Z-Best Composting Facility Modifications - Recirculated Draft EIR

Z-Best Composting Facility Modifications - Recirculated Draft EIR

The applicant has applied for a modification of its Use Permit and an Architectural Site Approval for its existing composting facility at 980 State Route 25. The proposed modification would allow an upgrade of the facility’s existing municipal solid waste (MSW) composting process from the current windrow method to an aerated static pile process and associated modifications to existing operations and site conditions to accommodate the new processing technology. The purpose of the proposed project is to enable faster and more efficient composting of MSW. The proposed technology and operations modifications would enable Z-Best to increase its current permitted composting capacity from a total of 1,500 tons per day (tpd) with up to 15 days per year at 2,500 tpd, to 2,750 tpd with up to 20 days per year at 3,500 tpd. The additional capacity is consistent with state mandates and the State of California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) goals to increase waste diversion from landfills. The proposed increase in intake volume would come from increased MSW. No modification of existing green waste processes or increase in green waste intake volume is proposed as part of the proposed project. The new MSW composting technology would be installed within the existing MSW composting area of the site - no expansion of facility boundaries is proposed. Additional site modifications include raising the MSW composting pad above the base flood elevation, modifying existing Detention Basin #1 to increase capacity and increase berm height, relocating the existing driveway to become the fourth leg of the SR-25/Bolsa Road intersection (and associated improvements within the SR-25 right-of-way), excavating additional flood storage, and permitting of previously unpermitted improvements. The Notice of Preparation for the project was released in October 2018, and a Draft EIR was publicly notified in January 2021. In response to public and agency comments received on that original Draft EIR, the County determined that additional analysis was required pertaining to the project and its environmental impacts. In addition, during the intervening period, several changes to the project were proposed by the Applicant which also required revisions to the analysis and conclusions of the original Draft EIR. The County has determined that these revisions and additions constitute “significant new information” as defined by CEQA. Furthermore, the County has determined that the revisions are not limited to a few chapters or portions of the EIR and therefore has determined to recirculate the entire document. This document constitutes the Recirculated Draft EIR for the proposed Z-Best Composting Facility Modification Project.

Gilroy, Unincorporated Area

Santa Clara

San Francisco Bay Area, Unincorporated

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California Department of Transportation, District 4 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region 3 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Department of Toxic Substances Control, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, California Highway Patrol (CHP)

California Highway Patrol (CHP)

Other (Composting Facility Expansion)

Use Permit, Grading Permit

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Energy, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire