The questions and answers in this section provide some additional information relating to our company and are more specific to the business of bottled water. If you have a question for which you do not see an answer below, please click on the Contact Us link or the Dear Dave link and send us your question. We will do out best to
respond quickly.
See Dave’s Updates for additional questions/comments not listed here.
Q. What is the current status of the Nestlé Waters project proposal in McCloud?
A. Before the plant can be permitted the revised project proposal must undergo an environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To support this environmental analysis NWNA has committed to two years of additional study of the watershed and surrounding habitat, which began in 2008. During that time, we will also be working with the County, the District, and the community to further define this project and to conduct any additional studies that are necessary to prepare a draft environmental impact report for the re-defined project. Once those studies are completed, the County’s CEQA process can move forward. Our expectation is that this permitting process will take a minimum of three years.
Q. What is the size and scope of the currently proposed Nestlé Waters project in McCloud?
A. Our proposed McCloud project envisions a bottling facility up to 350,000 square feet in size—more than 60 percent smaller than the original project proposal. This size bottling plant can accommodate up to four production lines at full build out. We propose to use a maximum of 600 acre-feet of water each year at this facility. This water use limitation is more than 60 percent smaller than the cap included in NWNA’s prior contract with the McCloud Community Services District.
Click here to view a side-by-side comparison of our original project proposal and our revised project proposal.
Q. How many jobs will this proposed facility create?
A. Initially this facility will employ between 45 and 50 people and at full build out, a facility of this size can employ approximately 100 people. Every one of these jobs will pay wages in the top 50% of comparable wages in the region. In addition, NWNA offers a generous array of benefits, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, 401(k) and profit sharing.
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Q. How many trucks each day will go through the town as a result of this
project?
A. A facility of this size typically involves an average of 110 roundtrips daily and a maximum of 200 roundtrips daily. These trucks will travel to and from the plant on a private road on the outskirts of town and will not be permitted to drive through the middle of town. This alternate truck route was announced in October 2004 when we entered into an agreement to acquire a 60-foot easement connecting State Highway 89 to the old mill property. The easement would be improved and maintained by NWNA.
Q. Have you considered other modes of transportation, such as rail, as alternative to truck transport?
A. Yes, we are open to other forms of transportation that meet standards for environmental protection, cost-effectiveness, delivery time, and maintenance of product quality. We invite those interested in providing rail and other alternative transportation options to submit proposals to the company for consideration.
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Q. The property you have purchased was home to the mill that once operated in McCloud. Are any of the buildings on that property of historical value and will the company consider preserving them?
A. As part of the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) on our project there will be a study on the buildings on the mill property to determine their historical significance. Regardless of the outcome of that study, some of these buildings have significant emotional value to many members of the McCloud community and we are committed to working with McCloud to develop a plan to preserve the memories and history these structures embody.
Q. The original contract with the MCSD included the concept that Nestlé Waters would annex the mill property into the District boundaries. Are you still willing to do this?
A. Yes, this was something that was part of our initial contract with the District and we are willing to include it the new contract as well.
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Q. Why did Nestlé Waters decide to scale back the size and scope of its initially proposed McCloud project?
A. This decision was made as a result of changes to the business environment since the inception of this project in 2003 and in response to feedback received from the McCloud community and other stakeholders on the original project proposal. We now have greater water supplies in the Western United States through the opening of a plant in Denver and have added supplies in other locations. In addition, the cost of transportation and fuel has risen, and the national economy has shifted. As a result, it no longer makes business or economic sense for the company to build the same size facility as we originally proposed in McCloud. In addition, we heard feedback from the community on the original project proposal and our revised proposal is responsive to many of those concerns.
Q. Was Nestlé Waters decision to downsize the project influenced by community and environmental debate about the project?
A. There are compelling business reasons to downsize our project proposal in McCloud. We also listened to the input of key stakeholders and their views about the project and of its place within the McCloud community. We are extremely appreciative of the strong support we have received from members of the McCloud community, elected officials and residents throughout Siskiyou County. We look forward to continuing to work with all interested stakeholders as we move forward with this project. Please sign up if you are interested in receiving updates on our project. If you have a comment or a question, please contact us.
Q. Why did Nestlé Waters decide to step out of its original contract with the MCSD?
A. Under our original contract agreement, we had the right to step out of our contract with the District until October 1, 2008. We believe it is most appropriate to renegotiate this contract so that it reflects both the smaller size of our proposed facility and takes into account community input on the revised project proposal.
Q. What elements of its original contract with the District does Nestlé Waters expect to be changed in any new contract with the Board?
A. We are open to discussing all issues with the District. Our goal is to come to an agreement on a new contract that reflects the smaller project we recently proposed and takes into account additional community input on that revised proposal.
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Q. Will this new contract provide the company with any water rights in the area? Did the previous contract provide the company with any water rights?
A. No, under our original contract Nestlé Waters would have been be a customer of the MCSD and had no water rights to the District’s water. The same would be true under a new contract.
Q. Will the company be paying less to the community for water?
A. That is something that will be part of our new contract negotiations with the District.
Q. Will you address the impact of your project on climate change, as requested by Attorney General?
A. Yes, an analysis of the project’s carbon footprint will be included in the EIR/EA. The Attorney General’s letter was based on an administrative draft environmental impact report that was never finalized and is not pertinent to our current project proposal. We appreciate the AG’s input and share his commitment to ensuring that new projects in California do not negatively impact the environment. In McCloud, we have just begun two to three years of analysis on the watershed and the draft EIR/EA will also include an analysis of the project’s potential impacts on air quality, traffic conditions, hazardous materials, and climate change, among other things. . The project will meet all of CEQA and NEPA’s requirements for analysis and mitigation, including those for greenhouse gas and global warming impacts.
Q. Is the new project proposed still a LEED certified green building?
A. Yes, every one of our new buildings are designed to be a LEED certified green building.
Q. What type of bottles will be manufactured at the facility?
A. In addition to other products, we plan on making our eco-shape bottles – they are 100 percent recyclable and the lightest weight, most environmentally friendly bottle in beverage industry.
Please sign up if you are interested in receiving updates on our project. If you have a comment or a question, please contact us.
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Update 2/09/09
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