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Mr. Don Wilden - 2 - 1 February 2007 <br /> • Regional Board staff and Kleinfelder are aware of a wastewater discharge to Pond <br /> No. 7 from a facility used for growing genetically modified yeast. Our records indicate <br /> wastewater from this facility was decontaminated using chlorine, which may have <br /> caused the formation of trihalomethanes in the wastewater discharge. Pulte therefore <br /> needs to analyze groundwater from the two planned borings for volatile organic <br /> compounds (VOCs). In the previously mentioned email, Mr. Zilles stated that <br /> wastewater from the yeast growing facility was tested and no priority pollutants were <br /> detected. Additionally, he stated that this wastewater was filtered by reverse osmosis, <br /> and there is therefore no reason for analyzing for VOCs. Staff appreciates Mr. Zilles' <br /> position, however, the wastewater characterization in question occurred decades ago <br /> when groundwater analyses were less sensitive, and water quality standards may have <br /> been more permissive. in order to remove any uncedainty surrounding the presence of <br /> VOCs beneath Pond No. 7, and to protect the health and welfare of future residents at <br /> the site, Pulte needs to conduct VOC groundwater analysis. <br /> • As stated in staff's 25 September letter, we find that the area around Pond No. 7 does <br /> not represent background conditions because wastewater from the pond was applied to <br /> the fields in the pond's vicinity. Pulte therefore needs to propose for Regional Board <br /> staff approval a background boring location well away from Pond No. 7. <br /> Regional Board staff may collect duplicate samples of the groundwater beneath Pond No. 7 <br /> and at the to-be-designated background boring location. Accordingly, please provide your <br /> field investigation schedule to staff so we can arrange to have the appropriate personnel on <br /> site during groundwater sampling. <br /> If you have any questions, please contact me at (916) 464-4642, or via email at <br /> bstevens(a'Dwaterboards.ca.gov. <br /> Brett Stevens <br /> Environmental Scientist <br /> cc: Mr. Joseph Zilles, Kleinfelder <br /> Ms. Ella Foley-Gannon, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton, LLP <br />