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STAFF REPORT <br /> ADMINISTRATIVE CIVIL LIABILITY ORDER <br /> FOR <br /> R. LAWSON ENTERPRISES,LLC dba WILDROSE VINEYARDS <br /> SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY <br /> INTRODUCTION <br /> R. Lawson Enterprises, LLC dba WildRose Vineyards (Discharger)operates a winery and <br /> related wastewater treatment and disposal system at 8751 E. Highway 12, Victor in San Joaquin <br /> County. The Discharger's wastewater system is regulated by Waste Discharge Requirements <br /> (WDRs) Order No. 5-00-182, which prescribe requirements for a monthly average dry weather <br /> flow of 5,000 gallons per day(gpd) excluding storm water and non-contact cooling water. The <br /> Discharger was required to make improvements to the wastewater treatment system in <br /> accordance with the provisions of the WDRs. The Discharger has failed to complete many of the <br /> improvements, failed to submit technical reports, and failed to submit the monitoring reports <br /> required pursuant to California Water Code(CWC) Section 13267. <br /> Activities at the winery include receiving, crushing and pressing of grapes; fermentation; <br /> processing into finished wines; and distribution. A bottling line is planned for the future. <br /> Wastewater from tank cleaning, grape crushing, stormwater, cooling water, and equipment/floor <br /> cleaning water is discharged to the wastewater treatment system. Wastewater treatment consists <br /> of a two-stage wastewater sump and a screen, followed by disposal on 9.2 acres of cropped <br /> application area. An additional 4.6 acres of fallow land could be made available for wastewater <br /> application by planting crops. <br /> HISTORICAL OVERVIEW <br /> The Discharger began operations in 1999 without WDRs; the Executive Officer issued a one- <br /> year waiver for operation without WDRs based on submittal of an Operation and Maintenance <br /> (O&M) Plan. On 4 August 1999 the Discharger submitted the O&M Plan which stated that <br /> wastewater samples would be collected monthly and analyzed for biochemical oxygen demand, <br /> nitrate, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Additional <br /> samples would be collected during tank washing events. However, the Discharger didn't collect <br /> any of the samples, and staff had to prepare WDRs based on typical winery wastewater data. <br /> At the time the Discharger's WDRs were adopted, a second business operation, California Fruit <br /> Processors (CFP) (and previous to CFP, Dole Fruit) leased a portion of the winery property for a <br /> cherry brining and packing facility. CFP moved off-site in 2001. The cherry brining wastewater <br /> was considered designated waste and its disposal was regulated under Title 27 WDRs Order No. <br /> 92-154. The CFP wastewater was discharged to an unlined wastewater pond. The Discharger's <br /> WDRs do not allow winery wastewater to enter the unlined pond because the previous use of this <br /> pond by Dole Fruit and CFP appears to have impacted the underlying groundwater. Dole Fruit is <br /> currently conducting investigative and remedial activities at the site. <br /> WDRs No. 5-00-182 required that the Discharger submit reports describing (a) installation of a <br /> meter to measure the flow of winery wastewater, (b)how stormwater was separated from winery <br /> wastewater, (c)the installation of a 12,000 gallon tank, and(d)how wastewater from CFP was <br /> separated from the winery wastewater flow. The Discharger was also required to submit a <br /> groundwater monitoring well installation workplan, a groundwater monitoring well installation <br />