Land Application

Land Application is the addition of biosolids to land to condition the soil, fertilize crops or other vegetation grown in soils in order to supply nutrients and replenish soil organic matter. Land application can occur on agricultural land, forests, rangelands, or on disturbed land in need of reclamation. Land application of biosolids has been practiced for thousands of years and has been studied and researched extensively. For more information on biosolids land application view the links below.

• City of Los Angeles Land Application Fact Sheet
• U. S. EPA Land Application Fact Sheet
• U. S. EPA Guide to Part 503-Land Application Chapter

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Green Acres Farm

In August 2000, the City purchased a 4,688-acre farm named Green Acres in Kern County to ensure a reliable place to manage the City’s biosolids produced at the wastewater treatment plants. The farm is located approximately 16- miles southwest of Bakersfield and one mile northeast of Lake Buena Vista. The Farm has been a beneficial reuse site for biosolids generated by the City since 1994. The biosolids are used as a soil conditioner and fertilizer to help promote growth on sites where chemical fertilizers would otherwise have to be used to produce crops. Farm activities produce non-food chain crops such as wheat, corn, alfalfa, Milo, and Sudan grass. After crops are harvested, they are sold as feedstock to local dairies.

Green Acres Farm has been a beneficial reuse site for reclaimed water generated by the City of Bakersfield since 1989. The use of the reclaimed water is governed by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Order No. 88-172. All crops are surface irrigated with reclaimed water using a border check system. When reclaimed water quantities are insufficient to satisfy crop demands, there are two other sources available:

1. Groundwater, which is pumped to the surface through a network of on-site wells
2. Water purchased from Kern Water District

The objectives of the Farm include the following:

• Managing biosolids in an environmentally sound, acceptable, and cost-effective manner
• Complying with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations
• Beneficially using Exceptional Quality Biosolids
• Maintaining a site that conforms to national Biosolids EMS standards

• Requiring our land appliers to comply with the provisions of the CWEA Manual of Good Practice for Agricultural Land Application of Biosolids

The biosolids are applied in bulk and managed as a Class A, EQ product in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. As a best management practice tool the City looks to, as guidance, the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Manual of Good Practice for Agriculture Land Application of Biosolids. At this time, the City contracts with Responsible Biosolids Management, Inc. (RBM) for the loading, transporting, and beneficial use of biosolids at Green Acres Farm. RBM land applies biosolids with conventional agricultural equipment such as manure spreaders, tractors, and front-end loaders. The biosolids are typically incorporated into the soil by means of plowing or disking. The City typically incorporates its biosolids into the soil within 30 minutes after it is off-loaded at the farm. The contract between RBM and the City specifies a minimum daily tonnage of 548 wet tons per day and is set to expire in September 2010.
If you would like to view a copy of the contract contact us at the information listed below.

Farming

Crops grown on the Farm include corn, alfalfa, Milo, triticale (wheat / rye hybrid), and Sudan grass. These acres produce slightly over 76,000 tons of feed products each year.

Of the five crops, triticale is grown on the largest number of acres. Corn is second in acreage and produces the highest yield. Milo is third in acreage and yield but might increase in the future because of changing demand. Farm staff indicated that they will follow the demand of local dairies, including planting more Milo if prices become as favorable for Milo as they are for corn.

2006 Green Acres Crop Production

Download Green Acres fact sheet for more Information

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Legal Challenge Against
Kern County Biosolids Ban

Kern County voters, with the passage of Measure E in the June 6 election, approved the ban on the import of the wastewater byproduct, biosolids. The City of Los Angeles, along with other affected Southern California counties and agencies, filed a lawsuit in federal court on August 15, 2006 challenging Kern County's ban on the import and land application of biosolids in its municipality. In its suit, the plaintiffs asked the Federal Court to invalidate Kern County's ban and, in so doing, validated the Environmental Protection Agency's regulations that encourage and allow biosolids to be beneficially reused through land application.

On August 10, 2007 U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Feess granted the request for final judgment by the City of Los Angeles and other Southern California agencies, businesses and farmers to overturn Kern County’s ban of biosolids and maintain the land application of biosolids on farmland. This ruling follows the court’s opinion in November 2006 that preliminarily enjoined the enforcement of Measure E, an ordinance passed by Kern County voters in June 2006, which would have halted all land application of biosolids in the county.

Kern County appealed the judge’s decisions and filed an appeal with the U. S. Court of Appeal, Ninth Circuit in March 2008. All documents related to the appeal have been submitted to the Courts and the parties are waiting for a trial date to be set.

To view the court’s decision and other legal documents related to the lawsuit click the links below.

Court’s Decision

• Summary Judgment

Complaint

• City of Los Angeles Complaint against Kern County Biosolids Initiative

Preliminary Injunction

• Preliminary Injunction Motion

Declarations supporting Preliminary Injunction

• Professor Albert Page Declaration
• Professor Charles P. Gerba, PH.D-Declaration
• Professor Ian Pepper Declaration
• Thomas Johnson Declaration
• Traci Minamide Declaration
• Larry Bahr Declaration
• Steve Stockton Declaration
• Robert Larson Declaration-EPA letter
• Sierra Transport Declaration
• Robert Fanucchi Declaration

Appeal Documents

• Appellant Opening Brief <<New
• Joint Brief of Appellees <<New
• Appellant Reply Brief <<New
• Water Environment Federation Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellees <<New

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Crops being harvested at the farm.

Farm manager standing in corn field.

Biosolids being off-loaded in field.

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