EXHIBIT 1
2 (Rev. 03.21.22)
Agreement Number: Amendment
Number:
419000347 1
CITY OF STOCKTON
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Harry Black, City Manager Date
ATTEST:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Katherine Roland, CMC, CPMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Lori M. Asuncion, City Attorney
BY:
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August 19, 2024 Deli
vered by Email
Mrs. Kat Garcia
Program Manager III - Wastewater
City of Stockton
Municipal Utilities Department
2500 Navy Drive
Stockton, CA 95206
RE: Scope of Work to Support Extending the NPDES Compliance and Program Assistance Contract (Contract No. 2019-11-19-1106 / PO 214864) to 2025 and 2026 Dear Mrs. Garcia:
Robertson-Bryan, Inc. (RBI) is pleased to provide you the attached scope of work and budget in support of a two-year extension of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Compliance and Program Assistance Contract (Contract No. 2019-11-19-1106 / PO 214864) between RBI and the City of Stockton (City). The five-year term of this contract ends on December 31, 2025, though the term may be extended by the City up to two years by a written amendment (Contract, Exhibit A, Section 9).
We appreciate having the opportunity to meet with City representatives (D. Antypas and P.
McKinney) on July 9, 2024, to discuss the Regional Wastewater Recovery Facility’s (RWRF) operational and regulatory needs for the next two years and associated tasks that should be included in this scope of work. During the next two years, RBI will continue several routine tasks that were defined in our original proposal to the City in 2019. This includes, among others, operations and regulatory assistance, reviewing or preparing self-monitoring reports and annual reports, representation of the City during the State’s development of new regulatory programs and policies, groundwater compliance monitoring, and whole effluent toxicity compliance support.
Work is also necessary to support the City and RWRF operations on several existing and new non-routine tasks, four of which are as follows.
NPDES Permit Renewal – RBI will continue assisting the City with technical work and negotiations to support obtaining a renewed NPDES permit from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Valley Water Board) in 2025 and will facilitate RWRF compliance with the renewed NPDES permit. We anticipate that the Central Valley Water Board will evaluate the need to issue effluent limitations for discharges to the ponds and wetlands and expand groundwater monitoring. RBI, with assistance from Condor will advocate, as we have in the past, that the ponds and wetlands are operated in a manner to protect groundwater without the need for effluent limitations or additional groundwater monitoring.
Ponds and Wetlands Management – RBI will assist the City in developing and implementing a long-term plan for managing the ponds and wetlands. This effort will
ATTACHMENT A
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include identifying the facilities needed to return wastewater from the ponds/wetlands to the RWRF for treatment on the east side of the river.
Biosolids Treatment and Disposal – RBI, with assistance from our sub-consultant West Yost Associates, will update the biosolids disposal analysis we previously prepared under Task 10. We will identify potential barriers to continuing to land-apply Class B biosolids and provide recommendations for addressing them. This analysis will expand on the options available to the City to produce and dispose of Class A biosolids and the operational flexibility it may provide to do so.
Unit Process Control Plan (UPCP) – RWRF operators historically have found the UPCP document effective because it explained the RWRF unit processes, provided operational specifications, and provided operational tutorials accompanied by photos. RBI will prepare a document to replace the UPCP since approximately 90% of the unit processes described in it have been replaced or upgraded.
RBI’s Scope of Work for calendar years 2025 and 2026 is provided in Attachment A to this letter. Tasks 1–18 are continuing services. We have retained the existing task names except for Tasks 4 and 10, which were renamed to more clearly communicate the services that will be provided. Tasks 19 and 20 are new tasks. Attachment B provides a detailed budget and budget summary for services that will be provided for the two-year period of January 1, 2025–December 31, 2026.
The RBI team is excited to continue our working relationship with the City. If you have any questions about the information presented in our proposal, please contact Paul Bedore at (916) 405-8918 or Dr. Michael Bryan at (916) 261-4043. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mi
chael Bryan, Ph.D. Paul Bedore, M.S.
President and Managing Partner Director of Wastewater and Stormwater Regulatory Services
Atta
chment A – Scope of Work for 2025–2026
Attachment B – Budget for 2025–2026
cc
:
Mel Lytle, City of Stockton
Deedee Antypas, City of Stockton
Phil McKinney, City of Stockton
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Attachment A
Scope of Work for 2025–2026
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SCOPE OF WORK OUTLINE
Task 1 – Permit Management/Calendar/Schedule ....................................................................... 2 Task 2 - Representation at Meetings and Tracking of Regulatory Developments ......................... 2 Task 3 – Monitoring and Reporting ............................................................................................. 3 Task 4 – Outfall and Modifications Project Continuing Services ................................................... 4 Task 5 – Groundwater ................................................................................................................. 4 Task 6 – Annual Reports .............................................................................................................. 6 Task 7 – Sewer Use Ordinance and Enforcement Response Plan Revisions .................................. 7 Task 8 – ROWD and NPDES Permit Negotiation ........................................................................... 7 Task 9 – Laboratory Compliance .................................................................................................. 8 Task 10 – Biosolids Treatment and Disposal ................................................................................ 9 Task 11 – Miscellaneous Operational and Regulatory Support .................................................. 10 Task 12 – Meetings with City Staff and Council.......................................................................... 10 Task 13 – Project Management ................................................................................................. 10 Task 14 – Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Compliance Support ................................................... 11 Task 15 – Evaluation of Compliance with Thermal Plan ............................................................. 11 Task 16 – Reimbursable Expenses ............................................................................................. 12 Task 17 – Harmful Algal Blooms ................................................................................................ 12 Task 18 – Power Services .......................................................................................................... 13 Task 19 – Unit Process Control Plan........................................................................................... 14 Task 20 – Ponds-Wetlands Management and Return Infrastructure .......................................... 14 EXHIBIT 1
SCOPE OF WORK
Below is our proposed scope of work to provide the City with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit compliance and program administration support for the Regional Wastewater Recovery Facility (RWRF) in calendar years 2025 and 2026.
Task 1 – Permit Management/Calendar/Schedule
RBI will provide a permit management handbook following renewal of the RWRF NPDES permit in 2025. The handbook will include tabs and a table of contents that includes all City wastewater regulatory documents related to the new NPDES permit. RBI will develop a regulatory calendar/schedule identifying NPDES permit reporting requirements, assignment of reporting responsibilities to City and RBI staff, and the expected level of effort for each task.
This will be the master schedule used by City and RBI for meeting all permit reporting requirements.
Lead: Paul Bedore, RBI
Deliverables:
NPDES Permit Management Handbook
Schedule: 2025
Task 2 - Representation at Meetings and Tracking of Regulatory Developments The City is currently involved with CV-SALTS, the Delta Regional Monitoring Program (RMP), and various Central Valley Clean Water Association (CVCWA) committees. Other on-going and current regulatory initiatives that affect the City include the following. Statewide Toxicity Provisions
Phase 2 Development of the Delta Methylmercury Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Promulgation of federal and state regulations for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Central Valley Pyrethroid Control Program
Central Valley Salt and Nitrate Control Program
Nutrient objectives for inland waters
Of particular relevance to the City is the Phase 2 development of the Delta Methylmercury TMDL, for which the Central Valley Water Board provided preliminary recalculated Waste Load Allocations (WLAs) for POTWs in December 2023. The RWRF could not presently comply with the recalculated WLAs. Consequently, RBI has met with Board management to advocate against reducing WLAs for the City and other POTWs to levels that result in non-compliance. RBI’s message resonated with the Board’s Executive officer. RBI will continue this advocacy work in 2025 and 2026, as Phase 2 of the TMDL is developed.
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There may be other regulatory initiatives that the City becomes engaged in during the next NPDES permit term. RBI staff has participated in crucial developments in the above-listed regulatory initiatives on behalf of the City and other Central Valley POTW clients. Consequently, RBI often cost-shares our efforts among multiple POTWs. Budget provided in this task can be used for meetings, review and comment on key documents, and communications to advise the City on these developments.
Lead: Paul Bedore, RBI
Deliverables: TBD
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 3 – Monitoring and Reporting
RBI has identified and communicated to the City the need for optimizing and automating, where feasible, RWRF data management and data input. Specifically, RBI will to do the following.
Assist the City with evaluating, selecting, procuring, and implementing a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for the RWRF laboratory. Pro
vide guidance on regulatory requirements and standards for permit required parameters tracked continuously in City’s online computer system.
Implement system changes resulting from review of regulatory reporting to provide only NPDES permit-required information in each report.
Develop strategies to automatically populate the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) Permittee Entry Tool (PET) for Self-Monitoring Reports (SMRs).
The City’s new NPDES permit will include a requirement to conduct quarterly pyrethroid pesticide monitoring for one year concurrent with effluent and receiving water characterization monitoring. This monitoring will include chemical analysis of pyrethroids and Hyalella azteca toxicity testing. RBI will provide sampling and analysis guidance to the City for this monitoring requirement, review of analytical and toxicity reports, and perform the calculations required to determine compliance with pyrethroid regulatory thresholds.
USEPA is developing a nationwide PFAS study that may apply to the RWRF and its collection system. A questionnaire is expected to be sent to the City in 2024 or 2025. A subset of the nation’s 400 POTWs, which includes the RWRF, will be required to conduct PFAS sampling in 2025. Budget is provided for RBI to support the City with the questionnaire, prepare for sampling, and review of laboratory results.
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Task Leads: Cyle Moon and Cam Irvine, RBI
Deliverables:
Automated data management systems and reports
Others TBD
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 4 – Outfall and Modifications Project Continuing Services This Task is titled “Outfall Permitting” in the existing contract. Under it, RBI supported the construction work to reinstate an east bank outfall (EBO) by securing the necessary permits and approvals concurrent with assisting the RWRF Modifications Project by leading efforts to ensure that the California Environmental Quality Act’s Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the project was implemented.
Though most of this work is complete, RBI will assist the City as the treatment ponds and wetlands are transitioned to use solely for water diversion from the RWRF, as required by the MMRP. Anticipated work will involve monitoring biological resources in the wetlands and ponds as water levels change, relocating aquatic species to nearby waterbodies, and associated engagement of regulatory agencies, such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), if necessary. Budget is also provided to assist the City with ongoing requirements (i.e., State Lands and Water Board tasks) and address any follow-up questions or issues from the agencies that issued permits for rehabilitation of the EBO.
Lead: Keith Whitener, RBI
Deliverables: TBD
Schedule: 2025 & 2026
Task 5 – Groundwater
Condor and RBI will lead various aspects of the groundwater tasks. For the 2020 NPDES permit, the Central Valley Water Board decreased groundwater water monitoring to just two wells in the vicinity of the ponds (wells MW-7 and MW-10), a substantial decrease from the 2014 NPDES permit. Since 2020, the Central Valley Water Board has refocused their efforts to regulate discharges of wastewater to land, ponds, and storage basins. Under Task 8 (below), RBI will negotiate any changes to groundwater monitoring using existing groundwater reports prepared by Condor. However, for budgeting purposes, we assume that groundwater monitoring will be expanded in the renewed NPDES permit, consistent with Central Valley Water Board recent permitting actions. We anticipate that any expanded monitoring would be focused on wells west of the San Joaquin River because the unlined ponds will receive diversions of primary treated effluent, while all treatment units and biosolids handling/storage areas east of the San Joaquin River are constructed as concrete basins or asphalt-lined storage areas.
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Task 5.1 - Groundwater Monitoring, Laboratory Analyses, and Reporting Condor will recommission, as necessary, and visit four (4) monitoring wells for water quality monitoring (MW-1, MW-7, MW-10, and MW-18) and four (4) monitoring wells for elevation monitoring (MW-3, MW-5, MW-6, and MW-9) that have historically been monitored on the west side of the river (i.e., in the 2014 NPDES permit). We assume monitoring and reporting on a quarterly basis and will collect groundwater samples according to the site-specific field protocols. The anticipated parameters to be monitored are listed in Table 1 (below). Condor will redeploy dedicated sampling pumps to all water quality monitoring wells and disinfect wells as necessary to prepare for coliform sampling. Samples will be preserved and transferred under chain of custody documentation to a certified environmental laboratory within the published hold times for the parameters specified. The lab will be subcontracted to Condor. Laboratory reports of results will be checked by Condor for possible errors and data will be entered into a master spreadsheet. Quarterly reports meeting the standards required by the Central Valley Water Board will be prepared and signed by a Condor registered professional geologist or engineer. Draft reports will be submitted to RBI and the City for comment and approval one month prior to the reporting deadline. Condor will address all comments and questions before preparing a final copy of the report for RBI and the City.
Table 1. Anticipated Groundwater Monitoring Requirements.
Parameter Units Parameter Units
Depth to Groundwater ±0.01 feet Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen mg/L Groundwater Elevation ±0.01 feet Total Coliform Organisms MPN/100mL Gradient feet/feet Total Dissolved Solids mg/L
Gradient Direction Degrees Total Organic Carbon mg/L
Electrical Conductivity @25°C µmhos/cm Arsenic, Dissolved µg/L Total Dissolved Solids mg/L Iron, Dissolved µg/L
pH Standard Units Manganese, Dissolved µg/L
Nitrite (as Nitrogen) mg/L Standard Minerals µg/L
Nitrate (as Nitrogen) mg/L
Task 5.2 - Best Practicable Treatment or Control
The Central Valley Water Board’s renewed interest in the protection of groundwater from unlined ponds may result in the need to prepare an addendum to Condor’s previously prepared groundwater characterization report or Best Practical Treatment and Control (BPTC) report.
Should the Central Valley Water Board attempt to reinstate those currently dormant monitoring wells, RBI and Condor will prepare a memorandum summarizing groundwater quality, impacts from the operation of the ponds and wetlands, and BPTC. This task provides budget for RBI and Condor to compile and present historical groundwater monitoring and facility operations information to demonstrate that the use of the ponds and wetlands protects groundwater quality. We will leverage BPTC analyses for the RWRF produced during the past 10 years, though we assume there will be a need to provide additional data summaries and evaluations.
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Task 5.3 - Well Closures
The facility has four groundwater monitoring wells located east of the San Joaquin River (MW- 11, 12, 13, and 17) and two wells located in neighboring properties west of the San Joaquin River (MW-15 and MW-16) that are currently dormant. These wells should be considered for destruction since monitoring at these wells is no longer needed for adequate characterization of groundwater quality at the site. Condor is currently preparing the necessary well destruction work plan for submittal to the Central Valley Water Board and County. Since the timeline for obtaining approvals and permits is unknown, budget is provided in this task to complete this work in 2025 or 2026. Condor will obtain permits, hire a C-57 licensed drilling contractor to perform the work, interact with County inspectors, and prepare closure reports according to standards required by the Central Valley Water Board. RBI will assist the City and Condor with interactions with the Central Valley Water Board and obtaining their approvals.
Task Lead: Cyle Moon, RBI and Casey Kipf (CHG), Condor Deliverables:
Groundwater monitoring and quarterly reports (Q1 2025 – Q4 2026) Technical Memorandum on BPTC and Groundwater Data Synthesis, as needed Groundwater well destruction permits and reports
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 6 – Annual Reports
RBI will lead the preparation of annual and other non-routine reports required by the NPDES permit. Based on RBI’s understanding of requirements to be included in the renewed NPDES permit, RBI will prepare the following reports.
Annual progress reports associated with the compliance schedule permitted for final effluent limitations for methylmercury.
Annual report on salinity best management practices.
Annual recycled water report.
Budget is also provided for RBI to prepare up to two additional annual reports, if required by the renewed NPDES permit.
RBI will assist the City, as needed, with preparing the following special, one-time reports that will be required by the renewed NPDES permit. City staff prepared these deliverables in the past.
Analytical methods report
Analytical methods certification
This scope of work assumes that the City will prepare the Annual Operations Report and Annual Pretreatment Report required by the NPDES permit.
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Task Leads: Michelle Brown, RBI
Deliverables:
Annual Reports for methylmercury, salinity, and recycled water for 2024 and 2025 Up to two additional annual reports, if required by the renewed NPDES permit for 2024 and 2025
Review of analytical methods report and analytical methods certification Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 7 – Sewer Use Ordinance and Enforcement Response Plan Revisions The Central Valley Water Board has been including requirements to review and update Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) local limits in recent NPDES permits. RBI will provide as- needed technical support and assistance to the City as follows. RBI will review portions of the City's Sewer Use Ordinance implementing its IPP to verify consistency with federal General Pretreatment Regulations in 40 CFR Part 403, including 2007 Pretreatment Streamlining Rule revisions, and provide a list of recommended updates, if appropriate.
RBI will research other local jurisdiction FOG programs and provide a list of recommended updates to the City’s FOG Program, as needed.
RBI will evaluate the need to update the City’s IPP local limits.
RBI will conduct research and regulatory interactions, as necessary, to accomplish this task.
Task Lead: Michelle Brown, RBI
Deliverables:
Recommendations for revisions to the City’s Sewer Use Ordinance and FOG Enforcement Response Plans
Evaluation of the need to update IPP local limits
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 8 – ROWD and NPDES Permit Negotiation
RBI led the last three NPDES permit renewals for the City and prepared the City’s 2024 Report of Waste Discharge (ROWD) for its next NPDES permit renewal. RBI will lead negotiations with the Central Valley Water Board for the 2025 NPDES permit renewal, with assistance from Condor on groundwater. RBI will perform a thorough, detailed review of the preliminary draft NPDES permit issued by Central Valley Water Board staff, with support from Condor on groundwater requirements. RBI will lead and coordinate efforts to prepare written comments on the preliminary draft permit issued by Board staff and will meet with Board staff and management to discuss the comments. This will also be completed for the tentative NPDES EXHIBIT 1
permit issued by the Board for public comment. Comments on the tentative NPDES permit are very important because:
Central Valley Water Board staff are obligated to prepare written responses to the comments and to brief the Board members regarding how they responded to discharger comments prior to adoption of the tentative NPDES permit; and The comments are the cornerstone of the administrative record, should the City need to appeal or litigate the NPDES permit.
Finally, RBI will review changes to the tentative NPDES permit that the Central Valley Water Board makes in response to public comments. Based on recent experience with other POTWs, we anticipate that the Board will receive several technical comments from the public on the use of the ponds and wetlands.
The RBI team will participate in three meetings with City staff to discuss the preliminary draft and tentative NPDES permits and strategies for drafting comments and engaging with Central Valley Water Board staff. In addition, the RBI team will lead up to three meetings at the Central Valley Water Board with City staff to discuss comments on the preliminary draft and tentative NPDES permits and negotiate permit limitations and monitoring requirements. RBI will represent the City at the adoption hearing for the renewed NPDES permit.
Task Lead: Paul Bedore, RBI
Deliverables:
Comment packages for the preliminary draft and tentative NPDES permits Meetings with City and Central Valley Water Board NPDES permitting staff A negotiated, adopted NPDES permit
Schedule: 2025
Task 9 – Laboratory Compliance
RBI will assist the City as needed with implementation of the NELAC Institute’s (TNI) 2016 standards that are the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) current Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) standards (TNI–2). RBI has extensive understanding of laboratory accreditation requirements. RBI will provide assistance as needed with renewing their ELAP certification and ensuring the City is positioned to comply with the laboratory accreditation requirements. Assistance also can be provided with preparing and responding to TNI audits of the RWRF laboratory, reviewing documents and records to ensure they meet all requirements, internal audits, and tracking routine quality assurance and quality control. RBI can also help track ELAP update timelines, method update rules, and changes to field of accreditation tables.
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Task Lead: Teresa Lopez, RBI
Deliverables:
Coordination with City staff
ELAP regulations implementation assistance
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 10 – Biosolids Treatment and Disposal
Under the existing NPDES services contract this task was described as “Biomass Use and Energy Production” and the RBI Team completed four technical memoranda evaluating the following. Digester Capacity Analysis
Digester Gas Use Alternatives Analysis
Co-Digestion Feasibility Analysis
Biosolids Disposal
The biosolids disposal memorandum identified land application to be the least expensive option for the City. However, as POTWs continue to adapt to the landfill diversion requirements of SB 1383, the availability of land application sites for Class B biosolids is a concern to the City. RBI’s preliminary conversations with Synagro, the City’s biosolids disposal contractor, indicate a sufficient amount of land application area is available for Class B biosolids. However, biosolids disposal during the wet season can be a challenge for many POTWs because they lack sufficient storage. The RBI team will identify the current and future constraints that may affect the City’s ability to continue land applying class B biosolids and provide recommendations to the City to address such constraints. The RBI team will also consider alternative biosolids treatment technologies that would produce Class A biosolids and/or biochar along with associated disposal options. We will compare the feasibility and cost of these alternatives, meet with the City to discuss and prepare a technical memorandum.
It is anticipated that the current and future Class B land application constraints and opportunities would be developed through conversations with service providers such as Synagro, Waste Management, and Recology, and from other municipal agencies that use a third party for Class B land application. For Class A biosolids and/or biochar/gasification options, it is anticipated that up to three alternatives will be investigated. It is not anticipated that new emerging technologies will be investigated as part of the analysis and that the alternatives considered would have a full-scale working facility in the United States. The RBI team will also consider one alternative to explore the feasibility and possible advantages of treating a portion of the City’s biosolids to help mitigate/avoid the constraints with Class B land application. It is anticipated that the feasibility of the alternatives will be compared on life-cycle cost basis using conceptual level capital and operating costs. Other non-cost factors may include perceived price volatility, whether the proposed solution is established, ability to treat PFAS/PFOA, and reliability of the alternative.
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Task Lead: Greg Chung, West Yost
Deliverables:
Biosolids Treatment and Disposal Alternatives Technical Memorandum Schedule: 2025
Task 11 – Miscellaneous Operational and Regulatory Support RBI will provide operational and regulatory support to the City to ensure compliance with the NPDES permit. RBI has extensive knowledge of the City’s plant, electronic SMR preparation process, and the NPDES permit discharge limitations and reporting requirements. RBI will provide SMR preparation and review services as needed by the City to ensure that the City is meeting the reporting requirements of the NPDES permit. RBI will assist the City in responding to notice of violations issued by the Central Valley Water Board and reporting of non- compliance as required by the NPDES permit. RBI also will provide operational support to the City to manage and improve unit treatment processes such that RWRF treatment efficiency is improved and the City complies with the NPDES permit.
Task Lead: Cyle Moon, RBI
Deliverables:
Preparation and review of SMRs
Technical memoranda/reports regarding operational improvements Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 12 – Meetings with City Staff and Council
The appropriate RBI team members will attend meetings, as necessary, with City Department of Municipal Utilities (MUD) staff, Council committees, and the full City Council. The number of meetings assumed for the term of the two-year project extension is as follows. City MUD Meetings: once per month (24 total)
Council Committee Meetings: two presentations per year (4 total) City Council Meetings: one presentation per year (2 total) Task Lead: Paul Bedore, RBI
Deliverables:
Meeting agenda, handouts, and minutes
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 13 – Project Management
This task includes the management activities to assure high quality on-time and within-budget task completions. Invoices will be submitted to the City on a monthly basis. This task also EXHIBIT 1
includes coordination with City staff and our subconsultants not accommodated under other tasks. Hours are also budgeted for scheduling of staff and initiating their task-specific activities.
Task Lead: Paul Bedore, RBI
Deliverables:
Monthly invoices
Routine project coordination and management activities Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 14 – Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Compliance Support RBI will advise the City on the testing necessary to complete its on-going Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) for Ceriodaphnia dubia. The C. dubia toxicity has been caused by pesticide applications by the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District to the ponds and wetlands for vector control. The Modifications Project is anticipated to resolve the source of toxicity to the final effluent. RBI will prepare a final TRE report upon conclusion of the TRE for submittal to the Central Valley Water Board.
The renewed NPDES permit will include a numeric effluent limitation for chronic WET and, consistent with the State Water Board’s 2020 Toxicity Provisions, is anticipated to require monthly routine testing with C. dubia. The facility must conduct this testing on a strict schedule and be prepared to initiate two additional follow-up tests within the same calendar month, should the routine test fail. RBI will assist the City in implementing the new permit requirements and will provide QA/QC review of monthly WET test reports from the contract laboratory. Should future chronic WET testing identify toxicity from tests that don’t meet USEPA test acceptability criteria, RBI will direct the contract laboratory to conduct a re-test.
Should toxicity be identified from sound tests RBI will provide the technical direction regarding additional testing to determine compliance with the WET effluent limitations and the need for development of a TRE Action Plan.
Task Lead: Cameron Irvine, RBI
Deliverables:
Final Report for Current C. dubia TRE
TRE Action Plan and Progress Reports, as needed
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 15 – Evaluation of Compliance with Thermal Plan
The State Water Board adopted the Water Quality Control Plan for Control of Temperature in the Coastal and Interstate Water and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California (Thermal Plan) on May 18, 1972, and amended this plan on September 18, 1975. The Thermal Plan contains temperature objectives applicable to the Delta and contains temperature objectives for different types of waste discharges. A municipal wastewater treatment plant is considered to EXHIBIT 1
discharge an elevated temperature waste under the Thermal Plan. The Thermal Plan’s objectives for elevated temperature waste discharges to the Delta have been incorporated as effluent and receiving water limitations into the RWRF NPDES permit.
Historically, the RWRF has benefited from effluent cooling in the ponds and wetlands, which allows the facility to comply with the temperature objectives of the Thermal Plan, and associated NPDES temperature limitations. However, now that the RWRF Modifications Project is substantially complete, the effluent cooling that historically has occurred in the ponds and wetlands during the late fall and winter period of the year (when the receiving water has cooled substantially from summer highs but the RWRF effluent has not yet cooled commensurately) will no longer occur. Hence, compliance with Thermal Plan objectives and associated NPDES permit temperature limitations may become a challenge during the late fall and early winter months.
Under this task, RBI will compile effluent and receiving water temperatures and flows, post- completion of the Modifications Project, and use these data to assess the RWRF’s ability to comply with its NPDES permit temperature limitations. RBI will prepare a preliminary Technical Memorandum for City staff that will present the findings from this thermal compliance assessment in 2025 and will finalize this TM in 2026. The TM also will include recommendations, based on the TM’s findings, which will be discussed with City staff in a meeting.
Task Lead: Michael Bryan, RBI
Deliverables:
Preliminary and Final Thermal Plan Compliance Assessment TM Thermal Compliance Meeting
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 16 – Reimbursable Expenses
Reimbursable expenses are non-labor charges associated with conducting the project and this has been retained as Task 16 consistent with the current project setup in RBI’s accounting system. These expenses include, but are not limited to supplies, mileage, printing, postage, and equipment. Reimbursable expenses are estimated at an amount not to exceed 3 percent of the total project budget. Reimbursable expenses will be charged at the direct cost or rate, as appropriate for the type of charge (e.g., mileage will be charged at a rate and postage will be a direct charge).
Task 17 – Harmful Algal Blooms
RBI will represent the City, as needed, on regional issues related to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the San Joaquin River, Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel, and the Delta. RBI is involved with several special studies being conducted within the Delta and will engage the City on issues within these studies that pertain to the operations of the City’s MUD and that are of EXHIBIT 1
interest to the City. The Stockton Ship Channel is known as a regional hotspot for HABs and is being targeted for future mitigation and management within the City limits. Among other things, RBI’s services can include engaging and representing the City in these efforts, reviewing draft study plans and reports, coordinating the use of City equipment to assist with these studies, and assisting the City obtain and use grant and other funding to help address these issues.
Task Lead: Paul Bedore, RBI
Deliverables:
TBD
Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 18 – Power Services
In the second half of 2024, the RBI Team initiated Task 18 to assist the City in evaluating its back-up power supplies, synchronization of its back-up generators, enhancing power resiliency/redundancy, and evaluating cost-of-service for the upgraded RWRF. The RBI Team is preparing a technical scope of work that the City can use to prepare a vendor request for proposal (RFP). The RFP will be used to select a vendor capable of designing and installing a new generation control system (i.e., micro-grid controller) capable of controlling all portions of the generator system, as well as future energy sources, should the City choose to add solar power generation and battery storage to the RWRF in the future.
The RBI Team is also reviewing electrical loads and power costs for RWRF operations to develop a baseline cost-of-service for power and cost-of-service estimate for the new RWRF treatment process under the existing PGE service tariff. We are reviewing other tariff options (if applicable) and identifying any regulatory considerations, including those associated with a future solar system for power redundancy. This effort will determine how the City can maintain the lowest possible power costs into the future.
Assistance with the technical scope of work and vendor RFP, as well as the evaluation of minimizing power costs is assumed to be nearly complete by the end of 2024. Budget assumed for Task 18 in 2025 is for ancillary services that the City may need to finish out this effort. The selection and management of the vendor to design and install the new generation control system (i.e., micro-grid controller) and any subsequent phases of power-related work at the RWRF is not part of this scope of services. Should RBI services beyond this task be needed and requested by the City in the future (e.g., subsequent work to obtain improved cost of power service), RBI would scope and budget such services in a separate proposal.
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Co-Task Leads: Jeff Pelz, West Yost; Cori Bradely, RBI Deliverables:
TBD
Schedule: 2025
Task 19 – Unit Process Control Plan
In circa 2000, the City’s contract operator, OMI, prepared a Unit and Process Control Plan (UPCP) for the RWRF. After OMI operations contract ended, MUD updated the UPCP every year through circa 2016. RWRF operators have found this document effective because it explains the RWRF unit processes, provides operational specifications, and operational tutorials accompanied by photos. The existing UPCP is over 400 pages in length and is almost entirely out of date since the Modifications Project has either replaced or updated approximately 90% of the unit processes described in the UPCP. Given the effort necessary to prepare an entirely new UPCP, RBI discussed with RWRF management approaches to organize existing information for the modified RWRF into a unified document that would serve the same purposes of the UPCP. Under the existing NPDES services contract, RBI is preparing an example document that will focus on the headworks. It will include portions of the RWRF operations and maintenance manual (Volume 2), process control narratives, process control descriptions, and process and instrument diagrams. This document will be reviewed with MUD management under the existing contract. Assuming the example document meets the City’s needs, budget is provided in this task for RBI to work with City staff to expand the document to include most other units and processes at the RWRF.
Co-Task Leads: Art O’Brien, RBI
Deliverables:
Collated document with unit and process control information Schedule: 2025 and 2026
Task 20 – Ponds-Wetlands Management and Return Infrastructure RBI will assist the City in developing a long-term strategy for using the existing wastewater ponds and wetlands, which will involve new or modified uses and infrastructure.
Subtask 20.1 – Identification of the City’s Goals and Objectives RBI will work with City staff to identify the City’s goal and objectives for the existing wastewater ponds and wetlands. The goal will define the City’s intended use of the ponds and wetlands in both the near-term and long-term. For example, the goal could be to use the ponds (and possibly wetlands) for winter storage so that water can be returned to the main treatment plant in the summer, treated, and discharged to the river. This would allow the City to maximize the amount of water it may divert at the City’s Delta Drinking Water Plant.
Based on a defined goal(s) for use of the ponds and wetlands, specific objectives that must be accomplished to achieve the goal(s) will be identified. These may include continued use of the EXHIBIT 1
ponds for emergency storage, development of new infrastructure to facilitate returning wastewater placed in the ponds back to the headworks for treatment prior to river discharge, etc.
Subtask 20.2 – Feasibility Analysis and Development of Alternatives Following completion of Subtask 20.1, alternative means of achieving the defined objectives will undergo a feasibility analysis and viable alternative approaches to pond and wetland management/use, that can achieve the City’s goals for these assets, will be evaluated. This may include alternatives for storing and managing diverted flows from the RWRF, alternatives for returning stored/diverted water to the RWRF for treatment, level of treatment prior to storing water in the ponds and wetlands, alternatives for converting the wetlands into a completely different land use. The analysis will consider vegetation and wildlife management needed for the various alternatives that are developed under this subtask.
Subtask 20.3 – Develop Documentation to Facilitate Preferred Alternative Documentation that is anticipated to be needed to direct and facilitate planned actions may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following. • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documentation • Environmental Permitting/Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) compliance documentation • Pond and Wetland Wildlife Management Plan
• Engineering design documents for additional infrastructure needed Each of the documents listed above would require substantial effort to complete, which is reflected in the budget for this subtask.
Subtask 20.4 – Action Implementation Assistance and Monitoring Under this subtask, RBI would provide assistance to City staff to manage the implementation of planned actions, such as conducting biological and construction monitoring, notices and reporting to permitting agencies, and general project management assistance.
Since the scope of documentation and assistance needed to implement the preferred alternative is not currently known, RBI’s assistance for Subtasks 20.3 and 20.4 is limited to the budget provided. If extensive approvals and permits are required, then RBI will submit a separate scope and budget.
Task Leads: Cyle Moon and Michael Bryan, RBI
Deliverables:
Defined goals and objectives for ponds and wetlands
Feasibility analysis and development of alternatives
Documentation for the preferred alternative TBD (CEQA, engineering drawings, etc.) Schedule: 2025 and 2026
EXHIBIT 1
Attachment B
Budget for 2025–2026
EXHIBIT 1
BUDGET SUMMARY
Task Description 2025 Subtotal 2026 Subtotal 2025-2026
Subtotal
Task 1: Permit Management/Calendar/Schedule 15,450$ -$ 15,450$ Task 2: R
epresentation at Meetings and Tracking of Regulatory Developments 40,170$ 40,170$ 80,341$ Task 3: Monitoring and Reporting 19,414$ 19,414$ 38,828$ Task 4: Outfall and Modifications Project Continuing Services 21,787$ 21,787$ 43,574$ Task 5: Groundwater 149,534$ 53,566$ 203,100$ Task 6: Annual Reports 13,677$ 13,677$ 27,353$ Task 7: Sewer Use Ordinance and Enforcement Response Plan Revisions 16,685$ 16,685$ 33,371$ Task 8: ROWD and NPDES Permit Negotiation 97,798$ -$ 97,798$ Task 9: Laboratory Compliance 7,296$ 7,296$ 14,592$ Task 10: Biosolids Treatment and Disposal 90,375$ -$ 90,375$ Task 11: Miscellaneous Operational and Regulatory Support 69,380$ 69,380$ 138,760$ Task 12: Meetings with City Staff and Council 41,416$ 41,416$ 82,831$ Task 13: Project Management 56,050$ 56,050$ 112,099$ Task 14: Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Compliance 29,465$ 29,465$ 58,930$ Task 15: Evaluation of Compliance with Thermal Plan 14,988$ 14,988$ 29,975$ Task 16: Reimbursable Expenses 17,843$ 17,843$ 35,686$ Task 17: Harmful Algal Blooms 11,786$ 11,786$ 23,573$ Task 18: Power Planning 15,711$ -$ 15,711$ Task 19: Unit and Process Control Plan 53,503$ 53,503$ 107,006$ Task 20: Ponds-Wetlands Management and Return Infrastructure 118,346$ 115,230$ 233,576$ Total 900,674$ 582,255$ 1,482,930$ EXHIBIT 1
DETAILED BUDGET
Managing
Partner Partner
Principal
Scientist
Resource
Director
Resource
Director Associate Associate
Senior
Engineer II
Senior
Scientist II
Project
Scientist II
Project
Scientist I
Project
Scientist I
Staff
Engineer II
Admin
Assistant
Michael
Bryan
Art
O'Brien
Keith
Whitener
Paul
Bedore Cori Bradley
Michelle
Brown
Cameron
Irvine Cyle Moon
Ellen
Preece
Hailey
Price
Teresa
Lopez
Whitney
Thorpe Matt Burgi
Annelise
Eastes
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Tas k 1: Permit Management/Calendar/Schedule 8 12 40 4 15,450$ -$ 15,450$ -$ 15,450$ Task 2: Representation at Meetings and Tracking of Regulatory Developments 32 100 100 30 39,577$ 40,764$ 80,341$ -$ 80,341$
Task 3: Monitoring and Reporting 12 40 24 40 32 19,127$ 19,701$ 38,828$ -$ 38,828$
Task 4: Outfall and Modifications Project Continuing Services 40 50 80 21,465$ 22,109$ 43,574$ -$ 43,574$
Task 5: Groundwater 36,553$ 6,995$ 43,548$ 159,552$ 203,100$ Subtask 5.1: Groundwater Monitoring, Laboratory Analyses, and Reporting 12 32 7,357$ 6,995$ 92,613$ 4,631$ Subtask 5.2: Best Practicable Treatment or Control 6 16 32 16 19,747$ -$ 20,816$ 1,041$ Subtask 5.3: Well Closures 6 18 6 9,449$ -$ 38,525$ 1,926$ Task 6: Annual Reports 12 40 8 40 13,474$ 13,879$ 27,353$ -$ 27,353$
Task 7: Sewer Use Ordinance and Enforcement Response Plan Revisions 40 40 40 16,439$ 16,932$ 33,371$ -$ 33,371$
Task 8: ROWD and NPDES Permit Negotiation 40 8 154 8 8 36 8 82,048$ -$ 82,048$ 15,000$ 750$ 15,750$ 97,798$ Task 9: Laboratory Compliance 8 10 40 7,188$ 7,404$ 14,592$ -$ 14,592$
Task 10: Biosolids Treatment and Disposal 24 20 4 15,825$ -$ 15,825$ 71,000$ 3,550$ 74,550$ 90,375$ Task 11: Miscellaneous Operational and Regulatory Support 20 24 100 16 160 24 160 68,355$ 70,406$ 138,760$ -$ 138,760$
Task 12: Meetings with City Staff and Council 30 30 100 100 40,803$ 42,028$ 82,831$ -$ 82,831$
Tas k 13: Project Management 48 12 200 80 30 55,221$ 56,878$ 112,099$ -$ 112,099$
Task 14: Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Compliance 16 24 120 40 29,030$ 29,900$ 58,930$ -$ 58,930$
Task 15: Evaluation of Compliance with Thermal Plan 24 8 16 32 32 14,766$ 15,209$ 29,975$ -$ 29,975$
Tas k 16: Reimburs able Expens es -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 35,686$ -$ 35,686$
Task 17: Harmful Algal Blooms 12 24 24 20 11,612$ 11,961$ 23,573$ -$ 23,573$
Tas
k 18: Power Planning 8 16 7,836$ -$ 7,836$ 7,500$ 375$ 7,875$ 15,711$ Task 19: Unit and Process Control Plan 32 60 370 52,712$ 54,294$ 107,006$ -$ 107,006$
Task 20: Ponds-Wetlands Management and Return Infrastructure 117,340$ 116,236$ 233,576$ -$ 233,576$
Subtask 20.1: Identification of the City’s Goals and Objectives 16 4 6 12 12 16,338$ -$ Subtask 20.2: Feasibility Analysis and Development of Alternatives 8 8 12 8 32 24 32 33,887$ -$ Subtask 20.3: Develop Documentation to Facilitate Preferred Alternative 16 16 40 24 100 80 80 40 100 67,115$ 69,128$ Subtask 20.4: Action Implementation Assistance and Monitoring 12 24 40 40 40 16 -$ 47,108$ Total Hours by Staff Person 322 190 122 1046 16 224 366 750 24 194 350 212 790 34 2025 Billing Rate 359$ 352$ 324$ 310$ 310$ 300$ 300$ 293$ 293$ 243$ 222$ 222$ 207$ 118$ 2026 Billing Rate 370$ 363$ 334$ 319$ 319$ 309$ 309$ 301$ 301$ 250$ 229$ 229$ 213$ 122$ Total by Staff Person 102,568$ 64,775$ 40,206$ 275,815$ 4,960$ 65,623$ 96,708$ 204,507$ 7,126$ 47,923$ 68,037$ 48,007$ 159,183$ 4,081$ -- -- 1,225,203$ 1,482,930$
DIRECT EXPENSES
TOTAL BUDGET
1,482,930$
Sub-
consultant
Subtotal
City of Stockton NPDES Compliance and Program Assistance Contract Budget for 2025 and 2026 RBI 2026
Services
Subtotal
RBI 2025
Services
Subtotal
RBI 2025-2026
Subtotal
SubconsultantsRobertson-Bryan, Inc.
Task TotalCondor Earth
West Yost
Associates
RBI 5% Admin
Markup
EXHIBIT 1
2025–2026 FEE SCHEDULE
Charges for project work performed by Robertson-Bryan, Inc. (RBI) will be calculated and billed at RBI’s 2025 and 2026 rates. Rates are adjusted annually, effective December 16th. Accordingly, RBI has yet to prepare its 2025 and 2026 rates. The 2025–2026 NPDES services budget was prepared assuming an annual 3% increase of RBI’s 2024 billing rates for each calendar year. RBI’s hourly rates for 2024 are attached below.
2024 FEE SCHEDULE
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RATE/HOUR
♦ Managing Partner $349.00
♦ Partner $342.00
♦ Managing Principal Engineer/Scientist $333.00
♦ Principal Engineer/Scientist $315.00
♦ Resource Director $301.00
♦ Associate $291.00
♦ Senior Engineer/Scientist II $284.00
♦ Senior Engineer/Scientist I $269.00
♦ Project Engineer/Scientist III $247.00
♦ Project Engineer/Scientist II $236.00
♦ Project Engineer/Scientist I $216.00
♦ Staff Engineer/Scientist II $201.00
♦ Staff Engineer/Scientist I $185.00
♦ Technical Analyst $172.00
♦ Graphics/GIS $153.00
♦ Laboratory Compliance Specialist $149.00
♦ Administrative Assistant $115.00
♦ Intern $71.00
Up to ten percent (10%) of subcontractor charges will be added to cover administrative costs.
Hourly rates will be increased by a minimum of fifty percent (50%) for depositions, trials, and hearings.
EXHIBIT 1