HomeMy WebLinkAbout06. Authorize the General Manager to execute a six-month extension for the current permit contract with Acme Fill Corporation (Acme)Page 1 of 2
Item 6.
CENTRAL SAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
' POSITION PAPER
MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 7, 2017
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SIX-MONTH
EXTENSION FOR THE CURRENT PERMIT CONTRACT WITH ACME FILL
CORPORATION (ACME) FOR DISCHARGE OF TREATED LANDFILL
LEACHATE FROM THE ACME LANDFILL LOCATED IN MARTINEZ
THROUGH JUNE 30, 2018. APPROVAL RECOMMENDED BY REAL
ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL & PLANNING COMMITTEE.
SUBMITTED BY: INITIATING DEPARTMENT:
TIM POTTER, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES -
COMPLIANCE SUPERINTENDENT ERC -ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
REVIEWED BY: LORI SCHECTEL, ENVIRONMENTALAND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
DIVISION MANAGER
JEAN -MARC PETIT, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERINGAND TECHNICAL
SERVICES
Roger S. Bailey
General Manager
ISSUE
Wastewater Discharge Permit Contracts, including extensions, for Class I Industrial Users (permit
contract) must be approved by the Board of Directors.
BACKGROUND
Acme's pretreated landfill leachate has been accepted by Central San since the early 1990s and through
permit contracts since 1994. A permit contract was used to protect Central San and to preserve the right to
modify the discharge conditions or stop receiving the treated leachate. Central San chose to receive the
leachate after encouragement from the Regional Water Quality Control Board because Central San's
December 7, 2017 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 58 of 240
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acceptance of the leachate under strict conditions provided the best regional environmental solution.
All treated leachate discharges authorized under permit contracts have used a Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD) multiplier for calculating the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) component of the Central San
Sewer Service Charge (SSC) in order to recover costs associated with accepting the treated leachate
discharges. Use of a COD multiplier in lieu of BOD was determined to be appropriate due to suppression
of the biological media used for the BOD measurement by the complex nature of the treated leachate.
Acme representatives petitioned to discontinue using the COD multiplier in the next permit
contract. Processing a six month extension of the current permit contract will enable Central San to
conduct a special study to evaluate whether to continue or discontinue using the COD multiplier for cost
recovery purposes.
A six month extension of the permit contract will maintain all of the protections from the current permit
contract. Central San staff believes that this extension is acceptable and does not increase the risk to our
facilities from the Acme discharge.
Staff has concluded that approval of this six month extension for the permit contract is exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Central San CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 provides an
exemption where a regulatory agency which is authorized by state or local ordinance to assure the
maintenance or protection of the environment takes action to affect such a purpose. The execution of a
permit contract with Acme is intended to maintain and protect the waters and other aspects of the
environment. Approval of this six month extension for the permit contract will establish the Board of
Directors' independent finding that this permit contract is exempt from CEQA.
ALT ERNAT IVES/CONSIDERAT IONS
No alternatives to the proposed six month extension for the permit contract were considered.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
No adverse financial impacts are anticipated from extending this permit contract with Acme. Environmental
Compliance, Laboratory, and legal costs will be recovered as billable activities. Treatment Plant and
Collection System costs will be recovered through the sewer service charge authorized in the permit
contract.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Staff reviewed the proposed changes to the permit contract at the November 27, 2017 Real Estate,
Environmental & Planning Committee meeting. The Committee recommended processing a six month
extension of the current permit contract in order to evaluate the use of a COD multiplier for calculating
the BOD component of the Central San SSC applied to the treated leachate discharge.
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION
Authorize the General Manager to execute a six month extension for the permit contract with Acme for
discharge of treated leachate through June 30, 2018.
December 7, 2017 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 59 of 240