Crystal Geyser passes committee test
In a room filled with interested citizens, the Orland Technical Advisory Committee Wednesday unanimously voted to "deem complete" Crystal Geyser Water Co.'s application to build a sparkling mineral water bottling company plant in Orland.
Crystal Geyser representatives and consultants who conducted aquifer and noise tests presented the application to the committee.
The meeting was held only to determine whether the application was complete, said City Planner Nancy Sailsbery, who is the committee chairwoman.
City Manger Paul Poczobut Jr. asked, whether the proposal meets the needs of the property "and, more importantly, does it meet the needs of the community?"
"Yes," said Jim Strandberg of Malcolm Pirnie, the engineering company that tested the aquifer and arranged for the noise tests.
"The Orland area has an abundant water supply. We didn't see any possible impact to the cities water supply or residents' wells," he said.
"The tests showed that at 410 gallons per minute, it is a very high capacity aquifer."
City Engineer Ken Skillman asked about the danger of the Orland plume.
Strandberg reiterated that the plume of dry cleaning solvent — PCE — in the aquifer "principally runs in sandy, fine-graded material" of the Stony Creek Fan that goes to a depth of about 60 feet.
The Crystal Geyser well is about 175 feet deep in a confined aquifer separated from the Stony Creek Fan by the clay soils of the Tehama Formation, Strandberg said.
Poczobut then wanted to know whether the plume would "go below the clay surface."
Strandberg explained that "the clay is a barrier to water
flow and also a barrier to PCE."
Skillman also wanted to know about a count of agricultural wells in the vicinity.
"The county is working on that," Strandberg said. But, "the portion of the county we're in is of little interest to the county count of wells," because the aquifer is not stressed.
City Attorney Tom Andrews asked if Crystal Geyser's parent company, Otsuka America Inc., is incorporated in California. The answer was yes.
Another issue related to whether a California Environmental Quality Act report should be filed. Strandberg said he is willing to work with the city to complete an initial study checklist. It would be done using CEQA guidelines.
Under the guidelines, "CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA."
Still, some residents hoped a full EIR would be completed.
"An EIR will give you facts, facts, facts," said Dalene Shippelhoute, responding to Poczobut's statement that the committee can only act on verifiable facts.
Police Chief Bob Pasero's concern related to truck traffic and truck routes. Crystal Geyser's vice president of manufacturing said they anticipate a maximum of 25 truck loads — in and out of the plant — per day, down from 30 originally proposed.
Pasero emphasized that the city's 25 mph speed limits "will be strictly enforced."
Weklych assured the contracted drivers will obey all traffic laws on the route from the plant at 1507 County Road 200 to Papst Street then Walker Street and finally to Interstate 5.
Contact Lydia Harris at 934-6800 or lharris@tcnpress.com.
