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 Division
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Running Springs Water District for Treatment and Disposal of Landfill Liquid Collected at the Heaps Peak Disposal Site
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 15-151 with Running Springs Water District (District) to exercise the first of two options to extend the term by five years through June 30, 2025, with no change to the amount not to exceed $750,000, to allow the Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management Division to treat and dispose of the landfill liquid collected at the Heaps Peak Disposal Site, on an as-needed basis, at the District’s treatment plant.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Interim Director, 387-7906)
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COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
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 fees that are charged to the public and other agencies for utilization of the County’s Waste Disposal System. The County’s current landfill liquid disposal contract with the District expires on June 30, 2020. The cost of the contract is estimated at $750,000 over 10 years. Sufficient appropriation and revenue for these services will be included in the SWMD 2020-21 recommended budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This Amendment will exercise the first of two options to extend the term of Contract No. 15-151 by five years in order for the District to continue to treat and dispose landfill liquid (leachate) collected from Heaps Peak Disposal Site (HPDS) in the event that the on-site HPDS Leachate Treatment System (LTS) operation is compromised.
On April 7, 2015 (Item No. 42), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a leachate treatment and disposal contract (Contract No. 15-151) with the District. It provided for an initial term of five years through June 30, 2020 in an amount not to exceed $750,000. The Contract allows each party the option to extend the term of the Contract, for two five-year periods following the expiration of the initial term.
The recommended action will assist SWMD in fulfilling the County and Chief Executive Officer goals and objectives to operate in a fiscally-responsible and business-like manner by ensuring that cost is minimized due to the close proximity of the District’s treatment facility to the HPDS LTS. The proximity also ensures that a timely response is available to respond to LTS shutdowns, hence allowing SWMD to comply with regulatory agencies and provide for the safety, health and social service needs of County residents. The District’s treatment plant is the closest and most convenient facility with the necessary infrastructure and as such, has historically been awarded this sole-source contract. This Amendment will secure the most cost effective method of alternative leachate disposal currently available to the SWMD.
The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control (RWQCB), under whose jurisdiction the HPDS resides, has issued Waste Discharge Requirements directing SWMD to collect and dispose of the leachate in a manner consistent with applicable regulations. The RWQCB has approved the District to accept the leachate for treatment and disposal. Leachate transport is conducted under a separate contract.
The RWQCB has reviewed and approved the testing and treatability procedures of the leachate and does not object to the conveyance of the leachate into the District’s treatment and disposal facilities. The SWMD will be responsible for any required testing of the leachate. With the construction of the HPDS LTS, leachate is treated on-site and discharged to the percolation galleries to recharge groundwater.
This Amendment for leachate treatment and disposal services with the District provides a contingency in the event of the following possible conditions: (1) leachate inflow to the LTS exceeds its anticipated maximum capacity; (2) treated leachate discharge quality does not meet limits included in the RWQCB Order R6V-2012-0011; or (3) system operation is interrupted. This Amendment will allow for the continuity of the treatment and disposal service and the practical location of the facility near HPDS.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Kristina M. Robb, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 8, 2020; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on April 21, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on May 3, 2020.