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entirely paved. The' Ag Chem area is used for manufacturing and <br /> storing of agricultural fertilizers. Previous operations also <br /> included pesticide formulation. <br /> The area has a Mediterranean-type climate, characterized by <br /> hot, dry cloudless summers, and mild, humid winters with very low <br /> rainfall. The mean temperature is 62.97. Precipitation in the <br /> area averages 14.3 inches annually, prevailing wind flow is <br /> northerly in summer and southerly in winter. <br /> The area topography is relatively flat and the ground surface <br /> drains to the southwest. No surface water bodies exist within a <br /> half mile radius of the facility. The nearest residential <br /> development area is 2, 000 feet to the northwest. Interstate 5 is <br /> one mile to the west. <br /> Groundwater in the Lathrop area was to a depth of 20 feet <br /> below ground surface (bgs) in 1991 and flows to the north/ <br /> northwest. Groundwater beneath the Simplot facility, however, is <br /> at 10 to 15 feet bgs and flows to the southwest according to the <br /> Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) . <br /> Shallow groundwater has been found to contain detectable <br /> amounts of pesticides since 1982 Groundwater remediation is being <br /> conducted under the direction of the RWQCB and consists of eight <br /> extraction wells, ori--site treatment, and re-injection into deeper <br /> groundwater aquifers using two injection wells. The groundwater <br /> treatment plant was donstructed immediately west of the Ag Chem <br /> area. Monitoring wells. in various aquifer zones are located in 21 <br /> stations around the facility. <br /> The area is described as being once a natural grassland <br /> community, however, the area has been disturbed by agricultural and <br /> development. Most of the Simplot facility is cleared of trees and <br /> grass and is in industrial use. ' A review has been completed of the <br /> California ,Department of Fish and Game Natural Diversity Data Base. <br /> The review did not identify any known threatened or endangered <br /> species in the immediate vicinity of the Simplot facility. Plant <br /> species of interest are the Delta button celery, Wrightfs <br /> trichocornis, and slough thistle. These plants species were <br /> identified about two miles from the facility. Animal species of <br /> interest are the tricolored blackbird, tiger salamander, and the <br /> Swainson's hawk. The closest sighting was for the tricolored <br /> blackbird and was seen one mile southeast of the facility. These <br /> identified plant and animal species require a riparian habitat or <br /> stands of trees which is absent at or around the Simplot facility. <br /> Migration onto the Simplot facility would not be expected. <br /> Activities will require the use of a temporary storage area in <br /> the Ag Chem area for washwater and utilities, such as water and <br /> electricity. <br />