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Odor complaints drop 70% for pet food plant
diamond
The Diamond Pet Food plant in Ripon

Diamond Pet Foods put in the effort on being a good neighbor in Ripon.

That's something they're hoping to continue.

At Tuesday's joint workshop, the Ripon City Council and the Ripon Planning Commission heard information on the local pet food processing plant adding a fourth production line.

Plant manager Mark Ferguson indicated that Diamond Pet Foods currently operates with three production lines but was designed to add a fourth.

He addressed the concerns that's dogged the processing plant since its opening in 2012 — odor.

Residents often complained about the foul odors prior to the installation of the Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers in 2018. Before that, Diamond Pet Foods tried using Cold Plasma Injection. "It was deemed inadequate for Ripon," said Randy Frasier of York Engineering Service on behalf of the Odor Management Plan necessary for the Final Environmental Impact Report for that added production line.

He added: "RTO is the best means of reducing organic compound emissions."

Fraser described the RTOs as "large cylindrical" vertical exhausts standing 30 feet high.

"The blower won't operate unless it's below 1,650 (degrees) Fahrenheit, minimum." he said.

In the event of odor from the proposed fourth line, Ferguson and Frasier noted the RTO would be shut down as a stop gap.

Diamond Pet Foods has spent the past 3 ½ years on plans to construct an additional pet food production line at the existing facility at 942 S. Stockton Ave.

Since the installations of the RTO, complaints on odor — confirmed or unconfirmed —- have dropped substantially in recent years.

"We're at 1.8 (complaints) per month, having come from 7.0 per month (prior to the RTOs)," said Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, who echoed Frasier's information that the smells are seasonally driven, in particular, in the winter months.

He noted that the joint workshop was necessary in providing an update to elected leaders and getting the Planning Commissioners up to speed.

The latter will vote on certifying the Final EIR at the April 19 Planning Commission meeting.

Zuidervaart noted that the EIR is scheduled to be completed by April 9 for public viewing before becoming finalized.

"It will not go to Council unless there's an appeal," he said.

 

Diamond Pet Foods put in the effort on being a good neighbor in Ripon.

That's something they're hoping to continue.

At Tuesday's joint workshop, the Ripon City Council and the Ripon Planning Commission heard information on the local pet food processing plant adding a fourth production line.

Plant manager Mark Ferguson indicated that Diamond Pet Foods currently operates with three production lines but was designed to add a fourth.

He addressed the concerns that's dogged the processing plant since its opening in 2012 — odor.

Residents often complained about the foul odors prior to the installation of the Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers in 2018. Before that, Diamond Pet Foods tried using Cold Plasma Injection. "It was deemed inadequate for Ripon," said Randy Frasier of York Engineering Service on behalf of the Odor Management Plan necessary for the Final Environmental Impact Report for that added production line.

He added: "RTO is the best means of reducing organic compound emissions."

Fraser described the RTOs as "large cylindrical" vertical exhausts standing 30 feet high.

"The blower won't operate unless it's below 1,650 (degrees) Fahrenheit, minimum." he said.

In the event of odor from the proposed fourth line, Ferguson and Frasier noted the RTO would be shut down as a stop gap.

Diamond Pet Foods has spent the past 3 ½ years on plans to construct an additional pet food production line at the existing facility at 942 S. Stockton Ave.

Since the installations of the RTO, complaints on odor — confirmed or unconfirmed —- have dropped substantially in recent years.

"We're at 1.8 (complaints) per month, having come from 7.0 per month (prior to the RTOs)," said Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, who echoed Frasier's information that the smells are seasonally driven, in particular, in the winter months.

He noted that the joint workshop was necessary in providing an update to elected leaders and getting the Planning Commissioners up to speed.

The latter will vote on certifying the Final EIR at the April 19 Planning Commission meeting.

Zuidervaart noted that the EIR is scheduled to be completed by April 9 for public viewing before becoming finalized.

"It will not go to Council unless there's an appeal," he said.