Setton Pistachio Treated Wastewater Land Application Expansion Project

Setton Pistachio Treated Wastewater Land Application Expansion Project

Setton Pistachio (the applicant) is proposing to increase the volume of treated wastewater that would be applied to the LAAs during the pistachio harvest season. To account for the increased volume of treated wastewater to be used for irrigation, Setton is proposing to add 89 acres of LAAs to expand their wastewater treatment disposal capacity. As illustrated in Figure 2, the additional 89 acres would include APNs 320-040-004, -005, -006, -007, -008, -009; 320-040-034; and 320-070-023, -024, and -025 (89 acres of pistachio orchards with crop cover). The sites are owned by Setton Pistachio and are zoned AE-20 (Exclusive Agricultural Zone - 20 Acre Minimum) by Tulare County. The proposed LAAs are surrounded by land developed with agriculture and local roads. The project would include installation of a 15-inch subsurface pipeline to connect the additional LAAs to the existing treated wastewater distribution pipelines and installation of irrigation lines within the LAAs. Two encroachment permits would be required from Tulare County for the new pipeline to reach two of the new LAAs. The additional LAAs would allow Setton Pistachio to increase the annual wastewater discharge from 60 million gallons per year (MGY) to 85 MGY (maximum daily discharge rates would remain at 3 million gallons), allowing the facility to fully utilize its current design capacity. Improvements to the existing wastewater treatment facilities are also proposed to protect beneficial uses of water, prevent nuisance conditions, and comply with waste discharge requirements issued by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. This would include adding fiber filters to the existing gunite-lined pond to remove excess solids from treated wastewater prior to its release into the East and West Ponds, where it is stored on a short-term basis for distribution to the LAAs. Further, paddles would be installed in the West Pond for aeration, and a Venturi Model 06 EMOHTM system would be installed in the East Pond to improve aeration to prevent septicity and odor production.

Terra Bella

Tulare

Unincorporated

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 6 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW)

California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW)

Water Facilities (25 MGY increase)(Type Irrigation, MGD 25), Other (Land application of treated wastewater)

Minor Modification

Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Transportation, Utilities/Service Systems