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Foster Farms wastewater ponds remain under decommissioning; city says company aims to return property
Summary
City staff told the Livingston City Council that Foster Farms is continuing decommissioning work on an industrial wastewater treatment site of about 100 acres and that the company has expressed a desire to return the property to the city once remediation and state inspections are complete.
At the Aug. 19, 2025 council meeting, City Manager Jose Antonio Ramirez reported that Foster Farms is continuing the decommissioning of an industrial wastewater treatment site tied to the plant near Livingston and that company representatives have indicated a willingness to return the property to the city when decommissioning is finished.
Ramirez said the site covers "approximately about a 100 acres," and that the property includes a shooting range and a series of ponds currently used by Foster Farms. He said state monitors conduct annual inspections and staff has asked the state if city representatives may participate in those inspections. "Foster Farms wants to hand over the property as soon as possible," Ramirez said, but he cautioned more work remains and staff will provide a more robust report to council when additional information is available.
Ramirez told council he recalled an MOU that suggested the company would return the property around 2015; the property had still not reverted to the city as of 2025. He described ongoing remediation steps: Foster Farms must return the ponds and property "to the original state that we basically provided them," and the state continues monitoring.
Discussion (not decision) - Council members asked for the size of the property and clarifications about uses (ponds, shooting range). City manager and staff answered that the site is about 100 acres and contains ponds and a shooting range. - Staff said they are seeking to be included in state inspection visits and will report back with more detail at a future meeting.
Direction / next steps - Staff to arrange for the county/state disaster/emergency services presenter to brief the council on related emergency planning (the city manager indicated an upcoming presentation by Merced County OES to the council). - Staff will provide a more detailed report on the Foster Farms property decommissioning and potential reuse options once additional information is gathered.
No formal action was taken on the Foster Farms decommissioning at the meeting; council received the report for informational purposes.
