ARCHIVED REPORTS_FIVE-YEAR WATER QUALITY REVIEW REPORT 11-17-2008

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Five-Year Water-Quality Report November l7,2008 Neenah Paper FR LLC Ripon Mill Page 8 of 19 18. In the intermediate zone,the highest TDS values occur in the northeastern and eastern parts of the site, and decrease across the site from there (Figure 8). Unlike the semiperched and upper zones, TDS in the intermediate zone has not always been directly related to the direction of the groundwater gradient. Currently, the active pumping wells (PW-6, PW-7, and PW-8)have among the lowest TDS values (370, 570, and 530 mg/L, respectively) of all the monitored wells. 19. Analysis of water quality using trilinear diagrams and Stiff patterns suggests that there is a progression of water quality from undegraded river water or groundwater through effluent, characterized by increasing relative percentages of magnesium+calcium and bicarbonate, and then by increasing sodium and chloride+sulfate (Figures 9 through 11). 20. Stiff patterns illustrate that the best groundwater quality is in the southeast part of the site and the most degraded groundwater quality is in the northeastern part of the site (Figure 11). As with analysis of groundwater quality contour maps,the poorest water quality in the northeast can be attributed to the concentration of constituents from evapotranspiration by the eucalyptus trees in this area. 21. Trend analysis for the period 2002 through 2007 show that most parameters in most wells show no trend(67%). Overall,there are 16%upward trends and 17% downward trends (Figure 12). 22. Similar to the water-quality diagrams, trend analyses show more improvements in water quality in the southeastern part of the site,reflecting application of the higher quality South San Joaquin Irrigation District(SSJID) irrigation water(Figure 13). The trend analyses also show more degradation of groundwater quality in the northeastern part of the site, reflecting concentration of constituents from evapotranspiration by the eucalyptus trees. 23. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been detected in the semiperched, upper, and intermediate zones along the northern and western property boundaries, and appear coincident with the plumes of volatile organics delineated for the Nestles' facility located immediately north of the NP site. DISCUSSION SITE DESCRIPTIONAND OPERATIONS Neenah Paper FR LLC The NP site is located next to the Stanislaus River in Ripon, California. There is an electric-power cogeneration plant adjacent to the Mill (Figures 1 and 2). Previously, both NP and the cogen plant were owned by Simpson Paper Company; now,however, the cogeneration plant is currently owned by Fort Chicago US Power Inc. The cogen plant contributes approximately 300,000 gallons of water containing approximately 1,000 mg/L TDS to NP's waste stream per day. 003044.02 Lawrence&Associates W.•UientsWoxRiver-Neenah15 year review reportsU Year Review 20081Neenah_5YearReview_Aug2008.doc