Double Diamond Dairy Expansion Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026060896
Lead Agency
County of Merced, Department of Community and Economic Development
Document Title
Double Diamond Dairy Expansion Project
Document Type
NOP - Notice of Preparation of a Draft EIR
Received
Present Land Use
Agriculture/ General Agricultural (A-1) / General Agricultural (A)
Document Description
The Applicant requests Conditional Use Permit No. CUP25-007 to expand the existing Double Diamond Dairy on an approximately 188-acre site in unincorporated Merced County. The project would allow construction of new dairy facilities, including free stall barns, a maternity barn, and a milking parlor, to support an increase in herd size from about 9,870 to approximately 15,430 animals. The expansion would occur within the existing dairy footprint on previously disturbed land. Existing facilities and the on-site waste management system, including lagoons, separators, and land application of wastewater and manure to about 1,990 acres of cropland, would continue to operate. Project implementation would allow continued and expanded dairy operations with minor increases in truck traffic and no proposed General Plan amendments, zoning changes, subdivisions, or new off-site infrastructure.
Contact Information
Name
Mark Hamilton
Agency Name
County of Merced
Job Title
Planner III
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Brandi Cummings
Agency Name
SWCA Environmental Consultants
Job Title
Principal Planning Team Lead
Contact Types
Consulting Firm
Phone
Email
Name
Mike D. Vander Dussen
Agency Name
Double Diamond Dairy
Job Title
General Partner
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated Area - El Nido
Counties
Merced
Regions
Countywide, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
East Washington Road, State Highway 59
Zip
95317
Total Acres
188
Parcel #
075-074-001
State Highways
59
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
El Nido School District
Waterways
N/A
Township
9S
Range
14E
Section
31
Base
MDP
Notice of Completion
State Review Period Start
State Review Period End
State Reviewing Agencies
California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 10 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Delta Protection Commission, Delta Stewardship Council, Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)
State Reviewing Agency Comments
California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)
Development Types
Other (Dairy Expansion - herd increase from 9,870 to 15,430)
Local Actions
Use Permit
Project Issues
Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire, Archeological/Historical, Forest Land/Fire Hazard, Geologic/Seismic, Water Supply Groundwater,
Public Review Period Start
Public Review Period End
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Completion [NOC] Transmittal form
State Comment Letters [Comments from State Reviewing Agency(ies)]
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