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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.a.4) General Manager Additional Written AnnouncementsBoard Meeting of February 7, 2013 Additional Written Announcements: Recycled Water Al ly4�ee�) f) Refinery Recycled Water Project Update on Status of Possible Grant Funding from the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)Recent Promotions The District has been pursuing federal grant funding for the Refinery Recycled Water Project through WRDA, which could potentially provide funding for up to 75% of the esimated $100 million project cost. WRDA is a federal program that authorizes funds for various US Corps of Engineers' projects including "environmentally oriented" ones. WRDA has usually been reauthorized every two years; however, the last time it was reauthorized was in 2006, and it has not been reauthorized since because of political maneuvering. This year Senate Chairman Boxer and House Chairman Shuster have announced that reauthorization of WRDA is their top priority. In the past, reauthorizations have included specific projects like the Refinery Recycled Water Project. However, unless the current ban on earmarks is ended or suspended, no specific projects will be named. Given that possibility, the District's focus is to make sure a particular section of WRDA - Section 219 - will be included in the reauthorization. That section authorizes funds for environmentally friendly projects, like water recycling. If Section 219 is reauthorized, then the District's Refinery Recycled Water Project would automatically be eligible to compete for funds that would be appropriated for that Section of WRDA. A copy of the letter sent by the District to various Members of the House on February 1, 2013 requests their support for including Section 219 in the House bill. The District's advocacy plan is to work through key Project sponsors such as Congressman George Miller to solicit the support of key Members who sit on the WRDA reauthorization subcommittee - Napolitano and Garamendi. The Refinery Project would provide multiple benefits to the District, including recycling up to 20 million gallons per day of the District's secondary effluent, which is currently discharged to Suisun Bay. In addition, the Refinery Project could help mitigate impacts, if any, on the District's ammonia discharge to Suisun Bay, since ammonia would be removed from the recycled water produced for the refineries. Additional Written Announcements February 7, 2013 Page 2 of 2 Treatment Plant g) Short -Term Maintenance Agreement with Solar Turbines for the Cogeneration System The District has entered into a nine - month, short-term maintenance agreement with Solar Turbines for the Cogeneration System. The agreement, effective February 5, 2013, covers labor only and parts will be ordered separately. Solar Turbines will be onsite within the next two weeks to survey the System and the first service is anticipated to be completed by mid April. With this agreement in place, staff is now working on the fuel and control system upgrades required so that a long -term service agreement can be implemented in the future. Central February 1, 2013 The Honorable George Miller 2205 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Mike C. Thompson 213 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Eric Swalwell 501 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Tim Bishop Ranking Democrat Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure B376 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Grace F. Napolitano 1610 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable John Garamendi 2438 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Sanitary District Request for Section 219 Program Funding Authorization for WRDA Dear Members of Congress: PHONE (925) 228 -9500 FAX.• (925) 676 -7211 www.centralsan.org ANN R. FARRELL General Manager KENTUN l.. AIM Counsel for the District (510) 808 -2000 ELAINE R 80EHME Secretary of the District On behalf of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD), I am writing to respectfully request your support for the inclusion of Section 219, the Environmental Infrastructure Program (1992 Water Resources Development Act, as amended) in the House version of the "Water Resources Development Act of 2013.° A general reauthorization of the Program (without naming specific projects) would provide an opportunity for projects like CCCSD's Contra Costa County Refinery Recycled Water Project to pursue funding via the appropriations process. I want to be absolutely clear ® Recycled Paper Request for Section 219 Program Funding Authorization for WRDA Page 2 of 2 on what we are NOT requesting — we are not seeking an earmark for the Project (assuming the rules don't change regarding earmarks); we are simply seeking inclusion of a Section 219 reauthorization. CCCSD, located in the San Francisco Bay Area and serving communities in central Contra Costa County about 30 miles east of San Francisco, would like to thank all of you for your leadership and commitment to our Nation's water resources infrastructure. As you well know, reliable, well- maintained water resources infrastructure is fundamental to America's economic and environmental well- being, and is essential to maintaining our nation's competitive position within the global economy. Our water resources infrastructure provides life- saving flood control, abundant water supplies, shore protection, water -based recreation, environmental restoration and hydropower production, all of which are essential to our economic well - being. Of particular interest to CCCSD, in its support for expeditious consideration of WRDA reauthorization is the Contra Costa County Refinery Recycled Water Project (Refinery Project). The Refinery Project, with a total cost of $100M and a funding request of $75M, would provide up to 22,500 AFY of recycled water to the Shell and Tesoro refineries in Martinez for use in cooling towers and as boiler feedwater. These refineries are conveniently located near CCCSD's wastewater treatment plant in Martinez, but are currently supplied by the Contra Costa Water District with Delta water. Delta supplies are vulnerable to drought restrictions and service interruptions from earthquakes and levee failures. By using recycled water instead of Delta water the refineries will have a reliable year -round supply of high quality water which is necessary for maintaining uninterrupted refinery operations and preserving thousands of jobs both within the refineries and in the support services provided by businesses in the surrounding community. The Refinery Project, with its extensive needs and benefits, enjoys broad -based political and substantive support. However, Federal authorization is lacking to support much - needed funding. In that regard, we very much urge your support that the House version of the "Water Resources Development Act of 2013" include an authorization of funding for the Section 219 Program. We look forward to working with you and your staff on this important issue 7urtis S'rely yours, Swanson Provisional General Manager