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California RLPional Water Quality Convela. Board °' <br /> 4: <br /> Central Valley Region <br /> Karl E. Longley,ScD, P.E.,Chair <br /> Linda S.Adams J Arnold <br /> Secreta ar Sacramento Main Office 1 1020 Sun Center Drive#200.Rancho Cordova,California 95670-6114 Schwarzenegger <br /> Environmental Governor <br /> Protection Phone(916)464-3291 •FAX(916)464-4645 <br /> http://www.waterboards-ca gov/centralvalley <br /> 25 April 2007 <br /> Rob Taylor -- <br /> Valley Organics, Inc. <br /> { <br /> 920 W. Frewert Road <br /> Lathrop, California 95330 <br /> REPORT OF WASTE DISCHARGE FOR VALLEY ORGANICS, INC., LATHROP, SAN <br /> JOAQUIN COUNTY <br /> The Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) staff has reviewed the <br /> Report of Waste Discharge (RWD) application for Valley Organics, Inc. Based on this review <br /> and the current understanding of the proposed composting operation, staff finds the ROWD <br /> incomplete and is requesting further information to complete the application. <br /> Composting facilities are known to produce leachate. Regional Water Board staff collected <br /> water quality samples from three composting facilities located in San Joaquin and Stanislaus <br /> Counties. The operated facilities utilized only clean green waste in the composting operation. <br /> The water quality samples were analyzed for electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids <br /> (TDS), nitrate as nitrogen, total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia as nitrogen, and pH. The <br /> analytical results showed elevated levels of electric conductivity (3,300 to 5,300 umhos/cm), <br /> TDS (2,600 to 4,200 mg/1) and ammonia (56 to 190 mg/1), which exceeds applicable water <br /> quality protection standards. Water from these compositing facilities is a threat to groundwater <br /> quality and we would expect similar results from other green waste compositing operations. <br /> Attachment 1 of the RWD provides a general description of the operation. Staff is concerned <br /> that water applied to the compost piles using a water truck does not provide appropriate <br /> control and could result in additional runoff. Attachment 1 does not describe what types of <br /> stormwater controls will be constructed to contain and direct runoff, to reduce erosion of the <br /> compost piles and to control sedimentation during precipitation events. Attachment 1 <br /> indicates that `only during heavy rainfall periods will any surface water run into the retention <br /> pond." The calculations provided do not indicate the pond is designed for a 100 year, 24 hour <br /> precipitation event. <br /> The proposed operation will be conducted on two, 5-acre parcels underlain by native soils. <br /> Staff is concerned based on the results from other green waste compositing operations that <br /> groundwater beneath the operation will be degraded by the composting leachate. Also <br /> because of the underlying soils moderately rapid to rapid permeabilities the leachate likely <br /> would move rapidly through the soil column to groundwater. Furthermore, based on some <br /> California Environmental Protection Agency <br /> 07 Recycled Paper <br />