HomeMy WebLinkAboutReal Estate, Environmental & Planning MINUTES 03-19-24Page 2 of 8
LCENTRAL SAN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
MARIAHN LAURITZEN
President
REGULAR MEETING OF THE MICHAEL R.MCGILL
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA President Pro Tem
SANITARY DISTRICT BARBARA D.HOCKETT
TAD J PHECKI
REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL FLORENCE T. WEDINGT°N
& PLANNING COMMITTEE PHONE (925) 228-9500
FAX.- (925) 372-0192
MINUTESwww.centralvan.org
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
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.
April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 86 of 97
Page 3 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 1, a key data gap was no analysis of Total Oxidizable
Precursors (TOP) in the effluent and this was investigated further in Phase 11.
Ms. Henry discussed the sewer shed sampling that occurred during Phase ll.
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 11 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 11 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 11 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 (BACW4) Phase 111 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 4 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 5 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
IJ om
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 6 of 8
Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes
March 19, 2024
Page 5
6. Future scheduled meeti
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
The Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) are on the front lines of environmental stewardship
of San Francisco Bay. Our member agencies clean the Bay Area's wastewater to the highest
national and state standards, protecting public health and the environment.
Algal Blooms - What We're Seeing
In 2022 and again in 2023, harmful algal bloom
events occurred in the San Francisco Bay.
Scientists don't fully understand what triggered
the blooms, but know that nitrogen, which is a
naturally occurring nutrient in treated
wastewater, contributed by providing "food" for
the algal species, Heterosigma akashiwo, which
led to levels of growth not previously seen.
Algal blooms and the nutrients that feed them in
the Bay are a community problem. When you
flush a toilet, wash your dishes, or take a shower,
that water (caped wastewater) flows through
sewers to one of 37 wastewater treatment
facilities in the Bay Area, where it is treated
before being discharged into the Bay.
This complex system of pipes, pumps, and
large-scale machinery totals billions in assets and
is infrastructure that is owned by the community
and maintained through the payment of rates to
your local wastewater agency.
Where Do Nutrients Come From?
Nutrients in Excessive
the water algal growth
Less oxygen
in the water
vz
Some algae
retease toxins
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While all wastewater treatment facilities meet robust,
science -based standards for treating wastewater, it all
contains some amount of nitrogen - or nutrients - which is
33%
now negatively affecting the health of the San Francisco Bay.
come from industrial
discharge and runoff
We do not fully understand the triggers for algal blooms, but
via the Sacramento
they are an important reminder that the Bay's historic
River Delta
resilience to nutrients added to the Bay via wastewater is
66%
being stressed by changing climate impacts.
come from community
The levels of nutrients discharged to the Ba b clean water
g y y
water use via treated
wastewater
agencies have been reduced by more than 10 percent in
recent years, but these historically "normal" levels of
nitrogen are now stressing the Bay's ecosystem.
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2024 Watershed Permit
Since nutrients are so interconnected to the health
of the Bay, BACWA (representing more than 50
local clean water agencies that protect the Bay),
regulators, environmental advocates, and scientists
are proposing policy changes to reduce allowable
nutrient levels discharged to the Bay.
Nutrients are regulated via a Watershed Permit
administered by the San Francisco Regional Water
Quality Control Board. An updated Watershed Permit
will be adopted in 2024, when the 2019 permit
expires. BACWA serves as a venue for all Bay Area
local clean water agencies to negotiate provisions
with the Water Board and assists its members with
compliance with the Watershed Permit once
adopted. As our environmental stewards, BACWA and
the Water Board have been discussing requirements
to reduce nutrient levels in the 2024 Watershed
Permit for several years.
During these ongoing conversations, BACWA remains
committed to science -based strategies that reduce
nutrient levels in wastewater that is discharged to the
Bay while balancing the fact that necessary upgrades
Page 8 of 8
to achieve the required nutrient load reductions at every
Bay Area wastewater treatment plant will cost the region
over 11 billion dollars, or $4,000 per household.
Upgrade costs will be borne by community members via
increases to their wastewater rates. Therefore it is
incumbent upon the clean water community to make
careful decisions to protect both the Bay and ratepayers.
Investment in our wastewater infrastructure by the state
and federal government would help lessen the impact of
these rate increases on Bay Area communities.
$1.1. BILLION
cost to upgrade all Bay Area
wastewater treatment facilities
BACWA's Vision for the 2024 Watershed Permit is Science -Based, Flexible, and Innovative
Science -Based
Ensure the Watershed Permit
reflects the best understanding of
nutrient reduction science, based
on BACWA-funded research by
the San Francisco Estuary Institute
and other scientists.
Flexible
1 Since the Watershed Permit will likely establish limits
on a Bay -wide basis, our region has a unique
opportunity to work together to maximize nutrient
removal and minimize expense via regional planning.
Flexibility to support treatment plan upgrades
consistent with capital planning schedules and
considerations for community engagement,
construction costs, and other factors is imperative.
Innovative
While they may take longer than
traditional upgrades to implement, the
2024 Watershed Permits should ensure
innovative ideas like nature -based
solutions and recycled water that
provide drought resilience, shoreline
protection, and/or habitat
enhancement are prioritized.
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Bay Area wastewater treatment
facilities have already enhanced
nutrient removal, and others are
implementing upgrades