CORRESPONDENCE_2012-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

E:u.uNu G. 13—.,Jk. RECEIVED rZ Water Boards APR 2 3 2012 fr Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Boa RONMENTALH PERMIT/SERVICES Linda Novick 19 April 2012 Tulare County Compost Biomass, Inc. Valley Organics 916 Frewert Road Lathrop, CA 95330 REVIEW OF REPORT OF WASTE DISCHARGE, TULARE COUNTY COMPOST BIOMASS, INC., SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY Central Valley Water Board staff has reviewed the 3 April 2012 Report of Waste Discharge and Report of Composting Site Information for the Tulare County Compost Biomass, Inc. facility in San Joaquin County. Our review focused on the water quality aspects of the report. On page 11, the report states that the quality of the groundwater in the vicinity of the site is "historically poor" and that it is expected that the quality of water constituting any leachate or potential leachate from the composting operation will be of higher quality. The report states that the facility will continue to operate under existing Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP) No. R5-2008-0811 that requires sampling of the retention pond. The report does not contain any data to demonstrate that the quality of the leachate is or will be higher than the natural background groundwater quality. We require this data to assess the potential groundwater impacts at the site. The data from the retention pond that has been collected under the MRP must be compared with the background groundwater monitoring data to demonstrate that the natural background groundwater concentrations are of worse quality than the leachate as stated in the report. The report must include all available data and must demonstrate that the statement on page 11 of the report is true. Also, the State Water Resources Control Board is currently working on a draft statewide order to regulate composting facilities. We anticipate that the Valley Organics site will be able to obtain coverage under that order once it has been finalized. Depending on the final requirements of the statewide order, this site may or may not be required to install groundwater monitoring wells and conduct groundwater monitoring. In any case, we anticipate that this site will be able to begin operations as proposed and to enroll under the statewide order once it is finalized and comply with its requirements. However, prior to beginning the proposed operations, the information required in this letter regarding the leachate and groundwater data must be submitted so we can assess the potential need for an individual order for the site to approve the proposed project if the statement on page 11 cannot be demonstrated. If you hav an ues io s,,please 11 mea (916) 464-4622. t, -P e ca WILLIAM BRA TAIN, P.E. Water Resources Control Engineer Title 27 Permitting and Mining cc: Robert McClellon, San Joaquin county Environmental Health Department, Stockton KAR- E. —ONGLEY SCE), P.E., CHAIR I PAMELA C. CREEDON P.E., BCEE, EXECUTIVE OFFICER 11620 Sur Center Drive 11200 Rancrio Cordova CA 95670 , www.watorbozircs.ca.gov/centraival;ey