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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.D-23 Forward Inc. Landfill 2018 Revised Project Impact D.3. Odor and Visible Dust Impacts (Same as 2013 EIR Impact D.4.) As bacterial decomposition proceeds, odoriferous compounds can escape from the landfill surface through cracks in the surface cover. Other possible sources of odors are the actual wastes. Some household and consumer products contain substances with distinctive odors. The major contribution to odors comes from two groups of compounds: the first group is dominated by esters and organosulfurs, and the second group consists of alkyl benzenes and limonene. Together with hydrocarbons,the second group is probably responsible for the background smell associated with a landfill. The sensory perception of odorants has four major dimensions: detectability, intensity, character, and hedonic tone. Odor detectability consists of a detection threshold and a recognition threshold. The detection threshold is the lowest concentration of an odorant that will elicit a sensory response in 50 percent of the population. There is an awareness of the presence of an added substance,but not necessarily an odor sensation. The detection thresholds are determined using human subjects and sophisticated dilution equipment. Detection thresholds are published for more than 900 chemicals. The recognition threshold is the minimum concentration that is recognized as having a characteristic odor quality by a segment of the population. Odor intensity refers to the perceived strength of the odor sensation, and odorant character is what the substance smells like (e.g., fishy, rancid,hay, sewer, turpentine, ammonia, etc.). Garbage has been demonstrated to possess an odor with an unpleasant tone. Because offensive odors rarely cause any physical harm and no requirements for their control are included in state or federal air quality regulations,the SJVAPCD does not currently impose any rules or regulations that place quantifiable limitations on emissions of odorous substances, other than its Nuisance Rule 4102. Any actions related to odors are based on citizen complaints to local governments and the District. The SJVAPCD identifies a sanitary landfill as a type of facility that is a potential odor source. Because there are one or more sensitive receptors within the screening trigger distance of one mile from the landfill property,potential odor impacts from the Project must be considered. The District has established the following significance threshold for odor problems: • More than one confirmed complaint per year averaged over a three-year period, or • Three unconfirmed complaints per year averaged over a three-year period. A Public Records Request was submitted to the SJVAPCD on June 25, 2018,requesting information on odor and dust complaints for Forward Landfill since 2015. On June 26, 2018,the SJVAPCD indicated that there are no complaint records on file for Forward Landfill since 2015 (over the last three years).12 12 Public Records Request C-2018-6-88;Forward Landfill,Inc.;Received June 26,2018.