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Mr. Harry Riddle August 25, 1981 San Joaquin County Planning Dept. Page 4 eliminate the near surface hardpans, thereby eliminating one of the natural barriers to permeability. Thus, traditional notions of potential for percolation of leachates from the proposed landfill need careful examination. The recent experience in Lathrop resulting from the Occidental Chemcial disposal ponds indicates how difficult it is to reverse the process once groundwater contamination has occurred. Particularly with the type of landfill operation the County has allowed at Harney Lane (wide usage by individual residential users, continuation of which seems to be encouraged by the proposal), it is extremely difficult to ensure that hazardous materials will not be deposited in the landfill in spite of laws and regulations to the contrary. For this reason alone the creation of a new landfill site over a groundwater resource of such immense value seems foolhardy. Surface Water, page 21: The text indicates that the site is not susceptlr-bT-e--t—o---fTo—o-Uivn—g--Fy the Calaveras River or Mosher Creek. Never- theless, we are advised that the present Harney Lane site to the west was flooded in both 1955 and 1959, most likely from local run-off, since, as noted above, percolation is limited in the area by near surface hardpan conditions. At the very least, a specific study should be made of the site to determine the propensity of flooding instead of relying on the fact that it has not been studied by the Corps of Engineers. The San Joaquin County Flood Management maps sometime rely on the Corps of Engineers's work and have been shown in the past to be insufficient in some areas. I Since the surface water is ultimately discharged into the Del Im through Mosher Slough, the potential for contamination of the surfa water is a highly sensitive issue since the Delta has become the singl most important source of agricultural, domestic and industrial wat supply in the state and supports the most valuable fish and wildli resource of the state as well. I Groundwater, pages 21-25: The fact that the site is shown in t San Joaquin County Conservation Element as an area of "none to slig recharge" is most likely a result of the near surface headpan conditio which naturally occur in the area. Again, it is important to reali that the near surface hardpans will be removed in the process excavation of the landfill pits. Furthermore, a significant amount water will be applied from the surface, both through deposition of w wastes and spraying procedures, for dust control and other purposes. I Cultural Environment, page 25: Surprisingly, little attention addressed to adjacent land uses and the potential for interferen therewith. This is particularly obvious because of the "blight" whi has been created by the existing Harney Lane landfill. Why is there