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Community Development Services, Environmental Management Department, recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Accept a donation of soil from the California Department of Transportation to be utilized at the Union Mine Disposal Site; and
2) Pursuant to Government Code Section 25355, delegate authority to the Director of Environmental Management, or designee, to accept such future soil donations from the California Department of Transportation.
FUNDING: Non-General Fund/County Service Area 10 Solid Waste Funds.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Services, Environmental Management Department (Environmental Management), is recommending the Board accept a donation of soil from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to be utilized at the Union Mine Disposal Site, and delegate authority to the Director of Environmental Management, or designee, to accept such future soil donations from Caltrans after obtaining approval from the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) and Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB).
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Environmental Management was notified by Caltrans that approximately 10,000 cubic yards of soil material generated from the previous winter slide activity on U.S. Highway 50 was being stockpiled at the former mill site in Camino, California. Caltrans indicated that the stockpile needed to be moved and offered to haul the material to the Union Mine Disposal Site free of charge. Commencing on August 22, 2017, Caltrans began transporting the soil to the Union Mine Disposal Site and is anticipated to be completed over the course of approximately seven business days. Caltrans has represented that it is not aware of any contaminants in the soil.
Environmental Management submitted a work plan to the LEA and RWQCB detailing the origin of the soil, current location and proposed Union Mine Disposal Site stockpile location, and the laboratory testing of the soil material to determine if any constituents of concern (contaminants) were present. The work plan was approved by the LEA and RWQCB as were the subsequent laboratory results.
The Union Mine Disposal Site utilizes onsite generated soil to mix with biosolids (sludge) generated by the waste water treatment plant, and to bury and cover biosolids in the landfill. The onsite soil stockpile used for the aforementioned purposes is approaching depletion. Environmental Management already has an engineered plan for the generation of additional onsite soil; however, the acceptance of soil from Caltrans will allow for the deferral of this work and corresponding expenditures. Although the value of the soil is difficult to determine, Environmental Management estimates the value to be approximately $50,000.
In addition to seeking Board approval to accept the soil donation from Caltrans, Environmental Management is requesting the Board delegate future approval authority to the Environmental Management Director, or designee, in the event that future opportunities arise to receive additional soil from Caltrans, which Caltrans has indicated is probable. All such future potential soil import opportunities will be tested for contaminants and submitted to the LEA and RWQCB for approval prior to import. Under Government Code Section 25355, the Environmental Management Director will file with the Board each quarter a report that describes any soil accepted when the estimated value is in excess of $10,000.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could reject the recommendation to accept any potential future donations from Caltrans. This would result in increased costs associated with replenishing the onsite soil stockpile through excavation performed by an outside contractor, as Environmental Management does not have appropriate equipment to complete the work.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Caltrans, LEA, and RWQCB.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Non-General Fund/County Service Area 10 Solid Waste Funds will be used for costs associated with laboratory testing of the soil and onsite assistance by Environmental Management’s landfill contractor for grading and compacting the imported soil.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance and Infrastructure
CONTACT
Greg Stanton, REHS, Director
Community Development Services, Environmental Management Department