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New Hope Soil Suitability / June 26,2008 File No.2836-001.01 Page 2 2.0 PRESENT AND PAST USES OF THE SITE The entire property, save for the residential use described above, is used for farming. As indicated, the northwesterly most approximately 30 acres of the property is a pear orchard. Portions of the property southerly of the pear orchard and along the Mokelumne are planted in grapes (approximately 160 acres). The easterly approximate 1500 feet of the property is planted in alfalfa (approximately 70 acres). Portions of the property which are now planted in alfalfa were planted in grapes less than one year ago. Other than the two residences and former TV and radio transmitter described in section 1.0, the use of the property is and always has been agricultural. Our firm prepared a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of the property in 2006.1 The referenced report recommended screening and sampling around an approximate 500 gallon diesel tank located near the southerly residence. We performed the recommended screening and sampling in April 2006, and found that some samples contained diesel above laboratory reporting limits. We understand that the diesel tank was removed together with diesel-impacted soils in late 2007. In January 2008, we sampled and tested the cleanup site again and found some petroleum hydrocarbons in the diesel range at levels similar to those we determined in 2006. Based upon this, additional excavation and removal were performed while we were present on February 8, 2008. We obtained samples beyond the excavation limits on February 8th; the BTEX concentrations of the samples were found to be below the laboratory reporting limits. The results of the latter finding were presented in a February 29, 2008 letter.3 3.0 EXISTING AND PROPOSED SEPTIC TANK USAGE Our referenced Phase I Environmental Site Assessment speculated that the two described on site residences were constructed in the early 1900's. This being the case, there is no record of the permitting of the sanitary system associated with either residence. We understand through Mike Stokes, the tenant farmer with a 20-year lease on the property (but not a resident of either dwelling), that he pumped both septic tanks three years ago, but to the best of his knowledge, neither tank was pumped before that time during his tenure on the property. Both systems are in ground (not mounded). We would estimate that both systems are at least 50 years old. We understand that the southerly residence segregates it waste and that there is grey water discharge / to the ground surface associated with the washing machine. We understand that in ground septic d tank and leach field systems are common to rural residential dwellings in the general area. As indicated above, we are not aware of the permitting of the systems associated with either residence, nor of their repair history. We would expect that subdivision of the property will result in the demolition of both existing residences, the abandonment of the existing waste Raney Geotechnical,Inc;"Phase I Environmental Site Assessment,West Lauffer Road Property,APNs 001-030- 03 and 04,Thornton,California";February 16,2006;File No. 2836-001. 2 Raney Geotechnical,Inc;"Soil Sampling and Laboratory Analyses,Vicinity of Above Ground Fuel Tank,APN 001-030-04,West Lauffer Road,Thornton,California";April 24,2006;File No. 2836-001. 'Raney Geotechnical,Inc;"Clearance Soil Sampling and Laboratory Analyses,Soil Removal Area,Vicinity of Former Above Ground Tank,APN 001-030-04,West Lauffer Road,Thornton,California";February 29,2008;File No.2836-001. %W