About This Webpage — This webpage has been developed to disseminate ground water monitoring information for the Ponderosa Dairy in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. The box on the right contains the most current information available for this activity.

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Background — In February 2007, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection's (NDEP) Bureau of Water Pollution Control issued a public notice and fact sheet for the renewal of Rockview Farms' [Ponderosa Dairy] Water Pollution Control Permit #NV0023027. The public notice and fact sheet contained a detailed description of the entire Ponderosa Dairy facility. In brief, the dairy proposed to expand its operations, which are located at G Ranch and Mecca Roads in Amargosa Valley, Nye County, Nevada. The permit renewal allows an increase in the flow of water from 0.625 million gallons per day (MGD) to 1.000 MGD.

With over 9,000 cows, Ponderosa Dairy is defined as a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO). As a CAFO, the Dairy is required to contain all manure and process wastewater from the production area except overflow resulting from a storm greater than the 25-year, 24-hour event. The land application of manure and process wastewater is also required to be in compliance with NDEP's approved nutrient management plan. The receiving waters of concern are groundwater via percolation of irrigation flows, and the Amargosa River via stormwater overflow.

NDEP’s notice and fact sheet described the basis for the permit, the public comment process, as well as NDEP's tentative determination for renewing of the permit for an additional five-year period. NDEP's decision to renew the Ponderosa Permit was issued on October 25, 2007. That final decision was subsequently appealed to the State Environmental Commission (SEC) on November 03, 2007 by by John F. Bosta and Antonio Guerra Martinez.

Following these actions, on February 13, 2009 Mr. John Marshall on behalf of a non-profit organization know as ACE (Amargosa Citizens for the Environment), filed a “Request to Intervene” in the above referenced appeal. This action was then followed by an “Opposition to Petition [by ACE] for Leave to Intervene” filed by the attorneys representing Ponderosa Dairy.

On March 17, 2009 the SEC issued a notice for a preliminary hearing to consider intervener status for both Rockview Farms and Amargosa Citizens for the Environment. At the hearing the SEC's appeals panel approved intervener status for both parties noted above.

The Ponderosa Appeal was subsequently held on January 19 and 20 [2010] in Carson City. The formal written decision of the Commission was issued on February 18, 2010. The decision along with all support documents is posted on the SEC Website The decision presents finding of fact and conclusion of law; the conclusion of law section addresses eight (8) specific issues addressed in the appeal.

It should be noted the Commission did find in favor of the Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) on most counts addressed in the appeal. The Commission did, however, direct NDEP to amend the water pollution control permit, issued to the Ponderosa Dairy, to include a well monitoring system and to make monitoring reports available to the public through the division's website. This website has been developed to meet that requirement.
 

 Ponderosa Dairy Site Map 

Print Maps depicted below [2 pages PDF Graphic File - 980KB

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