SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE_FILE 2

Home Browse Search

Californi?oegional Water Quality Coi. of Board Central Valley Region Karl E. Longley,Scl), P.E.,Chair Linda S.Adams 11020 Sun Center Drive#200,Rancho Cordova,California 95670-6114 Arnold Secretm3'fa Phone(916)464-3291 •FAX(916)464-4645 SchwGovernor Environmental vernor Protection http://wxvNv.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley 4 February 2009 Russell F. Chapin Sr. Chapin Bros., Inc. 1203 N. Charlton Avenue Stockton, CA 95203 UNAUTHORIZED RELEASE CASE NO. 390577, CHAPIN BROTHERS INC., 1766 MONTE DIABLO AVE., STOCKTON, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY Thank you for your letter of 21 January 2009. 1 have received a number of letters with similar concerns, especially since the recent UST Cleanup Fund's (Fund) financial crisis. In our Region alone, 1300+ cases have had their reimbursement from the Fund suspended. In addition, several hundred other cases have been informed that their reimbursement may be delayed as much as 6 — 18 months. Even before this financial crisis my Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program staff were working closely with the Responsible Parties for their cases to minimize cost while ensuring that human health and safety and water quality were protected. My staff is also working closely with UST staff in the numerous counties within our region, and have found that they also are making every effort to minimize costs while protecting the public and California's valuable groundwater resources. Specific to your case, at this time the San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department has lead agency authorities. As such, they have the direct oversight and direction of your case. My staff assists the County staff as requested with such cases by meeting with them, advising and giving guidance as appropriate, and when needed assuming the lead status, which typically happens as a result of non-compliance and recalcitrance by the Responsible Party. Unfortunately, most of the time when we receive a case from the County it is at the stage of requiring a formal enforcement order. I have asked my staff to review the technical data contained in our file and on the State's Geotracker database system, as well as all recent correspondence. Clearly the impacts to the soil and groundwater beneath your site continue to be elevated well in excess of both human health and safety and water quality criteria established to ensure protection of same. As such additional remedial efforts clearly need to be conducted. In addition, as per your 21 January letter, review by Fund staff have also concluded the need to remediate the identified impacts. As such, additional costs will be expended to reach that point where case closure can be considered. I am sure that a reasonable, cost-effective remedial effort can be accomplished through a concerned effort by all parties. I recommend that you and your consultant meet with County staff as soon as possible to discuss the most appropriate direction to both minimize your costs and to proceed with timely remediation of the problem. My staff is available to attend said meeting in order to answer any questions regarding Regional Board authorities and requirements. California Environmental Protection Agency ca Recycled Paper