STATE
WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
WORKSHOP
SESSION -- DIVISION OF CLEAN WATER PROGRAMS
October 6, 1999
APPROVAL OF A STATE REVOLVING FUND
(SRF) LOAN PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF
PATTERSON (CITY), WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT (WWTP) DISPOSAL SITE EXPANSION, SRF LOAN PROJECT NO. C-06-4508-111
In accordance with the State Water Resources
Control Board's (SWRCB) Policy for
Implementing the State Revolving Fund for Construction of Wastewater Treatment
Facilities (Policy), adopted on February 16, 1995, and last amended on June
18, 1998, projects on the adopted priority list need SWRCB approval to receive
a SRF loan. Loans can be approved by
the SWRCB after the Division of Clean Water Programs (Division) has approved
the facilities plan, including (1) the project report; (2) environmental
documents; (3) the draft revenue program; and (4) the water conservation plan.
On
October 22, 1998, the SWRCB approved a loan commitment of $3.7 million to the
City for the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, through
Resolution No. 98-101. Immediately after the SWRCB’s approval, the City
expressed a desire to discharge their treated effluent to a different disposal
site than the one identified in the previously approved project. A revised
Environmental Impact Report was prepared for the proposed disposal site and
additional CEQA findings were made that require SWRCB’s approval.
The City is located
about 60 miles south of Sacramento, and lies within the County of Stanislaus.
The City’s present wastewater treatment facilities were originally constructed
in 1950’s and in the late 1960’s and early 1980’s some major improvements were
completed. The City owns and operates the facility that serves a current
population of about 10,500. The current
wastewater flow to the facility is about 0.8 million gallons per day
(mgd). The facility discharges the
treated effluent during the summer months to percolation/evaporation ponds
located within the 80 acre plant site and to the San Joaquin River during
winter months. The current wastewater flows to the plant during the wet weather
have exceeded its design treatment capacity on several occasions and the plant
is not capable of providing the required treatment resulting in violations of
the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Boards’ waste discharge
requirements. The previously approved project will expand the treatment
capacity to 1.3 mgd and will provide a reserve treatment capacity for 12 years
(till the year 2011) with disposal of the treated effluent to a pond located
directly south of and adjacent to the treatment plant.
The
City receives its water supply from deep water wells within the City from an
acquifer which is over 600 feet below the ground surface. The City has
indicated that it has enough water resources available to serve the projected
population.
In
accordance with the SRF Policy requirements for water conservation, the City is
a signatory to the “Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water
Conservation in California.”
The
City, due to a change in the disposal site, has provided the Division with a
revised schedule of submittal dates for 100 percent plans and specifications
and other milestones for the wastewater treatment project. The Board Resolution
Number 98-101 includes September 10, 1999, as the deadline for initiation of
construction for the previously approved project. The City has requested a new
date for the initiation of construction of November 22, 1999.
The
City prepared a Draft Focused Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the
proposed project changes which was distributed for public review and circulated
through the State Clearinghouse (SCH# 98012082) from December 22, 1998, through
February 5, 1999. The FEIR relies upon
and incorporates by reference a March 1998 Initial Study/Mitigated Negative
Declaration prepared for the City’s WWTP Upgrade and Expansion Project and
tiers off the City General Plan Master EIR prepared in June 1992.
During
the review period, comment letters were received from four agencies and two
individuals. The City adequately addressed the environmental issues raised
during the review period. The City
Council approved the project, certified the FEIR and adopted a Statement of
Overriding Considerations on April 20, 1999.
A Notice of Determination was filed with the County Clerk on May 22,
1999, and with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research on June 1, 1999.
The
City requests that the SWRCB approve the change in the disposal site for this
project.
Should
the SWRCB approve the revisions to the proposed project. Should the SWRCB, in accordance with Section
IX (J) of the SRF Policy, condition this approval by requiring expiration of
the preliminary loan commitment if construction is not initiated by November
22, 1999?
CVRWQCB. The proposed disposal site expansion will
provide a reserve disposal capacity for 12 years and the capability of meeting
both the existing and the future Waste Discharge Requirements.
None.
The SRF funds for the project have been previously committed per SWRCB
Resolution No. 98-101.
That the SWRCB adopt a resolution approving the project for the construction of the disposal site expansion and establishing a new date for initiation of construction of November 22, 1999.
_____________________________________________________________________________
DRAFT September 27, 1999
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
RESOLUTION NO. 99 -__
APPROVAL OF A
STATE REVOLVING FUND (SRF) LOAN PROJECT
FOR THE CITY OF
PATTERSON (CITY),
WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT (WWTP) DISPOSAL SITE EXPANSION
STATE REVOLVING
FUND LOAN PROJECT NO. C-06-4508-111
WHEREAS:
1. The
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), on February 16, 1995, adopted the
“Policy for Implementing the State
Revolving Fund for Construction of Wastewater Treatment Facilities,” and
revised it on June 18, 1998;
2. The
SWRCB, on June 17, 1999, adopted the SFY 1999/2000 SRF Loan Program Priority
List which included the Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion for City in
Priority Class C;
3. The
Division of Clean Water Programs has approved the project report, environmental
documents, and draft revenue program for the City’s project;
4. The
SWRCB approved a loan commitment of $3.7 million to the City for the
construction of the Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion through a
Resolution No. 98-101.
5. The City certified a Focused EIR (State
Clearinghouse No. 98012082) which has been reviewed and considered, and it has
been determined that:
a) As stated in the EIR, the project will
result in a significant and unavoidable impact with respect to land use by
permanent conversion of up to 80 acres of prime farmland to non-agricultural
use. All available land surrounding and
in reasonable proximity to the WWTP have been evaluated, all of these sites
contain prime farmland, and no other land disposal alternative is available.
The SWRCB hereby adopts
the following statement of overriding considerations to address the unmitigable
significant impact that will occur from approval of the project:
Implementation of the WWTP pond expansion project would allow the
City to (1) accommodate projected wastewater treatment and disposal needs
until the year 2011, consistent with the General Plan, thus preventing
placement of a moratorium on future growth, which is an action that is in
direct conflict with the adopted City General Plan; and (2) continue its
preferred operational strategy of land disposal instead of discharging treated
effluent to the San Joaquin River, which could result in significant adverse
impacts to water quality, public health and safety, and potential fisheries
resources within the San Joaquin River during periods of peak demand. In balancing the project benefits against
the potential significant impacts regarding land use, the SWRCB finds that the
public benefits of the project outweigh the unavoidable impact and, therefore,
determines that the impact is acceptable.
b) Changes or alternations
have been required in or incorporated into the proposed project which avoid or
reduce to less than significant levels other potentially significant impacts
identified in the EIR with respect to unknown subsurface cultural resources
which will be mitigated by ceasing excavation activities and consulting with a
qualified archaeologist in the event of a discovery, until an evaluation is
completed, and notifying the County Coroner and Native American Heritage
Commission if human bones are uncovered.
c) With respect to other
potentially significant environmental impacts identified in the environmental
document, appropriate
changes or alterations are
not within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the SWRCB. Such other changes or alterations have been
adopted or should be adopted by other agencies.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The
State Water Resources Control Board:
1. Approves the project modifications to
include the Wastewater Disposal Site Expansion as eligible for the SRF loan
commitment made through Resolution No. 98-101.
2. Will withdraw the preliminary SRF loan
commitment made through Resolution No. 98-101, if the City of Patterson does
not initiate project construction by November 22, 1999.
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the
Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy
of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water
Resources Control Board held on October 21, 1999.
Maureen
Marché
Administrative
Assistant to the Board