Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

Community Fact Sheet

JULY 2019

2019 Tentative Waste Discharge Requirements

Available for Review PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Geothermal Inc. Landfill Facility July 15 – August 13, 2019
19020 Butts Canyon Road The Water Board invites you to
review and comment on the draft
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water 2019 WDRs for the former
Board) Landfill Permitting group invites you to review and comment Geothermal Inc. Landfill. All
on the draft Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for the former comments must be received by 5
Geothermal Inc. Landfill located at 19020 Butts Canyon Road in p.m. on August 13, 2019.
Middletown (site). Closure activities address elevated Comments can be sent to:
concentrations of boron, chloride, sulfate and total dissolved solids
found in shallow groundwater in the immediate vicinity of the landfill Brad Shelton, P.G.
and provide long-term protection of human health and the Central Valley Water Board
environment. The draft WDRs approve landfill closure activities; 11020 Sun Center Drive #200
request further investigations/evaluations to study and further Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
manage site drainage and runoff; and require post-closure Brad.Shelton@waterboards.ca.gov
maintenance activities, including ongoing monitoring of surface
water and groundwater. Community Open House
Site Location and Closure Activities For more information, please
The site consists of a 15-acre unlined closed landfill surrounded by attend the open house on:
eucalyptus tree plantations on three sides. It is located within a 460-
acre property that is owned by PG&E. The larger property consists DATE: July 29, 2019
of open space and includes the small man-made lake called TIME: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Freeman Lake. PLACE: Middletown Community
Center
From 1976 to 1986, a variety of companies/agencies used the site 21256 Washington Street
to dispose of non-hazardous drilling wastes generated from Middletown, CA 95461
exploratory drilling, geothermal well development, and plant
operations at the nearby Geysers Energy Field. Elevated Public Hearing
concentrations of boron, chloride, sulfate, and total dissolved solids
A public hearing will be held during
were found in this waste. These constituents are non-hazardous
the Central Valley Water Board
and occur naturally in local groundwater. From 2003 to 2006, PG&E
meeting on:
conducted the following closure activities to prevent human contact
with the waste and ensure the long-term protection of surface and
DATE: October 10/11, 2019
groundwater:
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Redding City Hall
• Solar evaporation of 21 million gallons of pond water
777 Cypress Avenue
• Closure of 30 acres of former waste evaporation ponds
Redding, CA 96001
• Excavation, solidification and consolidation of 178,000 cubic
yards of waste into a 15-acre landfill
 Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

Community Fact Sheet

JULY 2019

• Installation of a high-density plastic cover over the top of the landfill to prevent surface water
infiltration and grading of 90 acres to promote drainage
• Planting of 32-acres of eucalyptus trees to lower the water table beneath the landfill and prevent
groundwater from coming into contact with the waste
• Installation of water supply systems
• Construction of four acres of new wetlands and additional habitat restoration

As part of the closure, PG&E was required to monitor groundwater for five years to demonstrate that closure
activities were successful in achieving five feet of separation from the bottom of the landfill and groundwater
on a year-round basis.

Post-Closure Activities and Results

In 2012, the Water Board determined that the five feet of separation between the landfill and groundwater
was not being maintained consistently throughout the year. The Water Board requested that PG&E
implement additional corrective measures to try to achieve the five feet of separation. From 2012-2017,
PG&E conducted a variety of geology and groundwater conditions/flow studies to better understand site
conditions in order to propose corrective measures. These studies found:

• There are limited groundwater impacts from the waste in the immediate vicinity of the landfill
• The groundwater plume is stable and not migrating off-site, and is not impacting local drinking water
• It is technically and economically infeasible to achieve the five feet of separation due to the unique
geology and groundwater conditions at the site

Based on these findings, the Water Board concurred that pursuing the five feet of separation was not
feasible, however landfill closure activities along with additional work at the site to better manage drainage
and run-off would provide long-term protection of public health and the environment. The Water Board
moved the site to the Landfill Permitting Group so that new WDRs for the site could be established.

What are the Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs)?

State of California regulations govern how to address the treatment, storage, processing or disposal of
waste. WDRs are site-specific requirements describing measures the property owner must undertake to
control the release of waste contaminants into surface or groundwater.

Ongoing site and groundwater monitoring demonstrates the closed site is protective of public health and
the environment because the waste is being effectively managed in place and the shallow groundwater
plume has shrunk over the past decade, is not impacting drinking water, and the contaminants in the plume
are stable or declining. The Water Board has proposed 2019 WDRs for this site that approve the closure of
the landfill and include requirements for post-closure maintenance and additional investigation work to
ensure surface water does not infiltrate into the landfill. Groundwater, surface water and overall site
conditions would continue to be monitored.
 Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

Community Fact Sheet

JULY 2019

How can I provide feedback?

The Water Board encourages you to review the draft WDRs during the public comment period from July 15
to August 13, 2019. Community members are requested to submit comments in writing to Brad Shelton at
the Water Board by mail to 11020 Sun Center Drive #200, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670-6114 or email at
Brad.Shelton@waterboards.ca.gov. Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on August 13, 2019.

What is the approval process?

Upon completion of the comment period, the Water Board will respond in writing to all comments received
in a Response to Comments document. This will be added to the Administrative Record. Before approving
the tentative WDRs, the Water Board will hold a public hearing at its regular Board Meeting on October
10/11, 2019. At that meeting the Water Board will determine whether to approve, modify or deny the WDRs.
If approved, a copy of the final WDRs will be placed in the Administrative Record and PG&E will continue
to monitor the site, surface water and groundwater semiannually, and will prepare for investigation activities
that will occur in 2020.

Where can I find more information?

Further information about the site and tentative WDRs can be found on the Water Board’s website for
tentative orders. Copies of these documents can also be obtained by contacting or visiting the Water
Board’s office at 11020 Sun Center Drive #200, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670-6114 weekdays between 8:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. If you have questions, please contact Brad Shelton at (916) 464-1588 or
Brad.Shelton@waterboards.ca.gov.