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California Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region Winston H.Hickox Robert Schneider,Chair Gray Davis Secretary for Sacramento Main Office Governor Environmental hnemet Address: http://w .sweb.ca.gov/mgcb5 Protection 3443 Routier Road,Suite A,Sacramento,California 95827-3003 Phone(916)255-3000•FAX(916)255-3015 2 May 2003 Mr. Jerry Singer Alpine Packing Company 9900 Lower Sacramento Rd. Stockton, CA 95210 CONDITIONAL APPROVAL, BASELINE CHARACTERIZATION FOR VADOSE MONITORING PROGRAM,ALPINE PACKING COMPANY, STOC%TON, SAN JOA QUIN COUNTY I have reviewed the 7 April 2003 Baseline Characterization for Vadose Monitoring Program for Alpine Packing Company, prepared by Fall Creek Engineering, Inc. The report was prepared in response to Provision G.2.f of Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) Order No. R5-2002-0225, which states: By 7April 2003, the Discharger shall submit a Vadose Zone Monitoring Workplan. The workplan shall describe proposed vadose zone monitoring locations,proposed sampling techniques, and frequency of sampling designed to ensure that the free draining liquid within the vadose zone is representatively characterized. The purpose of this monitoring is to determine whether the land treatment units are sufficiently treating the wastewater such that the underlying groundwater will not be degraded. After reviewing the report, I have the following comments: • Please discuss the effect on groundwater quality that might result from leaching excess salts out of the root zone. • Please discuss the potential for soil salt concentration increases that might result from employing a minimum required leaching fraction. • Because a low permeability zone is suspected to exist at a depth of about two-feet below the ground surface, please collect samples for chemical analysis below the low permeability zone. • Please provide a map that shows the proposed sample locations. • Please describe how the samples will be collected,the sampling equipment, and how the sampling equipment will be decontaminated between sample locations. • Please better describe how the soil samples will be analyzed. The report states samples will be analyzed for pH, organic matter, CEC, ECe, etc.;please provide a list of the analyses that will be performed. Consider adding Exchangeable Sodium Percentage to the list of analytes. • The report states, "All samples will be collected, mixed and sub-sampled in the field..." Please describe the process and the number of samples that will be analyzed. California Environmental Protection Agency ea Recycled Paper The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption.