HomeMy WebLinkAbout14.a. Committee Minutes-Real Estate, Environment and Planning 03-19-2024Item 14.a. A pril 4, 2024 T O: HO NO R A B L E B O A R D O F D I R E C TO R S F RO M :K AT I E YO UNG, S E C R E TA RY O F T HE D I S T R I C T S UB J E C T: MA R C H 19, 2024 - R E E P C O MMI T T E E - C HA I R W E D I NG TO N A ND ME MB E R HO C K E T T Attached are minutes of the above C ommittee meeting. AT TAC HM E NT S : D escription 1. R E E P C ommittee Minutes 03-19-24 April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 85 of 97 Page 1 of 8 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL & PLANNING COMMITTEE M I N U T E S Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:30 a.m. Committee: Chair Florence Wedington Member Barbara Hockett Staff: Roger S. Bailey, General Manager (arrived during Item 3.a.) Katie Young, Secretary of the District Greg Norby, Deputy General Manager – Operations (arrived during Item 3.a.) Philip Leiber, Deputy General Manager – Administration (arrived during Item 3.a.) Danea Gemmell, Planning and Development Services Division Manager Edgar Lopez, Capital Projects Division Manager (arrived during Item 3.a.) Melody LaBella, Resource Recovery Program Manager (arrived during Item 3.a.) Lori Schectel, Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Division Manager Rita Cheng, Senior Engineer Blake Brown, Laboratory Program Administrator Colleen Henry, Environmental Compliance Program Administrator Robert Hess, Associate Engineer Karen DeLong, Administrative Services Assistant 1. Call Meeting to Order Chair Wedington called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. 2. Public Comments None. Member Wedington announced that Item 3.c. would be heard immediately following Item 3.a. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: MARIAH N. LAURITZEN President MICHAEL R. MCGILL President Pro Tem BARBARA D. HOCKETT TAD J. PILECKI FLORENCE T. WEDINGTON PHONE: (925) 228-9500 FAX: (925) 372-0192 www.centralsan.org April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 86 of 97 Page 2 of 8 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes March 19, 2024 Page 2 3. Agenda Items a. Update on the Regional Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Phase II Study Ms. Brown reviewed the presentation included in the agenda materials. It was noted that during Phase I, a key data gap was no analysis of Total Oxidizable Precursors (TOP) in the effluent and this was investigated further in Phase II. Ms. Henry discussed the sewer shed sampling that occurred during Phase II. She noted that some spots were strictly residential. Three residential sites and three industrial discharger sites. In response to Chair Wedington’s question regarding the number of agencies participating in the sampling, Ms. Brown stated there were seven agencies in Phase II and fourteen agencies in Phase I. Ms. Henry stated that the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) gave strict sampling protocols and that four people collected samples and each sample took 24 hours to composite. Ms. Brown provided the main findings of the phase II study; it conclusively confirmed that there was removal of PFAS through the treatment process (from influent to effluent) by analyzing the TOP data and PFAS in the influent were transformed and partitioned to biosolids. Ms. Henry reviewed the Phase II findings which included large amounts of TOP PFAS from industrial laundry facilities. These facilities wash clothing that are treated with fire retardant products which may contain PFAS. She advised that SFEI did a flow analysis and found that 95% of flows into Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) come from residential and businesses with a lower amount of flow from industries. Ms. Brown provided the next steps in the study which included: the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) Phase III study, identification of controllable sources into the sewer, and two PFAS analytical methods were finalized in January 2024. Ms. Schectel advised that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be requiring additional sampling from agencies. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update. April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 87 of 97 Page 3 of 8 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes March 19, 2024 Page 3 b. Receive the annual Regulatory Updates This item was heard immediately following Item 3.c. and continued with the remaining items on the agenda. Ms. Schectel reviewed the presentation included in the agenda materials. In response to a question posed by Chair Wedington on the fine violation costs, Ms. Schectel advised that the fines were under $20,000. There was a discussion regarding the tolling agreement and District Counsel has signed another six-month agreement while a delegation issue is worked out between the air district and the EPA. Member Hockett inquired how the state evaluates success of the toxic air contaminants regulations and noted that she has observed increased number of asthma/respiratory cases in recent years. Ms. Cheng stated that the state and local regulatory agencies are continuing to push for health risk driven regulations to reduce impacts on public health. Member Hockett complimented Central San for leading the pharmaceutical take back program and all its success. The Committee requested a presentation on the microplastics removal process report when it is completed. Mr. Bailey thanked Ms. Schectel and her team for all their hard work and stated that they are the best in the business. The committee expressed their appreciation for the team’s hard work, collaboration and effort. Ms. Schectel advised that the District has adopted new software, Klir, to track permitting requirements and will bring back and provide a demo for the Committee. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update. c. Receive update on the most recent meeting of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) This item was heard immediately following Item 3.a. Ms. Schectel advised that the BACWA annual meeting will be held Friday, May 3rd at the David Brower Center in Berkeley. She also recapped recent meetings between BACWA and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 88 of 97 Page 4 of 8 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes March 19, 2024 Page 4 Results from a BACWA member recycled water survey indicated that top priorities for the region included jointly addressing concentrate management as a shared challenge for water and wastewater utilities and cost sharing for water and wastewater utilities. Mr. Norby stated that the survey had a practical set of questions for partnerships and is good to put cost-benefit pictures together. He opined that the questions need a much more extensive approach to costing and allocating out the public benefit elements of the project. Mr. Bailey advised the Committee that although he appreciates the aspiration when it comes to nutrients but, he cannot help but be skeptical regarding the projections and is concerned when a very substantial cost is laid on the customers. For the 3rd Nutrient Watershed Permit, the Water Board will likely publish the Tentative Order in the next few weeks. It was noted that the adoption schedule has been pushed back to June 12. Currently staff is working with the Waterboard to make meaningful changes to the existing draft permit prior to publication of the Tentative Order. The permit is not workable as currently written. Ms. Schectel provided the Committee with a handout regarding Algal Blooms and Nutrients in San Francisco Bay (attached). Mr. Bailey stated that the Taxpayers’ Association, Chamber of Commerce and other agencies all need to voice their concerns regarding the matter given the significant cost and rate impacts that the order will entail. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update. Immediately following this item, the agenda moved to Item 3.b. 4. Announcements None. 5. Suggestions for future agenda items a. Receive list of upcoming agenda items and provide suggestions for any other future agenda items The Committee requested the following items:  Update on nutrients  Klir demonstration  Update on Microplastics Report COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the list and provided input to staff. April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 89 of 97 Page 5 of 8 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes March 19, 2024 Page 5 6. Future scheduled meetings Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. 7. Adjournment – at 10:28 a.m. April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 90 of 97 Page 6 of 8 April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 91 of 97 Page 7 of 8 April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 92 of 97 Page 8 of 8