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1 ITable of ContentsPageExecutive SummaryES-1 chapter 1. Introduction1-1 Background on Biosolids Management in California1-1 Existing Regulations for Land Application of Biosolids1-2 Purpose of the Statewide Program EIR1-3 The Scoping Process1-3 Notice of Preparation1-4 Other Scoping Activities1-4 Issues to Be Addressed in the EIR1-6 Public Involvement1-6 Terminology1-7 Report Organization1-7 Agencies That Will Use This Document1-8 Anticipated Conditions Following Adoption of the GO1-9 chapter 2. Program Description2-1 Background on Biosolids Generation, Disposal, and Reuse2-1 Existing and Projected Biosolids Land Application in California2-1 Existing Regulatory Programs2-5 State Programs Role of RWQCBs 2-5 Federal Programs Part 503 Regulations2-5 Local Programs County Ordinances2-7 General Order Program Objectives2-8 Comply with California Water Code and Judicial Order2-8 Provide Regulatory Framework for RWQCB Permit Process2-9 Provide Flexible Regulatory Framework2-9 Description of General Order2-10 Overview2-10 Applicability2-10 Relationship of the GO to Part 503 Regulations2-11 Discharge Prohibitions of the GO2-13 Discharge Specifications of the GO2-14 Storage and Transportation 2-14 Provisions2-15GO Exclusion Areas2-16iiChapter 3.

2 Soils, Hydrology, and Water Quality3-1 Environmental Setting3-1 Soils3-1 Hydrology3-5 Water Quality3-6 Regulatory Setting3-20 Key Policies, Laws, and Programs3-20 Impacts and Mitigation Measures3-26 Approach and Methods3-26 Thresholds of Significance3-26 Impacts of Agricultural Use3-27 Impacts of Other Activities3-37 chapter 4. Land Productivity4-1 Introduction4-1 Environmental Setting4-2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures4-2 Thresholds of Significance4-2 Impacts of Agricultural Use4-3 Impacts of Other Activities4-15 chapter 5. Public Health5-1 Environmental Setting5-2 Introduction5-2 Pathogens5-3 Non-Pathogenic Contaminants5-7 Routes and Pathways of Contact5-10 Potential Health Effects from Direct Ingestion or Intake of FoodsRelated to Biosolids 5-16 Regulatory Setting 5-17 Waste Discharge Requirements5-17 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits5-18 California Hazardous Waste Control Law5-18 Discharge of Waste to Land 5-18 Regulatory Requirements for Composting Operations5-19 Source Reduction and Recycling5-19 Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Health and Safety Code Section )

3 5-20 Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human Health5-20 Ambient Air Quality and Air Toxics5-20 State Health and Safety Code and California Food and Agricultural Code5-20 California Occupational Safety and Health Act Requirements5-21 Food Safety5-21iiiImpacts and Mitigation Measures5-23 Approach and Methods 5-23 Thresholds of Significance5-25 Impacts of Agricultural Use5-25 Impacts of Other Activities5-37 chapter 6. Land Use and Aesthetics6-1 Environmental Setting6-1 Regional Settings6-1 Physical Setting6-3 Regulatory Setting6-4 County Land Use Regulations and Ordinances6-4 Site-Specific Waste Discharge Requirements6-4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures6-5 Approach and Methods6-5 Thresholds of Significance6-6 Impacts of Agricultural Use6-6 Impacts of Other Activities6-9 chapter 7. Biological Resources7-1 Environmental Setting7-1 Agricultural Activities7-2 Silvicultural Activities7-3 Horticultural Activities7-5 Land Reclamation Activities7-5 Regulatory Setting7-6 Federal Endangered Species Act7-6 Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act7-7 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act7-7 California Endangered Species Act7-7 Clean Water Act, Section 4047-8 Impacts and Mitigation Measures7-9 Approach and Methods7-9 Thresholds of Significance7-9 Impacts of Agricultural and Horticultural Use7-11 Impacts of Other Activities7-14 chapter 8.

4 Fish8-1 Environmental Setting8-1 Regions 1-4, 8, and 9: Pacific Coast8-1 Region 5: Western Sierra Nevada and Central and San Joaquin Valleys8-2 Regions 6 and 7: Eastern Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Colorado River8-2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures8-3 Approach and Methods8-3 Thresholds of Significance8-4 Impacts of Agricultural Use8-4 Impacts of Other Activities8-5ivChapter 9. Traffic9-1 Environmental Setting9-1 State Highway System9-1 Local Roadway System9-2 Regulatory Setting9-2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures9-3 Approach and Methods9-3 Thresholds of Significance9-3 Impacts of Agricultural Use9-4 Impacts of Other Activities9-5 chapter 10. Air Quality10-1 Environmental Setting10-1 Pollutants of Concern10-1 California Climate and Meteorology10-3 Regulatory Setting 10-3 Federal Regulatory Environment10-3 California Regulatory Environment10-4 Local Air Quality Regulatory Environment10-5 Impacts and Mitigation Measures10-5 Methods10-5 Thresholds of Significance 10-6 Impacts of Agricultural Use10-7 Impacts of Other Activities10-9 chapter 11.

5 Noise11-1 Environmental Setting11-1 Noise-Sensitive Land Uses11-1 Existing Noise Conditions11-1 Regulatory Setting11-2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures11-3 Approach and Methods11-3 Thresholds of Significance11-5 Impacts of Agricultural Use11-5 Impacts of Other Activities11-6 chapter 12. Cultural Resources12-1 Setting12-1 Prehistoric Setting12-1 Ethnographic Setting12-1 Historic Setting12-2 Regulatory Setting12-3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures12-3 Approach and Methods12-3 Thresholds of Significance12-4 Impacts of Agricultural Use12-4 Impacts of Other Activities12-6vChapter 13. Cumulative Impacts13-1 Overview of Cumulative Impacts Analysis13-1 Approach13-1 Impacts13-2 Groundwater Quality13-2 Biological Resources13-5 Air Quality13-5 Transportation13-6 chapter 14. Alternatives Analysis14-1 Alternatives to the Issuance of the General Order14-1No-Project Alternative14-1 Modified GO Provisions and Specifications Alternative14-2 Land Application Ban Alternative14-3 Alternatives Considered but Rejected14-4 Impact Comparison14-7No-Project Alternative14-7 Modified GO Provisions and Specifications Alternative 14-10 Land Application Ban Alternative14-13 chapter 15.

6 Mitigation Monitoring Program15-1 chapter 16. Citations16-1 chapter 17. Report Preparation17-1 Appendix A. Draft Text of the General OrderAppendix B. Notice of Preparation and Distribution ListAppendix C. Existing Regulatory Programs for Biosolids Land ApplicationAppendix D. Soils, Hydrology, and Water Quality Technical AppendixAppendix E. Public Health Technical AppendixAppendix F. Information on Special-Status SpeciesAppendix G. Background Information on AcousticsviiList of Figures and TablesFigureFollows Page1-1 Regional Water Quality Control Board Boundaries1-22-1 Typical Biosolids Management Practices2-22-2 Distribution of Biosolids Generated in California (1988, 1991, and 1998)2-22-3 Typical Biosolids Land Application Site2-46-1 California Physiographic Regions6-210-1 California Air Basins10-2 TableES-1 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures for the California State Water Resources Control Board General Waste Discharge Requirement for Biosolids Land ApplicationES-182-1 Quantities of Land-Applied Biosolids in California by County in 19982-42-2 Quantities of Land-Applied Biosolids in California by RWQCB in 19982-42-3 Regulatory Pollutant Concentrations and Loading Rates underPart 503 Regulations2-62-4 Pollutant Concentration Limits for Biosolids Being Land-Applied2-142-5 Cumulative Loading Limits for Biosolid Land Application Sites2-143-1 Watershed Characteristics of California3-63-2 Major Groundwater Basins of California3-65-1 Pathogenic Bacteria of Concern5-45-2 Pathogenic Viruses of Concern5-45-3 Pathogenic

7 Protozoans of Concern5-45-4 Pathogenic Helminths of Concern5-4viii5-5 Summary of Biosolids Land Application in California 1998(Ranked by Order of Land Applied Biosolids)5-65-6 Summary of Reported Infectious Diseases in California 1993-1998(Years in which Data Were Available for All Diseases)5-65-7 Summary of Reported Infectious Disease Cases (Bacterial and Viral) by County 1991-19985-65-8 Summary of Reported Infectious Disease Cases (Parasitic, Protozoan, and Worm) by County 1991-19985-65-9 Chronic Human Health Effects Associated with RegulatedContaminants found in Biosolids5-166-1 Representative County Ordinance Conditions Pertaining toLand Use or aesthetic Issues and Land Application of Biosolids6-47-1 Characteristics of Habitat Types Authorized for Treatmentunder the General Order7-410-1 Ambient Air Quality Standards Applicable in California10-210-2 Air Quality Requirement Attainment Status by Pollutantand Air Basin10-210-3 Vehicle Emissions from Biosolids Operations on 10-711-1 Maximum Allowable Ambient Noise Exposure for Various Land Useson 11-211-2 Equipment Noise Emissions Levelson 11-311-3 Estimated Project-Related Noise in the Project Areaon 11-415-1 Mitigation Monitoring Program15-1ixAcronyms and AbbreviationsARBC alifornia Air Resources BoardASAA merican Society of AgronomyBay-DeltaSan Francisco

8 Bay/ Sacramento-San Joaquin River DeltaBMPsbest management presentCAAC lean Air ActCAAQSC alifornia Ambient Air Quality StandardsCaltransCalifornia Department of TransportationCASAC alifornia Association of Sanitary AgenciesCCAC ertified Crop AdviserCCAAC alifornia Clean Air ActCCRC alifornia Code of RegulationsCDFAC alifornia Department of Food and AgricultureCECcation exchange capacityCEQAC alifornia Environmental Quality Act CFRCode of Federal RegulationsCFUcolony forming units CIWMBC alifornia Integrated Waste Management BoardCNEL community noise equivalent levelCNPSC alifornia Native Plant SocietyCOcarbon Army Corps of EngineersdBAdecibels above reference noise, A-weightedDEHPdi-ethylhexyl phthalateDFAC alifornia Department of Food and Agriculture DFGC alifornia Department of Fish and GameDHSC alifornia Department of Health ServicesDTSCC alifornia Department of Toxic Substances ControlDWSWAPD rinking Water Source Water Assessment and ProtectionEIRenvironmental impact Environmental Protection AgencyEQExceptional QualityESAE ndangered Species ActFCAA federal Clean Air ActFREPF ertilizer Research and Education ProgramxGOGeneral Order HWCLC alifornia Hazardous Waste Control LawLEAlocal enforcement agency MAFmillion acre-feet MCLmaximum contaminant levelmg/kgmilligrams per kilogrammg/lmilligrams per literMLRAM ajor Land Resource AreaMPN/gmmost probable number per gramNAAQSN ational Ambient Air Quality StandardNDDBN atural Diversity Data BaseNEPAN ational Environmental Policy ActNMFSN ational Marine Fisheries

9 ServiceNO2nitrogen dioxide NO3nitrateNOAnotice of applicability NOInotice of intentNOxoxides of nitrogenNOPnotice of preparationNPDESN ational Pollutant Discharge Elimination Natural Resources Conservation ServiceNWPN ationwide PermitsO3 ozoneORNLOak Ridge National LaboratoryPAHspolynuclear aromatic hydrocarbonsPCAspossible contaminating activitiesPCBspolychlorinated particulate matter less than microns in diameterPM10inhalable particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameterPOTW publicly owned treatment worksppmparts per millionROGreactive organic gasesRWQCB regional water quality control boardSIPstate implementation planSO2sulfur dioxideSOCssynthetic organic compoundsSTLC soluble threshold limit concentrationxiSWFP solid waste facilities permitSWRCBC alifornia State Water Resources Control Board TAGtechnical advisory groupTLCthreshold limit concentrationTPDtons per dayUCUniversity of Department of Fish and Wildlife ServiceVMTvehicle miles traveledWDRwaste discharge requirementsWHPAW ellhead Protection AreaWWTP wastewater treatment plantFG/lmicrograms per liter