ITEM 8 :APPROVAL OF A SMALL COMMUNITIES GRANT (SCG) FOR THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH (CITY), WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY EXPANSION PROJECT, PROJECT NO. SCG-623

DISCUSSION: In accordance with the State Water Resources Control Board's (SWRCB) Implementation Policy for the Small Communities Grant Program (Policy), adopted on January 23, 1997, and amended on April 30 and May 14, 1997, projects on the adopted priority list need SWRCB approval to receive a SCG for construction. Construction grants can be approved by the SWRCB after the Division of Clean Water Programs (Division) has approved the facilities plan and the final plans and specifications (P&S). The Division approved the final P&S for the City's Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion project on May 22, 1998, and the City submitted written agreement with the Division's decisions on May 22, 1998.

The City is located along State Highway 33 and the San Joaquin River at the northern edge of western Fresno County. The City serves a population of 4,901 and the 1996 median household income is $24,978. Based on the Policy's funding formula, the City qualifies for a SCG for 77.80 percent of the eligible costs.

The approximate number of households within the service area is 1,596, making an estimated total project cost per household of $1,112. Therefore, the proposed project is not a high cost project (greater than $15,000 per household), as defined by the Policy.

The City has an agriculturally based economy. During the growing and harvest season (July - September) the City experiences an influx of seasonal workers. This influx coupled with growth exceeding population projections has resulted in wastewater flows exceeding the permitted capacity of the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) by 200 percent. The City's WWTF operators have been able to produce an effluent meeting the effluent limitations portion of the Discharge Specifications. However, the City has not met the Discharge Specifications for monthly average daily flow and maintaining dissolved oxygen content in the upper zone of wastewater ponds.

Since the City's WWTF was not meeting all the Discharge Specifications, the City adopted a Declaration of a Potential Pollution Problem by resolution No. 97-14, on May 19, 1997. The Declaration states the potential of pollution exists at the City's WWTF due to a lack of capacity and includes a time schedule for expanding the WWTF. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted resolution No. 97-155, on June 20, 1997, accepting the City's Declaration of a Potential Pollution Problem and the time schedule for expansion. The City's project has been assigned a class "B" priority on the SCG Projects Statewide Priority List, which was adopted on May 14, 1997.

The purpose of proposed project is to:

• expand the wastewater treatment facility; and
• remediate the potential pollution problem.

The project consists of:

• expansion of headworks;
• construction of two extended aeration ponds;
• construction of one polishing pond;
• construction of two sludge lagoons;
• construction of seven shallow percolation ponds and distribution piping; and
• installation of motor control center.

The estimated total project cost is $1.775 million. This estimate includes construction, contingencies, engineering, and administration. The estimated eligible SCG amount is $1,246,461. The City is funding the local share project costs with cash on hand. The City has already received a Planning Grant of $48,804 and a Design Grant of $73,805.

The City prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration and supporting Initial Study that were distributed to the public and circulated through the State Clearinghouse (SCH# 98022063) for review from February 18, 1998, to March 20, 1998. During the review period, the City received comment letters from the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, the City Attorney's Office, the Fresno County Public Works and Development Services Department, and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), Fresno Office. The RWQCB was the only agency that raised environmental issues, which concerned groundwater impacts and monitoring, and the need for a General Construction Activity Storm Water Permit. The City responded to the RWQCB's comments by incorporating new mitigation measures into the project for groundwater monitoring and for obtaining a General Construction Activity Storm Water Permit.

The City requests the SWRCB approve a construction grant of $1,123,852 for this project.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB approve a construction grant for the proposed project?

RWQCB IMPACT: None

FISCAL IMPACT: Availability of SCG funds for this project depends on other SCG proposals being considered and to be approved by the SWRCB in July 1998.

Current SCG fund balance as of June 1998: $4,902,227

Project approvals under consideration by the SWRCB in July 1998:

Pajaro County Sanitation District SCG-710 $1,110,615

City of Firebaugh SCG-623 $1,123,852

Lake County Sanitation District - SE Regional System SCG-671 $2,667,760

New SCG fund balance, if all the July 1998 proposals are approved by the SWRCB: $0

There are eight additional projects which have submitted the necessary information to be considered for a construction grant commitment. However, the SCG funds have been depleted. The above projects were selected based on a first-come-first-served basis (for submittal of "substantially complete" plans and specifications) in accordance with the Policy.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the SWRCB adopt a resolution approving a construction grant for the proposed project.

DRAFT June 29, 1998

WHEREAS:

1. The Implementation Policy for the Small Communities Grant Program was adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board on January 23, 1997, and amended on April 30 and May 14, 1997;

2. The State Water Resources Control Board, on May 14, 1997, adopted the Small Communities Grant Program Priority List which included the City of Firebaugh, Wastewater Facility Expansion Project in Priority Class B;

3. The Division of Clean Water Programs approved the Facilities Plan, which includes the project report, environmental documents, and draft revenue program, on May 19, 1998, for the City of Firebaugh, Wastewater Facility Expansion Project;

4. The Division of Clean Water Programs approved the Final Plans and Specifications on May 22, 1998; and the City of Firebaugh submitted written agreement with the Division's decisions on May 22, 1998; and

5. The City of Firebaugh adopted a Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse No. 98022063) prepared for the project, which has been reviewed and considered and it has been determined the project will not result in any significant impacts.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The State Water Resources Control Board approves a Small Communities Grant of $1,123,852 to the City of Firebaugh for construction of the Wastewater Facility Expansion Project.

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on July 23, 1998.

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board