July 11, 2023
Public Works
DATE: July 11, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works
Mary Phelps, Project Manager
Subject:
Sole-Source Contract with Larry Walker and Associates
to Assist with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Compliance and Environmental
Support Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding will be paid from budgeted Wastewater Enterprise funds (account string 40322431-400202) and
will not exceed $320,000 in Fiscal Year 2023-24. The
remaining amount will be budgeted accordingly in
subsequent years. This item will have no impact to the
General Fund.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Previous Contract approved July 18, 2019, in the amount of $200,000. Contract Amendment #1 approved
October 5, 2021 for a total contract amount not to exceed $520,000.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The proposed contract will allow the City to comply with the specific requirements as detailed in its National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit
as well as provide support services to the Environmental Compliance Program.
AGENDA
REPORT
July 11, 2023
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a three-year sole-source contract with Larry
Walker and Associates in an amount not to exceed
$450,000 to assist with the City’s National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) compliance
schedule and provide support services to the
Environmental Compliance Program, for a term from
July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023, with two (2)
additional one-year options to renew, for a total amount not to exceed $300,000 over the two-year additional
extension period – Public Works Department (Daniel
Chavarria 510-620-5478/ Mary Phelps 510-621-1269).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond and West Contra Costa Sanitary District have been working jointly with Larry Walker & Associates to ensure compliance with the jointly held National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit since the current permit was adopted in 2019. These expenses were covered under the Joint Powers Authority of the West County Agency. This permit will expire March 31, 2024. The Report of Waste Discharge (ROWD) to renew the permit was submitted to the State Waterboard (as required) on May 1, 2023.
The NPDES is a regulatory program implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control and prevent water pollution from point sources (i.e., specific locations or facilities that discharge pollutants directly into water bodies through identifiable outlets, such as pipes or ditches). In California, the NPDES program is administered by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs). The primary objective of the NPDES program is to protect water quality by regulating the discharge of pollutants into water bodies through permits issued to facilities or entities that have the potential to impact water quality.
Under the NPDES program, facilities and entities that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States, such as industrial facilities, municipal wastewater treatment plants, and stormwater systems, are required to obtain permits. These permits set specific limits and conditions to ensure that discharges do not exceed water quality standards and do not cause harm to the environment or human health. The NPDES program also emphasizes the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and pollution prevention measures to minimize the introduction of pollutants into the waterways, ultimately striving for the elimination of pollutant discharges. Through the NPDES program, California aims to safeguard the state's water resources and promote sustainable water management practices to protect public health and the environment.
July 11, 2023
There are detailed permit requirements that are specific to the Richmond Municipal Wastewater Plant and to the West County Wastewater Plant. Due to the vast complexity of these requirements, it is strongly recommended that these items be covered under a contract separate from the joint contract with the West County Agency.
Since Larry Walker Associates has assisted with the issuance of the previous NPDES permit and the milestones to date, and they are familiar with the specific requirements, City staff is requesting that City Council authorize a sole-source contract with them.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Larry Walker Associates Contract
Attachment 2 – Sole-Source Document