(Adopted August 6, 2004) 

RULE 1127. EMISSION REDUCTIONS FROM LIVESTOCK WASTE 

(a) Purpose 

The purpose of this rule is to reduce ammonia, VOC, and PM10 emissions from 

livestock waste. 

(b) Applicability 

This rule applies to dairy farms and related operations such as heifer and calf 

farms and the manure produced on them. It also applies to manure processing 

operations, such as composting operations and anaerobic digesters. 

(c) Definitions 

For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply: 

(1) ALTERNATIVE MANURE COMPOSTING OPERATION means an invessel composting operation that does not meet the requirements of 

subdivision (d) of Rule 1133.2 and that composts either livestock manure 

only, or manure and green material amendments only. Biosolids and food 

waste cannot be used as feedstocks. 

(2) ANAEROBIC DIGESTER is a tank or vessel system that excludes oxygen 

and in which a sludge or liquid effluent is modified by the action of 

anaerobic bacteria. The remaining solids from the process can be used as a 

soil amendment or further composted or otherwise processed. 

(3) DAIRY FARM is an operation on a property, or set of properties that are 

contiguous or separated only by a public right-of-way, which is directly 

related to raising cows or producing milk from cows for the purpose of 

making a profit or for a livelihood. Heifer and calf farms are included in 

this definition of dairy farms. 

(4) ENGINEERED WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN is a plan for a 

wastewater management system that is designed, constructed, operated 

and maintained to comply with the wastewater containment requirements 

of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board. 

(5) EXISTING DAIRY OPERATION is a dairy farm being operated as of 

(the date of rule adoption). 

(6) GREEN MATERIAL means any plant material that is separated at the 

point of generation and contains no greater than 1.0 percent of physical 

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Rule 1127 (cont.) (Adopted August 6, 2004) 

contaminants by weight, and meets the requirements of the California 

Code of Regulations – Title 14, section 17868.5. Green materials 

includes, but is not limited to, yard trimmings, untreated wood wastes, 

natural fiber products, and construction and demolition wood waste. 

Green material does not include food material, biosolids, mixed solid 

waste, material processes from commingled collection, wood containing 

lead-based paint or wood preservative, mixed construction or mixed 

demolition debris. 

(6) MANURE PROCESSING OPERATION is an operation that receives 

manure from livestock operations and processes it for use. Such 

processing includes, but is not limited to, composting operations 

producing fertilizer and/or soil amendments, and anaerobic digesters. 

(7) OPERATOR is any person, people, or entity that owns or operates a dairy 

farm or manure processing operation subject to the requirements of this 

rule. 

(d) Best Management Practices 

On or after December 1, 2004, a dairy operator shall: 

(1) Use one of the following procedures when removing manure from a 

corral: 

(A) Scrape or harrow before 9 am only unless the moisture content of 

the manure is greater than 20% throughout the corral, as 

determined by an moisture meter in accordance with paragraph 

(h)(1); OR 

(B) Clear corrals such that an even surface of compacted manure 

remains on top of the soil and do not scrape down to soil level; OR 

(C) Water corral before manure removal to reduce dust through 

increased surface moisture. This measure is not required for 

lactating cows. 

(2) Minimize excess water in corrals by: 

(A) identifying and eliminating water leaks from trough and trough 

piping; and 

(B) complying with corral drainage standards specified in the dairy’s 

Engineered Waste Management Plan. 

(3) Pave feedlanes, where present, at least 8 feet on the corral side of the 

feedlane fence. 

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Rule 1127 (cont.) (Adopted August 6, 2004) 

(4) Effective January 1, 2005, a dairy operator shall clear any accumulated 

manure in excess of 3 inches in height in each corral at least 4 times per 

year with at least 60 days between clearings. The operator of a dairy farm 

shall keep a record of each clearing. 

(5) Effective January 1, 2005, a dairy operator shall remove all on-dairy 

stockpiles within three months of the last corral clearing day and no more 

than three months after date that the previous stockpiles were last 

completely cleared. The operator of the dairy farm shall keep a record of 

each removal, including date(s) of removal, hauler (if applicable), and 

manure destination. 

(e) Manure Disposal Requirements 

(1) Effective January 1, 2006, a dairy operator disposing of manure within 

jurisdiction of the South Coast Air Quality Management District shall only 

remove or contract to remove manure from their dairy to: 

(A) A manure processing operation that has been approved in 

accordance with the requirements of subdivision (f); OR 

(B) Agricultural land within the South Coast Air Quality Management 

District approved by local ordinance and/or regional water quality 

board for the spreading of manure; OR 

(C) A combination of destinations in paragraphs (A) and (B). 

(f) Rule 1127 Manure Processing Operation (1127 MPO) Approval Requirements 

(1) A manure processing operator shall only process manure by one or a 

combination of the following methods: 

(A) An anaerobic digester permitted by the District. 

(B) A composting operation registered according to the requirements 

of Rule 1133 and operating in compliance with Rule 1133.2 

subdivision (d). 

(C) Alternative manure composting operations registered according to 

the requirements of Rule 1133 and operating in compliance with 

the requirements of paragraphs (f)(3) and (f)(4). 

(2) Application Submittal and Approval Process 

(A) Any person who operates a manure processing operation shall 

submit an application including the following information: 

(i) The name and location address of the operation; 

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Rule 1127 (cont.) (Adopted August 6, 2004) 

(ii) The name(s), mailing address(es), and phone number(s) of 

the person(s) responsible for process operations and 

submittal of the application; 

(iii) Registration status, if applicable, in accordance with Rule 

1133 requirements; 

(iv) A list of AQMD permits and permit status, if applicable; 

(v) For alternative manure composting operations, a manure 

composting compliance plan prepared in accordance with 

paragraph (f)(3). 

(B) After the receipt of a complete application submitted pursuant to 

subparagraph (f)(2)(A), the Executive Officer will either approve 

or disapprove the application, in writing, in accordance with 

paragraph (f)(1). 

(C) If the application submitted pursuant to subparagraph (f)(2)(A) is 

disapproved by the Executive officer: 

(i) The reasons for disapproval shall be given to the applicant 

in writing. 

(ii) The applicant may resubmit a compliant application at any 

time after receiving a disapproval notification. 

(D) An approved application shall be valid for a period of three years 

from the date of approval and may be renewed. 

(i) Applications for renewal must be submitted at least 60 days 

prior to the expiration date. 

(ii) If all elements in the currently approved application are the 

same, the re-submittal may contain the information in 

clauses (f)(2)(A)(i) and (f)(2)(A)(ii) and a statement of nochange to the previous approved application information 

concerning clauses (f)(2)(A)(iii), (f)(2)(A)(iv), and 

(f)(2)(A)(v). Otherwise, the re-submittal must contain all 

the items specified in subparagraph (f)(2)(A). 

(E) An approved application may be modified prior to its expiration 

provided an amendment request is received and approved by the 

Executive Officer prior to its implementation. 

(3) Alternative Manure Composting Operation Plan Requirements 

The operator of an alternative manure composting operation shall submit 

an alternative manure composting operation plan (plan), as required 

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Rule 1127 (cont.) (Adopted August 6, 2004) 

pursuant to clause (f)(2)(A)(v). The plan must contain the following 

required elements: 

(A) Compost technology specifications in accordance with following: 

(i) Identify the compost technology and manufacturer. Only 

in-vessel systems are allowed for the purposes of 

subparagraph (f)(1)(C). 

(ii) Describe the aeration system, including blower 

specifications and aeration cycle. 

(iii) Describe any openings in the in-vessel system, including 

doors, vent holes, gas permeable membranes, etc. Describe 

expected frequency and duration of venting through doors, 

vents, or other openings. 

(iv) The operator shall operate in-vessel systems in compliance 

with conditions specified in the approved plan. 

(B) Feedstock specifications and preparation in accordance with the 

following: 

(i) Identify feedstock and projected annual throughput. Only 

livestock manure and green material amendments are 

allowed for the purposes of subparagraph (f)(1)(C). No 

other amendments or feedstocks are allowed. 

(ii) Composting of incoming manure feedstock must begin 

within 2 working days of arrival on-site. 

(C) Compost cycle specifications in accordance with the following: 

(i) Describe length of time for in-vessel composting. 

Composting within the in-vessel system must occur at least 

60 days from the last introduction of feedstock into the 

system. 

(ii) Describe length of time for final curing and storage of 

compost. Open final curing and storage more than 2 

months after removal of compost from the in-vessel system 

is not allowed. 

(4) Alternative Manure Composting Operation Testing Requirements 

(A) The operator of an alternative manure composting operation shall 

perform a source test in accordance with the guidelines and source 

test methods in Rule 1133.2, Attachment A, no later than 2 months 

after the beginning of operations and each year thereafter. 

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Rule 1127 (cont.) (Adopted August 6, 2004) 

(B) The operator of an alternative manure composting operation that 

has performed a source test as required pursuant to subparagraph 

(f)(4)(A) shall submit the results of the source test to the Executive 

Officer within 60 days of the completion of testing. 

(5) A manure processing operator who fails to comply with an approved Rule 

1127 MPO application, including an alternative manure composting plan, 

if applicable, shall be in violation of this rule. 

(6) A manure processing operator who accepts manure for processing without 

an approved 1127 MPO application or renewal shall be in violation of this 

rule. 

(g) Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements 

(1) No later than January 1, 2005, the operator of an existing dairy farm shall 

submit a Rule 1127 notification to the Executive Officer in writing. The 

Rule 1127 notification shall include: 

(A) Dairy farm operator’s name; 

(B) Name of contact person, if different from operator’s name; 

(C) Farm name, if applicable; 

(D) Farm street address; 

(E) Farm mailing address, if different from the street address; 

(F) Telephone number for the contact person. 

(2) No later than 30 days after operations begin at a new dairy farm or at an 

existing farm under a new operator, the operator shall submit to the 

Executive Officer the information required in paragraph (g)(1). 

(3) An operator shall submit an annual report to the Executive Officer in 

writing by January 15th of each year after January 1, 2007. The report 

shall include: 

(A) Information required in paragraph (g)(1); and 

(B) Animal population for the previous calendar year, broken out by 

number of adult cows, heifers, and calves; 

(C) Amount of manure removed from the dairy in the preceding 

calendar year, broken out by the following destinations: 

(i) agricultural lands within the jurisdiction of the South Coast 

Air Quality Management District; 

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Rule 1127 (cont.) (Adopted August 6, 2004) 

(ii) manure processing operation(s) within the jurisdiction of 

the South Coast Air Quality Management District, 

reporting amount to each manure processing operation; 

(iii) a location out of the jurisdiction of the South Coast Air 

Quality Management District. 

(4) The dairy operator shall maintain copies of all manure manifests, tipping 

fee invoices, manure moisture test records, corral clearing records, and 

stockpile removal records, at the dairy farm for three years or for five 

years if the dairy farm is a Title V facility. These records shall be supplied 

to the Executive Officer upon request. 

(5) The operator of an alternative manure composting operation shall maintain 

for three years, or five years if a Title V facility, all of the following 

records: 

(A) Logs of feedstock arrival, including date and amount; 

(B) Starting and ending date of each in-vessel compost cycle, and 

removal date of final compost; and 

(C) Logs of aeration and venting events for each compost cycle. 

(h) Test Methods 

(1) The moisture content of manure shall be determined with an electrical 

conductivity or microwave moisture meter, or other method approved by 

South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources 

Board and U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Moisture readings 

shall be taken by introducing the probe three inches into the manure. All 

readings shall be recorded. Moisture content samples shall be taken in 

such a manner as to be representative of the corral or stockpile, with a 

minimum of 5 readings per corral or stockpile. 

(i) Fees 

(1) Operators of dairies or manure processing operation shall accompany the 

submittals required by subdivisions (f) or (g) with applicable filing and 

evaluation fees pursuant to District Rule 306. 

(j) Exemptions 

(1) This rule shall not apply to a dairy farm with less than 50 cows, heifers, 

and/or calves. 

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Rule 1127 (cont.) (Adopted August 6, 2004) 

(2) An approved alternative manure composting operation is exempt from 

Rule 1133.2 if the operation is in compliance with subdivision (f). 

(3) An operator can be exempted from one of the corral clearings required by 

paragraph (d)(4) per calendar year, if the operator meets all of the 

following requirements: 

(A) At 60 days after the previous corral clearing, notifies the Executive 

Officer that the moisture content of the corral manure is above 

50%, as determined by an electrical conductivity moisture meter in 

accordance with paragraph (h)(1). 

(B) Upon notification, tests the moisture content of the corral manure 

at least weekly. 

(i) If the moisture content of the corral manure is less than 

50%, the corral must be cleared as specified in paragraph 

(d)(4). 

(ii) If the moisture content is greater than 50%, the operator 

shall record the test results and keep the records required by 

paragraph (g)(4). 

(C) If the moisture content remains greater than 50% after 90 days 

since the previous corral clearing, the operator shall notify the 

Executive Officer that the operator is claiming an exemption from 

a clearing required by paragraph (d)(4). 

(4) Dairies that are removing all feedlane manure to a digester, no fewer than 

6 days per week, are exempt from the requirements in paragraphs (d)(4) 

and (d)(5). 

(k) Alternative Control Options 

(1) In lieu of complying with the provisions of subdivision (e), a person may 

comply with a plan for achieving equivalent emissions reductions through 

alternative control measures. To be effective, such a plan shall be 

approved in writing by the Executive Officer, the California Air Resources 

Board, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

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South Coast Air Quality Management District