S4E36: “Deciphering California’s Regulatory Acronym Jungle" | with Paul Sousa

S4E36: “Deciphering California’s Regulatory Acronym Jungle" | with Paul Sousa The Skim: In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Allison Tristao interviews Paul Sousa, the Director of Environmental Services for Western United Dairies. Here's a summary of the key points discussed: 05:00 - **Low-Use Truck Regulations**: Paul emphasizes the importance of responding promptly to California Air Resources Board (ARB) letters auditing mileage on low-use exemption trucks to avoid fines. 06:50 - **NEW Clean Truck Check**: Paul discusses the introduction of a quarterly smog check for trucks with a 14,000 GVWR and greater and the associated registration requirements, fees, and training for compliance. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/CTC 08:25 - **Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) 2023 Proposed Amendments**: Paul outlines proposed changes in LCFS, including an increase in the carbon intensity reduction target to 30% by 2030, potential impacts on dairy biomethane, and the phasing out of methane crediting for dairies starting in 2040. Impacts on California businesses are estimated at $10.4 Billion annually between 2024 and 2046. 12:43 - **Livestock Enteric Methane Emission Reduction Research Program (LEMER-RP)**: The CDFA's research program focusing on reducing methane emissions from livestock, with the Almond Board proposing a method involving fermented almond hulls. 14:43 - **Manure Methane Funding**: An update on the Manure Methane funding application period, with $21 million available for AMP and $11 million for digesters, and the importance of starting the application process early. 16:30 - **CV-SALTS History**: Paul provides a historical perspective on CV-SALTS (Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability), emphasizing its role in addressing salt buildup in the Central Valley and its impact on water quality regulations, particularly regarding nitrate management zones. 21:45 - **Water Quality Regulations**: Paul discusses upcoming challenges and changes in water quality regulations, highlighting the importance of implementing a whole-farm nitrogen balance and various solutions for mitigating dairy-related nitrogen impacts. 24:50 - **Funding Opportunities**: Paul mentions available funding options, such as CDFA's Dairy Plus Program, NRCS's equipment program, and funding from the Information Reduction Act, to assist dairies in aligning with changing regulations. Listeners are encouraged to reach out to Paul for further information or questions related to environmental issues in the dairy industry. Other Seen and Herd Podcast Episodes with Paul Sousa: 2022 Episodes S&H S3E43 - Environmental Policy Breakdown with Paul Sousa 2023 Episodes S&H S4E13 - The Environmental Report You've Been Waiting For | Paul Sousa S&H S4E20 - Clean Fleets, Methane Reductions, and Water Quality: Insights from the WUD Board Meeting | Paul Sousa S&H S4E26 - "Advancing Sustainable Dairy: Methane Reduction Programs for Farmers" | Paul Sousa S&H S4E30 - “Advancing Dairy Sustainability: Reducing Emissions and Improving Water Quality" | Paul Sousa S&H S4E36 - “Deciphering California’s Regulatory Acronym Jungle" | with Paul Sousa Please subscribe for notifications of future episodes. For questions about this episode, please contact Allison at [email protected] or Paul at [email protected]. To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit https://westernuniteddairies.com. Click the Link to become a member, https://westernuniteddairies.com/membership Visit the Western United Dairies’ Website and Social Media Platforms: Website - https://westernuniteddairies.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wudairies Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wudairies Podcast | Seen and Herd  Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seen-herd/id1508160620 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6esjAxuQ3fM8U4hfURhYt8 Western United Dairies FoundationWebsite - ⁠https://wudfoundation.com⁠