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Notice of Preparation • December 27, 2001 Page 2 The proposed WRP 91 — Phase IA/113 Expansion Project (proposed project) is the proposed near-term expansion of WRP #1 in two phases, IA and 113, from the existing capacity of 0.6 mgd (secondary treatment) to a total capacity of 3.6 mgd treated to a tertiary level. This expansion would serve anticipated near-term development and would accommodate additional demand for capacity by existing commercial uses within the Master Plan area(Exhibit 2). It is anticipated at this time that the proposed expansion would provide capacity needed to serve some or all of the proposed River Islands of Lathrop, Mossdale Landing, and Stonebridge developments and provide additional capacity for the existing Crossroads Commerce Center and California Natural Products facilities, among others. Environmental impacts of the proposed project will be evaluated in a focused project-level EIR that is tiered from the Master Plan EIR, as described in the next section. Specific project features are described below under "Project Features." Tiered Environmental Document The EIR for the proposed project will be tiered from the Master Plan EIR. The Master Plan EIR is a program document prepared in accordance with §15168 of the State CEQA Guidelines. The program EIR on the Master Plan analyzed full implementation of expansion and improvement plans for the City's water, wastewater, and recycled water facilities, including expansion of WRP #l. The CEQA concept of "tiering" refers to the analysis of general environmental matters in a broad, program-level EIR, with subsequent focused environmental documents for individual projects that implement the program. The project environmental document incorporates by reference the applicable discussions in the program EIR and concentrates on project-specific issues that warrant examination at a greater level of detail than was provided in the Master Plan EIR. CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines encourage the use of tiered environmental documents to reduce delays and excessive paperwork in the environmental review process. In accordance with State CEQA Guidelines §§15152 and 15168(c), the EIR for the proposed project will be tiered from the 2001 Master Plan EIR (State Clearinghouse Number 1998082050), which will be incorporated by reference. The Master Plan EER is available for review at the City of Lathrop offices at 16775 Howland Road, Lathrop. Project Features Allowances were made in the design of WRP 91 to facilitate its eventual expansion to a capacity of 1.2 mgd. The Phase IA improvements proposed in this project encompas- :his expansion and therefore would increase treatment capacity from the existing design capacity of 0.6 mgd to a total of 1.2 mgd. To provide an extended aeration system for wastewater processing, an additional aeration/clarification tank and sludge-drying beds would be added to the plant, improving the process to achieve tertiary treatment standards (described below) and enabling the plant to accommodate higher strength wastewater from industrial and commercial users if necessary. Alternate treatment processes are being reviewed and may be used if they can provide the required tertiary-quality effluent at a competitive cost. 16775 Howland Road-Suite One Lathrop, CA 95330