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I State Board") for an order closing the Site, pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section <br /> 2 25299.39.2(b). I am also informed and believe that shortly thereafter San Joaquin County Public <br /> 3 Health Services, Environmental Health Division ("PHS/EHD") referred the Site to the San Joaquin <br /> 4 County District Attorney's Office (the "District Attorney") for enforcement action. I am further <br /> 5 informed and believe and based upon such information and belief state that prior to this time, <br /> 6 neither Unocal nor I was aware of any issues of non-compliance or underground storage tank <br /> 7 violations associated with the Site. <br /> 8 4. For a period of almost two (2) years, commencing on July 7, 1997, I engaged <br /> 9 in a number of face-to-face and telephone conferences with San Joaquin County Deputy District <br /> 10 Attorney David J. Irey in an effort to settle the alleged underground storage tank violations <br /> 11 associated with this and the two other former Unocal service station sites in Stockton. In spite of <br /> 12 ; my repeated requests that Mr. Irey set forth the alleged violations in writing, he has refused to do <br /> 13 so. <br /> 14 5. On February 17, 1999, Unocal and the District Attorney agreed to a settlement <br /> f <br /> 15 "in principle" whereby Unocal, without admitting liability, agreed to settle all existing San Joaquin <br /> 16 County service station enforcement matters by paying agreed-to penalties. During my <br /> 17 February 17, 1999 telephone conference with Mr. Irey, he raised the issue of Unocal's June 1997 <br /> 18 petition for closure of the Site that is pending before the State Board. Mr. Irey insisted that as one <br /> 19 of the conditions of the settlement, Unocal withdraw the petition. He also requested that the <br /> 20 penalty be allocated one-half to underground storage tank violations and one-half to unfair <br /> 21 business practices. I told him that I would convey his requests to Unocal, but that I did not believe <br /> 22 that Unocal would agree to withdraw its petition for closure. Attached to the accompanying <br /> 23 Petition for Review and Request for Stay as Exhibit 8 is a true and correct copy of my <br /> 24 February 17, 1999 letter to Mr. Irey confirming the settlement "in principle." <br /> 25 6. During a follow-up telephone conference on March 1, 1999, I told Mr. Irey that <br /> 26 ' although Unocal did not believe that it had engaged in any conduct that constituted unfair business <br /> 27p I ractices the District Attorney could allocate the agreed-to penalty as proposed. However, I also <br /> i <br /> 28 told him that Unocal would not withdraw its petition for closure and explained why Unocal <br /> -2- <br />