CORRESPONDENCE_AGENCY CORRESPONDENCE

Home Browse Search

I' GAVIN NEwsoM OOVFHNOH Ilr'' CLI.CNNI• YANA GH iR A FI_fl Water Boards ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board PUBLIC NOTICE: PROPOSED PETROLEUM UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK CASE CLOSURE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: 3 August through 2 October 2026 (60 days) ANDERSON BARNGROVER RANCH; 14290 E. COMSTOCK ROAD, LINDEN, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY; LUST CASE #392009, GLOBAL ID #T10000020864 The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central 'Valley Water Board) is asking for public comments on the proposed closure of the Anderson Barngrover Ranch leaking underground storage tank (tank) case. The tank was located at 14290 E. Comstock Road in Linden, CA. A map showing the property and the current remaining diesel fuel contamination in groundwater is attached as Figure 1. The property is currently a working walnut orchard. On the west side of the property, there is an old walnut processing area that is no longer in use. It includes a walnut hulling building, a walnut drying building, and a small office. In November 2022, the property owner removed a 1,000-gallon diesel tank that had been located between the three buildings. Prior to removal, the tank had not been filled for almost 30 years. Between 2022 and 2025, the property owner collected soil and groundwater samples from 13 borings, installed four groundwater monitoring wells, and sampled three nearby residential and irrigation wells to find out how far the diesel contamination had spread. Central Valley Water Board staff has concluded that the remaining diesel fuel in the ground does not threaten human health, the environment, or normal use of the property. Central Valley Water Board staffs only concern is the possible future installation of new water supply wells near the location of the removed diesel fuel tank. However, to address this, the property owner and the owner of the two properties to the west, are currently in the process of filing land use covenants with the County that will restrict anyone from installing a well within 500 feet of the removed diesel tank location unless it draws water from at least 232 feet deep. The documents will also restrict usage of the existing irrigation well on the property for non- potable (non-drinking) purposes only. The remaining diesel in groundwater is expected to naturally break down within a reasonable amount of time. Because the risk is low and covenants restrict shallow groundwater wells, Central Valley Water Board staff recommends closing the case under California's Low-Threat UST Case Closure Policy. Central Valley Water Board staff will consider public comments before closing the case. NICHOLAS AVDIS, CHAIR I PATRICK PULUPA, EXECUTIVE OFFICER 11020 Sun Center Drive,#200,Rancho Cordova,95670.6114 1 www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley