REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2020
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Interim Director, Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with Southern California Edison for Electric Line Extension at the Landers Sanitary Landfill
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Contract with Southern California Edison, in an amount not to exceed $272.80, for the extension of electric distribution lines needed to provide power to the gas collection and control system and granulated activated carbon Treatment Facility at the Landers Sanitary Landfill.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Interim Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) is financed by fee revenue. SWMD establishes fee that are charged to the public and other agencies for utilization of the County’s Waste Disposal System. The total estimated cost for the proposed contract is $272.80. Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the SWMD 2019-20 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of the Electric Line Extension Agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE) will provide for the installation of electricity transmission infrastructure to supply electricity to a permanent landfill gas (LFG) collection and treatment facility at the Landers Sanitary Landfill (LSL). This project supports the County and Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of ensuring development of a well-planned, balanced, and sustainable County through the expansion of the electric distribution infrastructure and providing power to an expanded LFG collection and treatment facility. Section 3.12 of the agreement for Extension of Electric Distribution Line is an indemnification clause, which requires Board of Supervisors approval.
The LSL is a Class III refuse disposal facility located in the eastern desert of San Bernardino County at 59200 Winters Road, approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the community of Landers. The facility consists of 637 acres of which 92 acres have been designated for disposal. An existing soil vapor extraction system is active at the LSL and is connected to a portable granulated activated carbon treatment system powered by a diesel-fueled generator.
On June 13, 2019, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Colorado River Basin Region issued Order No. R7-2019-0013 (Order) which addresses the expansion of the LSL. The Order requires the County to construct a permanent landfill gas collection and treatment facility (Facility) at the LSL. Currently, the electrical infrastructure leading to the LSL is insufficient to support the operation of a permanent expanded Facility. SWMD and SCE entered into discussions to determine the requisite power, and associated delivery system needed for the site; and developed a design for the required infrastructure upgrades.
SCE requires that an agreement for the extension of electric distribution lines be executed by the County under SCE’s Rule 15. Two cost options are available, a refundable option and a discount option. After considering both options, SWMD recommends the discount option for the construction of the line extension as both options incur the same cost.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, a Final Environmental Impact Report was prepared and certified for the landfill’s expansion project and a Notice of Determination was filed on March 22, 2016.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Kristina M. Robb, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 24, 2020; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on April 29, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on May 4, 2020.