HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.a. Review draft Position Paper to approve the Outfall Monitoring Improvements, District Project 100018 for California Environmental Quality Act and Regulatory Permitting purposes, including the filing of a Notice of Exemption for the project Page 1 of 3
Item 4.a.
CENTRAL SAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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POSITION PAPER
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DRAFT
MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 12, 2021
SUBJECT: REVIEW DRAFT POSITION PAPER TO APPROVE THE OUTFALL
MONITORING IMPROVEMENTS, DISTRICT PROJECT 100018 FOR
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYACT AND REGULATORY
PERMITTING PURPOSES, INCLUDING THE FILING OF A NOTICE OF
EXEMPTION FOR THE PROJECT
SUBMITTED BY: INITIATING DEPARTMENT:
MARK WENSLAWSKI, ASSOCIATE ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES-
ENGINEER CAPITAL PROJECTS
REVIEWED BY: RUSS LEAVITT, ENGINEERING ASSISTANT III
EDGAR J. LOPEZ, CAPITAL PROJECTS DIVISION MANAGER
JEAN-MARC PETIT, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL
SERVICES
ISSUE
Board of Directors (Board) approval of the Outfall Monitoring Improvements, District Project 100018, is
required prior to the filing of a Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines.
BACKGROUND
The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) operates a 3.5 mile, 72-inch reinforced concrete
outfall pipeline (outfall). The outfall, constructed in 1958, runs primarily underground for nearly 19,000 feet
and a submarine section of about 1,700 feet in length. Above the shoreline portion of the outfall, an
unvegetated, tidal mudflat extends approximately 1,000 feet from the shore and into the Suisun Bay. The
end of the submarine section of the outfall consists of 11 diffusers and three manhole access structures
that rise above the water surface, which are used to identify the location of the submerged manholes and
provide a working maintenance platform. Central San also maintains a variety of infrastructure associated
with the outfall such as: manholes, access risers, air relief valves, cathodic protection systems,
inclinometers, and leveling monuments.
Last year, the Outfall Improvements, Phase 7 Project (Outfall Phase 7) completed a full internal inspection
and survey of the pipeline, as well as performed necessary repairs and improvements. Staff hired a
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specialty consultant to evaluate the condition of the existing inclinometers and leveling monuments on the
outfall. The consultant's report recommended maintenance and repairs, as well as identified major
deficiencies in several inclinometers. Upgrading or replacing several inclinometers was more than the
anticipated scope of work than previous Outfall projects and was not included in the permits.Although
some of the repairs were completed, other items or new inclinometers could not be performed during the
timeline of the Outfall Phase 7 construction period.
Due to tight and very restricted timelines under the Outfall Phase 7 Project, staff recommended to
construct the replacement inclinometers and leveling monuments under a separate project. Staff will
coordinate and obtain necessary approval and/or permits from the San Francisco Bay Regional Water
Quality Control Board, United State Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco Bay Conservation and
Development Commission, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and any other applicable agencies.
Some of these agencies will require proof of CEQA determination prior to issuing permits.
CEQA
Staff has concluded that this project is exempt from CEQA under Central San CEQA Guidelines Section
15301, since it involves repairs to an existing sewage facility with no increase in capacity.Approval of this
project will establish the Board's independent finding that this project is exempt from CEQA.
ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS
Proper maintenance of the outfall is required by Central San's National Pollution Discharge Elimination
System permit, which includes the inclinometers. Staff has reviewed whether to continue use of the
inclinometers as a tool for monitoring settlement and recommends continuing based on the historic settling
problems, the clay soils or bay mud, and the reconstruction completed under the John Muir Land Trust's
Pacheco Marsh Levee Breach Project.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The total estimated cost for the project is $610,000; however, this position paper only approves the project
for CEQA and permitting purposes and does not award a construction contract. The Outfall Monitoring
Improvements Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Central San Budget on page 257.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Engineering and Operations Committee has reviewed this subject at its meeting on October 12, 2021
and recommended
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION
Staff recommends the following:
1. Approve the Outfall Monitoring Improvements Project, District Project 100018 for CEQA and
permitting purposes; and
2. Direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption for the project.
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Strategic Plan re-In
GOAL TWO: Environmental Stewardship
Strategy 1—Achieve 100% compliance in all regulations
GOAL FIVE: Infrastructure Reliability
Strategy 1—Manage assets optimally to prolong their useful life, Strategy 3—Protect personnel and assets from
threats and emergencies
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