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MULLER RANCH ELMER MULLER 3"O.-S-ROBERTS' ROAD.: - - STOCKTON CALIFORMA 209/463-3018 FAX 2091469-8888 , San 7oaquin Coin ty Community.Development Department 'Developinent Services Division 1810 East Hazelton Avenue Stockton,California 95205 Attention: Kathy Allen Application Number: PA-0500729 Dear Ms. Allen: I have been a diversified farmer my entire life and I am certainly not opposed to any type of animal agriculture. However,locating poultry operation in the Delta with the bird population densities required for a commercial operation is extremely unwise.My property borders the north end of this proposed sight. The water table on Roberts Island is from three to-ten feet on any ranch that I have farmed. These high water tables make pumping drain water anabsolute necessity in order to farm. A poultry operation of this magnitude will produce extremely high levels of nitrates that on a wet year will be impossible to contain on the permitted property. Since our drain is in a natural drain flow it will be impossible to keep these nitrates out of our drainage system that must be pumped back into the river. If we are forced to stop draining,we will lose our grapes,alfalfa, asparagus and tomatoes. In the unfortunate event of a flood,this proposed operation is a half a mile from the most dangerous portion of levee on Roberts Island nicknamed the"Hot Tub" in 1997. I have been patrolling levees on Roberts Island since 1951. This area has always been of extreme concern because of the high volume of seepage and boils. If the levee were to break in this area, it would most certainly drown every chicken in this operation. Hundreds of thousands of dead birds would certainly pose a health hazard to the surface drinking water supply of the east bay area as well as a health hazard to all of the people trying to control ' or remove the flood waters. I am familiar with poultry operations,as I have worked for Foster Farms and Nulaid in the past. The smells created by these poultry operations are not compatible with populated areas. The prevailing breezes passing through this proposed operation would carry the stench to an area from Louise Avenue to Highway 33 in Vernalis. Depending upon the humidity, speed and direction of the wind could carry it much further. With new developments already in progress in Mossdale and,Stewart Tract,this location could not be worse. For all of the above reasons,I sincerely request your denial of this permit. Please keep me informed of all action taken by your office on this matter. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, &-O� H.Elmer Muller/44L,�,