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1.0 INTRODUCTION <br /> 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE INITIAL STUDY <br /> 1. This initial study has been prepared by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board <br /> (Board) to assess the environmental effects of the proposed expansion of land application of <br /> production wastewater by Musco Olive Products, Inc. at the Musco Olive Plant, San Joaquin <br /> County. The Board has assumed lead agency status and has prepared the Initial <br /> Study/Environmental Checklist and Negative Declaration. <br /> 2. The "project" is the discharge of production wastewater from the olive plant as spray irrigation on <br /> approximately 200 acres on site. Preparation of the Initial Study is in conformance with the <br /> California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) of 1970 as amended, which requires preparation of <br /> an Initial Study to determine if a project may have significant effects on the environment. <br /> 3. Under CEQA, the Initial Study is used to provide a written determination of whether a Negative <br /> Declaration or an EIR must be prepared for a project. Where there is no substantial evidence that a <br /> project may have a significant environmental effect,or the project is revised in response to an <br /> Initial Study so that potential adverse effects are mitigated to a point where clearly no significant <br /> environmental effect would occur, a Negative Declaration is prepared. If a project may still result <br /> in one or more significant effects on the environment after revision or mitigation measures are <br /> added to the project, an ETR must be prepared. <br /> 1.2 PROJECT LOCATION <br /> 1 . The facility is near Interstate 5 and Patterson Pass Road, near Tracy, as shown on Attachment A. <br /> The reclamation area is in the NE 1/4 of Section 4, T3S, R4E, and the SW 1/4 of Section 34, <br /> T2S, R4E, MDB&M. The 320-acre facility is comprised of Assessor's Parcel Number 251-3200- <br /> 08. <br /> 1.3 PROJECT BACKGROUND <br /> 1. Musco Olive has operated an olive plant near Tracy in San Joaquin County since the early 1980s. <br /> At the time the olive plant was planned, an Environmental Impact Report(EIR) was prepared for <br /> San Joaquin County for the olive plant. The EIR-82-4/Z-82-45 Reclassification Request of <br /> Joaquin Salles (c/o FOODPRO International Incorporated), dated October 1982, was certified by <br /> the San Joaquin Planning Commission. The EIR described the development of an olive plant and <br /> an ultimate land application of 290,000 gallons per day (gpd) [0.29 million gallons per day (mgd)] <br /> of factory water,plus additional water for blending on an approximately 126 acre parcel. The <br /> olive plant operated a small land application project where the factory water suitable for irrigation <br /> purposes has been land applied to grow a crop. <br /> 2. The existing small land application project is regulated by Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) <br /> Order No. 87-132 which will be rescinded by the adoption of revised WDRs for this proposed <br /> land application project. That land application project has operated since 1987 without violation or <br /> complaint. <br /> 3. The Discharger currently uses mulch produced on-site as a soil amendment to the reclamation <br /> areas. Because of the ultimate need for larger quantities of soil amendment material. The mulch <br /> will be incorporated into the soil as a soil amendment to grow crops and enhance infiltration of <br /> wastewater. All materials will be used on-site as part of the Discharger's agricultural operations. <br /> An area covering approximately 10 acres will be provided by the Discharger for storage and <br /> treatment of the green waste. <br /> -1- <br />