriate amount of a carbon source, turning or mixing and monitoring temperature. 6. Biogas Manure Manure that has gone through the digestion process for methane gas production. 7. Manure Treated with Additives Manure in a liquid or semisolid manure storage that has been treated with an additive. Planned Manure Application Rates Over 9000 Gallons Guidance was provided to clarify how manure application rates over 9000 gallons per acre can be handled in the NMP and what guidance must be provided to the operator. This guidance states: Single applications of liquid or semisolid manure applications may not exceed rates of 9,000 gallons per acre. If the planned manure rate exceeds 9,000 gallons per acre, the plan must designate separate applications each less than 9,000 gallons. This can be handled 6 P age

7 two ways in the nutrient management plan: 1. Entered as multiple applications in Appendix 4 of the NMP Spreadsheet. Each of the separate applications must be calibrated rates and have the same season of application. A note must be included in the NMP Summary Notes requiring that adequate drying time occur between the separate applications. 2. Entered as the total combined rate in Appendix 4 of the NMP Spreadsheet. A note must be included in the NMP Summary Notes indicating that the planned rate must be applied in separate applications during the same application season with adequate drying time between the applications. In addition, the note must include the specific calibrated rates for each separate application. Vegetable Crop P Removal A standard P removal value for commercial vegetable crops was included in Appendix 4. The guidance states: A standard P removal value of 50 pounds per acre should be used for all commercial vegetable crops. Fallow Fields Guidance was added to Appendix 4 to explain how to plan for fallow fields in NMPs. The guidance states: Fields that are planned to be fallow with no harvested crop for the crop year should not be included in the nutrient management plan. The Act 38 regulations require that fields receiving manure applications have a growing, harvested crop. Therefore, the nutrient management plan cannot plan for manure applications on fallow fields. Section II, Appendix 4: Crop & Manure Management Information in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. APPENDIX 5 UPDATES Appendix 5: Phosphorus Index received an overall reorganization with the removal of content that is now located in the standalone Nutrient Management Plan Excel User Guide. In addition, there were two guidance updates regarding the following topics in Appendix 5: Part A: Significant Management Change Grazing Part A: Significant Management Change A significant management change on an operation requires that all fields on the operation must be evaluated using Part B of P Index. Guidance was added to Appendix 5 to clarify how long this requirement is in effect. The added guidance states: A significant management change for an operation will remain in effect for the duration of the three years of an approved nutrient management plan. After the triennial review the significant management change status will be terminated for Part A of the P Index. 7 P age

8 Grazing Guidance was provided in Appendix 5 to clarify which Manure Application Method to use for the uncollected manure when evaluating pasture fields that are grazed year-round. This guidance states: When the nutrient management plan includes uncollected manure from year-round grazing, use one of the following options to select the appropriate factor(s): Use the worst case scenario Surface applied to frozen or snow covered soil for all of the uncollected manure groups for the pasture field. Apply the uncollected manure groups as multiple applications to the pasture field in Appendix 4 of the NMP Spreadsheet, selecting the factor corresponding to the uncollected manure group season. In some cases this may require creating separate manure groups in Appendix 3 of the NMP Spreadsheet. Section II, Appendix 5: Phosphorus Index in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. APPENDIX 6 UPDATES The guidance for manure storage freeboard in the Manure Storage Capacity section of Appendix 6: Manure Management was enhanced to include an explanation regarding CAFO site requirements. In addition, the guidance in the Under Evidence of Manure Storage Overflowing or Maintained above Design Full Levels was edited to provide additional clarification. Section II, Appendix 6: Manure Management in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. APPENDIX 8 AND NUTRIENT BALANCE SHEETS Several additions and correction were made to Appendix 8 and the Nutrient Balance Sheets (NBS) Summary Notes that are required to be used in the Act 38 program. The guidance regarding NBS Summary Notes states: There are five scenarios that require notes to be included in the Nutrient Balance Sheet Summary Notes. P Banking Use the following note: The P banking planned rate is applied every 2 (3) years and no other fertilizer or manure phosphorus may be applied. Crop Removal Recommendation Basis Use the following note: Nutrient balances for P 2 O 5 and K 2 O are based on crop removal and should not be used to determine additional fertilizer needs. Manure Applied to Pastures If imported manure is applied to pastures, the following information used to calculate the amount of uncollected manure must be noted: animal group(s) using the pasture; number of animals in each animal group; beginning and ending months of the grazing season; number of hours/day animals are planned to spend on the pasture; and for grazing scenarios where animals have unrestricted 8 P age

9 access to both a barn and/or lot where manure is collected and a pasture, location of water source and supplemental feed (if applicable) Gallon Rate Limit If planned manure application rates are greater than 9000 gallons/acre, the following must be noted: specific calibrated rates for each separate application; that each application must be made during the same application season; and that adequate drying time must occur between the applications. Winter Manure Application - For each field receiving winter manure applications the following field condition requirements must be noted: field must have a minimum of 25% cover; whether or not manure application will be allowed if the field is snow or ice covered, and additional setbacks (if applicable) that will be used, in addition to the required winter application setbacks, for the purpose of added water quality protection. The NBS summary notes should also be utilized to assist the operator in implementing the planned NBS. Examples of such notes would include: 1. For the application of other organic sources, the notes must include the type of material and the application rate. 2. For pastures, the specifics of the pasture management must be listed including the animal groups on the pasture, numbers in each animal group, grazing season, hours per day on pasture, and where animals are watered and fed (if applicable). Section II, Appendix 8: Importer/Broker Agreements & Nutrient Balance Sheets in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. BROKER AGREEMENTS A sample exporter / broker agreement for brokers that work (or are headquartered) outside of Pennsylvania was added. The specific guidance reads: Scenario 7: When manure or mortality compost will be transferred from an Act 38 participating operation through a manure broker that is located out of state, the plan shall include: 1. A signed agreement with the broker on the form provided by the Commission. This exporter/broker agreement (Out of state) is included in Supplement 11: Exporter Agreements. The exporter is to use this agreement form unless there is prior approval by the Commission to use an alternative agreement. The signed agreement has no end date, but can be cancelled by either party given 30 days notice. Section II, Appendix 8: Importer/Broker Agreements & Nutrient Balance Sheets in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. MANURE EXPORTER TABLE Farms that export manure to multiple importers sometimes do not know how much manure is to be exported to each importer. Guidance has been added that a table can be inserted in in Appendix 8 that lists the importers and quantities of manure that can be exported to each 9 P age

10 importer. The specific guidance reads: It is possible for Act 38 operations to have multiple importers, as defined under Scenario 1. Planners can add to the appendix 8 cover a listing of importers, for which signed agreements and NBS are attached, and when those importers can receive manure. An example is below: Summary of Exporter/Importer Agreements Importer Name Manure importer can receive Spring Summer Fall Winter Section II, Appendix 8: Importer/Broker Agreements & Nutrient Balance Sheets in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. MANURE STORAGES When cleaning out chicken houses and stacking the manure for loading onto trucks for a couple of days, there was concern for what to call that short timeframe and the area where the manure is stacked. Often these areas are called manure storage areas because but they usually don t meet the definition of infield stacking or temporary stacking. Additional guidance was added to Section III: Minimum Standards for Manure Storage Facilities that states: Loading areas adjacent to a poultry house. The normal operation of these facilities involves removing the waste and litter several times a year. Some or all of the material may be removed prior to the next flock. The material can be pushed out the end of the facility and stockpiled for a short time period till it is loaded and hauled away. The other method is to load up and go out a side door to direct load into a truck or spreader. These handling and loading areas are part of their waste transfer system and must meet the following: Must be built to the Waste Transfer (634) Standard found in the FOTG. Must have a concrete surface. Larger pads shall be sloped or bermed to direct on-site runoff to a grassed area. Offsite runoff shall be directed around area. Pile must covered if left on site for more than 14 days on CAFO operations. Wastes to be removed as soon as possible. If the wastes are to be left on-site for more than 28 days, the facility shall be converted to meet CPS Manure Storage Facilities (313). 10 P age

11 Section III: Minimum Standards for Manure Storage Facilities in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. SUPPLEMENT 1 UPDATES Supplement 1: Agronomy Guide Tables were updated to include updates to the following tables in the Penn State Agronomy Guide: Table Corn silage removal values. Table Added missing solid and liquid values for dairy, beef and swine. Table A Reorganized the Planned Manure Application Season column and edited the descriptions in the Planned Manure Target Crop Utilization to provide consistency and clarification. Supplement 1: Agronomy Guide Tables in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. SUPPLEMENTS 3 & 4 UPDATES Supplement 3: Nutrient Balance Worksheet User Guide in Version 9.0 October 2015 of the Technical Manual has been removed and is now a standalone publication. Supplement 4: Sample Nutrient Balance Sheet Word/PDF and Spreadsheet in Version 9.0 has been divided into the following sections of the manual: Supplement 3 Sample Nutrient Balance Sheet (Excel) Supplement 4 Sample Nutrient Balance Sheet (Word) In addition, the sample plan has been expanded to include more planning scenarios. Keep in mind that the variety of scenarios presented in the sample NBS most likely would not be found on a typical importing operation. SUPPLEMENT 5 UPDATES Supplement 5: Standard Animal Weights provides the weights used to determine the animal equivalent units on an operation and to calculate the amount of manure generation by each animal group. Supplement 5 was updated to include the changes suggested by an extensive review of each of the species categories and approved by the State Conservation Commission. Supplement 5: Standard Animal Weights in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated and will take effect according to the roll-out timeline from the State Conservation Commission. SUPPLEMENT 6 UPDATES When bedding is added to a liquid manure group, the weight of bedding must be converted to a volume (gallons) amount. Supplement 6: Density of Bedding Materials provides a list of 11 P age

12 common bedding materials and the density of each material. This value is used in a formula to calculate the gallons of bedding. A set of values, gallons/pound, was added to the table to significantly simplify the calculation. Simply multiply the volume factor times the pounds of bedding to obtain the gallons of bedding. Supplement 6: Density of Bedding Materials in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. RAINFALL DATA WEBLINK The following footnote was provided in Supplement 9: PA 25-Year 24-Hour Storm Rainfall Data to provide a weblink to the NOAA 14 website: From NOAA14. Site specific rainfall depths for all rainfall frequencies including the 100 yr- 24hr can be obtained by going to the following site. Print out results for documentation. Supplement 9: PA 25-Year 24-Hour Storm Rainfall Data in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. EXPORTER AGREEMENTS Additional information was added to the sample Exporter/Importer Agreement - Manure Used for Agricultural Land Application. The previous agreement was vague on existing manure usage so the following questions were added under 5(h): Other manures (type, amount) imported to the site AND/OR utilized on the site: (Notethis would include manure that is generated on the site by the importers animals, etc.) If other manure is generated, imported and/or utilized, is it applied to the same acres as indicated in item g above (relating to acres available ): Yes or No If other manure is generated, imported and/or utilized, is it applied during the same season as the imported manure: Yes or No Supplement 11: Exporter Agreements in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective immediately. FOOD PROCESSING WASTE & SEWAGE SLUDGE A new supplement has been added to the nutrient management program technical manual that addresses how food processing waste, sewage sludge, and manure, combined or applied individually, should be treated in Act 38 nutrient management plans (NMPs). Over the course of the last few years, Commission staff has seen an increase in operators utilizing food processing waste and sewage sludge on their operations. 12 P age

13 This supplement is intended to provide guidance for operators that utilize food processing waste, otherwise known as food processing residuals (FPRs), and/or sewage sludge as a nutrient source or soil amendment for agronomic purposes. It discusses the statutory and regulatory requirements for the land application of these materials when used alone and when mixed with manure. These requirements include coverage under general permits for municipal and residual waste. Finally, it describes the setback distances from environmentally sensitive areas and property lines. Supplement 21: Food Processing Waste & Sewage Sludge - Act 38 Nutrient Management Plan Guidance in the Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been updated to include this guidance information effective for Crop Year 2019 NMPs and beyond. CONTACT INFORMATION The complete Act 38 Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual is available on the program website: For more information on the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Program contact: State Conservation Commission Nutrient Management Program 2301 N. Cameron Street, Room 311 Harrisburg, PA (FAX) In order to receive this update bulletin the State Conservation Commission must have a current address. Please send all and other address changes to Michael Aucoin at the above address or maucoin@pa.gov 13 P age