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Approve a contract with Ascent Environmental in the amount of $267,175 to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed amendments to the Recology Hay Road Land Use Permit; and Authorize the Director of Resource Management to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments within budgeted appropriations
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management (DRM) recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a contract with Ascent Environmental in the amount of $267,175 to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed amendments to the Recology Hay Road Land Use Permit; and
2. Authorize the Director of Resource Management to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments within budgeted appropriations.
SUMMARY:
DRM is recommending that the Board of Supervisors approve a contract with Ascent Environmental for $267,175 funded by Recology, to prepare an Environmental Impact Report for Recology Hay Road Land Use Permit amendments. Staff included this project in the FY 2017/18 budget; therefore, an Appropriations Transfer Request is not required.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total cost of $267,175 for the proposed new contract is fully funded by the applicant. There will be no Net County Cost for the contract. An additional 20% on top of the contract amount will be paid by Recology to cover staff time dedicated to the project.
DISCUSSION:
The landfill currently operates under Land Use Permit U-11-09 which allows for municipal solid waste disposal, 54 acre composting operations (Jepson Prairie Organics), maintenance facility and a landfill gas to electric energy facility within the 640 acre footprint.
On December 30, 2016, Recology Hay Road filed an application to amend Land Use Permit
U-11-09. The application proposed expanding the landfill capacity by increasing the municipal solid waste tonnage from a maximum of 2400 tons per day (tpd) to 2400 tpd averaged over 7 days with a peak of 3400 tpd and 16 acre landfill expansion into an area, located within the current approved footprint, designated as a mitigation site for the Delta Ground Beetle, as required by current permits. A two (2) acre transfer facility is proposed adjacent to the Fleet Shop to handle processing and sorting of organic waste, up to 200 tpd. Other proposed operational changes include a construction and debris sorting line, processing of friable asbestos such as sprayed insulation or fire retardant material on steel work; and deepening of the borrow pit by an additional 88 feet to allow for more soil to be used for landfill construction and operations.
Due to the potentially significant impacts associated with the scope of the proposed amendments relative to odors and biological resources, DRM solicited proposals for an EIR consultant. Seven consultants were solicited, two proposals were received and both firms were interviewed. Ascent Environmental was selected because their team brings over 50 years of CEQA preparation experience and knowledge that include landfill expansion projects, and proved to be the most qualified to prepare the project’s EIR.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the contract. This is not recommended because it would prevent DRM from processing the application.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
No other agencies have been involved.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION