Laserfiche WebLink
Inasmuch as there was no timely legal challenge to the adequacy of the 1999 Mitigated <br /> Negative Declaration, the 1999 Mitigated Negative Declaration is conclusively presumed <br /> to be in compliance with CEQA(14 California Code of Regulations Section 15231). The <br /> County finds that the County certified the 1999 Mitigated Negative Declaration as <br /> adequate with findings that all potential significant impacts associated with the discharge <br /> were analyzed and would be mitigated to a level of less than significant. These findings <br /> by the County were supported by the issuance of two prior waste discharge permits by <br /> the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board ("CVRWQCB" or"Regional <br /> Board")to the Mountain House Community Services District ("CSD") which granted the <br /> District the ability to operate the treatment facility as allowed by the County's Use <br /> Permits. The County finds that the findings of less than significance were further <br /> supported by the restrictions and conditions attached to the CVRWQCB permits issued to <br /> the CSD which require the CSD to maintain effluent levels and methods of discharge to a <br /> quality allowable by the Board. <br /> The County finds that the first permit granted by the Regional Board allows the CSD to <br /> operate a facility and apply the treated effluent over land conditioned to specific <br /> operating time frames during the year on lands that will be controlled through easement <br /> restrictions by the CSD. No discharges to Old River are allowed under the first permit. <br /> Under the second permit granted by the Regional Board involving effluent discharge to <br /> Old River, the CSD is not allowed to discharge tertiary treated effluent in to Old River <br /> until the CSD has performed adequate testing, the results of which meet the criteria <br /> established by the Regional Board to demonstrate that the effluent discharge will meet <br /> water quality standards and will not degrade the physical environment for fish and <br /> wildlife. The County finds that this does not constitute "deferred mitigation," rather, the <br /> Regional Board, as a responsible agency, will only permit discharge if its standards and <br /> criteria have been met. <br /> The County further finds that comments received concerning the impact of the <br /> Neighborhood F Project to the watercourses and/or to wildlife and fish have been <br /> addressed in the 1994 Master EIR and were also addressed in the 1999 Mitigated <br /> Negative Declaration associated with the Use Permits for the wastewater treatment plant <br /> and CEQA analysis performed for the CVRWQCB discharge permits. These comments <br /> do not constitute substantial evidence that these significant environmental effects will be <br /> more severe than shown in prior certified CEQA analysis or the 1994 Master EIR. <br /> Additionally, the discharge of effluent to Old River under the second permit must comply <br /> with all requirements associated with such a discharge at the time that the discharge is <br /> made. Thus, the conditions of the second permit are such that the CSD must demonstrate <br /> compliance with the Regional Board requirements at the time of discharge, including <br /> consideration of California Toxic Rule and Total Maximum Daily Load ("TMDL"). <br /> Concerning the comments received by the County relating to the discharge of storm <br /> water into Old River,the County finds that the CSD has adopted a Storm Water Master <br /> Plan which has been prepared in substantial compliance with both the policies for storm <br /> water management and best management practices (`BMP") listed in the Mountain <br /> House Master Plan, and incorporates standards and guidelines consistent with current <br /> 23 <br />