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An electrical transformer is found on a pole at the north side of the property, next to the water well. It appears that a relatively small oil leak has developed on the underside of the transformers. It is the responsibility of the transformer owner to mitigate any environmental contamination that may occur from this leaking oil. From previous nitrate loading and soil suitability studies done to the west, it is known that there can be higher concentrations of nitrate in the underlying water aquifers, due to agricultural inputs. However, nitrate impact is unknown under the property, which will be determined in the Soil Suitability Study. As noted on the attached Environmental Questionnaire, calcium ammonium nitrate was applied to the soil in 1991 or 1992, and urea ammonium nitrate 32% (UAN32) was applied foliarly at about five lbs. per acre (5 units). According to the Western Fertilizer Handbook published by the California Fertilizer Association, 200 pounds per acre are required of mature almond trees to produce an acceptable crop. Since there is organic material in the soil to provide an Estimated Nitrogen Release (ENR) that would supplement the applied N units, the applied units of nitrogen appears to be within the recommended guidelines. PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD/DATA SOURCES Static groundwater is found approximately 65 feet under the property as illustrated on the attached 1999 Lines of Equal Depth to Groundwater map. From the 1999 Lines of Equal Elevation of Groundwater, the groundwater directional flow is toward the northwest. A groundwater depth of 65 feet can be considered a medium depth groundwater elevation which is not easily impacted from serious point source releases and to a somewhat lesser degree from agrichemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, or nitrates from fertilizers. The degree of impact from agrichemicals is particularly mitigated when there are intervening layers of clay or hardpan soil down to the static water table depth. It is known that hardpan strata exists in this locale. No records of above ground, or under ground (AST/UST) storage tanks exist for the subject property address. This is also illustrated on the attached GeoTracker Site Map, which shows no tanks near the site. A Leaking Underground Fuel Tank (LUFT) site is shown at the very north edge of the map and is approximately two miles to the northwest of the subject property. This LUFT is downgradient to the site. Potential environmental impacts from past, present or future facilities within a one mile radius is unknown at this time, but highly unlikely. Two sources of information which attempt to document and define on-site and surrounding past land use were also utilized. The first is the use of aerial photographs. Aerial photographs of the subject area from 1970 through 1977 found on USDA Soil Maps reveal the property to be farmed differently than it has been in the recent past. The aerial photo shows that there appears to be only the referenced buildings on the property. The USDA Soil Map shows the soil to consist predominately of a Veritas fine sandy loam (#266). Typically, these soil types are well drained with moderate permeability, which is a beneficial soil attribute for septic effluent management. There are sufficient soil "fines" to impede rapid percolation so treatment of effluent can occur before reaching the water table, unlike Page -3- Chesney Consu£tin8