Waste Discharge Requirements for Barsotti Juice Company
Summary
SCH Number
2024070164
Public Agency
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Sacramento Region 5
(RWQCB)
Document Title
Waste Discharge Requirements for Barsotti Juice Company
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/3/2024
Document Description
On 26 May 2021, Barsotti Family LLC submitted a Report of Waste Discharge (RWD) to apply for Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for discharge of processing wastewater generated at the Barsotti Juice Company (Facility) in El Dorado County. The production of fresh apple juice at the Facility started about two weeks a year beginning in the early 1980’s. Juice production increased slowly over time; however, the Facility was not previously regulated under WDRs. The existing wastewater treatment and disposal system consists of a holding tank, two fine screening systems, two 10,000- gallon polyethylene above ground storage tanks, and 12 acres of land application areas (LAAs). The proposed changes include installation of a wastewater treatment and storage system and expansion of the LAAs from 12 to 42.2 acres. The planned changes will be completed by December 2024. WDRs Order R5-2024-0030 for the Barsotti Juice Company was adopted by the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board on 21 June 2024.
Contact Information
Name
Scott Armstrong
Agency Name
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region 5
Job Title
Senior Engineering Geologist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Camino
Counties
El Dorado
Regions
Northern California
Zip
95709
Jobs
40
Parcel #
085-030-057-000, 085-030-058-000, 085-030-059-000 (085-030-060-000), and 085-540-073-000
Township
11N
Range
11E
Section
35
Base
MDB&M
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Title 14 Sections 15301 and 15304
Reasons for Exemption
The issuance of WDRs is a discretionary agency action subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The WDRs Order regulates an existing wastewater discharge to land at the Facility and includes flow limits of 1.4 million gallons per month and 14.6 million gallons per calendar year. To minimize water quality impacts from existing and proposed wastewater disposal operations, the Discharger intends to expand its LAAs to include 30.2 acres of existing, irrigated orchards and to construct two lined ponds consisting of a 396,650-gallon treatment pond and a 575,483-gallon storage pond, at the Facility. Authorization of the Discharger’s existing operation is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14 section 15301 because such authorization involves no expansion of existing use. El Dorado County has issued a grading permit authorizing the Discharger to construct the proposed ponds. To the extent that the WDRs Order authorizes LAAs for waste disposal, the Central Valley Water Board has determined that such authorization is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to Title 14 section 15304 because it involves only minor alterations to the condition of the land, water, and/or vegetation of the LAAs