Report Prepared by: Michael Wegley, Interim City Engineer
Title
SUBJECT: Award of Proposal and Approval of Professional Service Agreement to Replace HerSchy Environmental, Inc. with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc. for Groundwater Sampling, Testing and Reporting Services in the Amount of $82,165
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers awarding a contract in the amount of $82,165 to Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc. (to replace HerSchy Environmental, Inc., no longer in business) to perform groundwater well sampling and reporting services in support of the Airport Remediation Site Investigation for FY 2023/24.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Awarding a contract with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc. FY 2023/24 in the amount of $82,165 to provide semi-annual groundwater well sampling and reporting services for the Airport site; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or Deputy City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications as conditioned by City Council; or,
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
4. Deny.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200, et seq.
Services with an estimated value greater than $37,000.00 are made by written contract in accordance with Merced Municipal Code, Title 3 - Revenue and Finance, Chapter 3.04.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2022-23 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
The City has been working since the 1980’s to investigate and remediate contamination at the Merced Regional Airport Hazardous Waste Site, located in the vicinity of Riggs and West Avenues. The site contains contaminants from old crop-dusting operations, petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, and other volatile substances from a fire department training area. Portions of the site investigation and asphalt capping have been completed. In 2004, a consultant to the City performed groundwater remediation by injecting the site with a “hydrogen-releasing compound” to accelerate natural degradation of the contaminants. It proved to provide a positive effect at the site in the reduction of certain contaminant concentrations. However, the chlorinated solvent PCE remains difficult to address in the groundwater. Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) staff have acknowledged the declining contaminant concentration levels allow a reduction in groundwater sampling and reporting events thereby also reducing project costs. However, the residual levels of PCE still exceed the RWQCB’s water quality objectives necessitating ongoing monitoring and reporting actions.
The ongoing remediation for the Airport Hazardous Waste Site requires the services of an appropriately qualified environmental consulting firm with the relevant expertise. The City procured Herschy Environmental, Inc. to perform the semi-annual services in 2022 via Request-for-Proposals. Herschy has since gone out of business and must be replaced. Additionally, the RWQCB now requires the investigation and characterization of emerging chemical contaminants of concern classified as per and polyoalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluoroctane sulfuric acids (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOA) and Adsorbable Organic Fluorine (AOF).
PFAS chemicals, commonly referred to “forever chemicals” because they are highly persistent in the environment, are long-lasting and don’t easily break down leading to concerns about their long-term impacts on ecosystems and human health. PFAS substances have been commonly used in various applications, including non-stick cookware (such as Teflon), water-repellent and stain resistant clothing, firefighting foam, food packaging (for resistance to sticking wet and greasy foods), and some electronics. Due to their widespread use, PFAS found throughout the environment, humans and animals have led to concerns about their potential health effects.
Ongoing efforts to regulate and reduce the use of PFAS to mitigate their health and environmental impacts led the RWQCB to begin testing drinking water systems and remediation sites for presence, level of concentration and extent of PFAS contamination. The RWQCB requires the sampling and testing of “forever chemicals” for a total of 31 analytes. The presence and location of PFAS contamination sites is usually centered around military bases, airports, and manufacturing facilities where they were more heavily stored and used. The presence of PFAS chemicals around the airport mainly are most likely result of the use of firefighting foam (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam or AFF).
Directives from the State Water Board to test most all of California’s water systems has resulted in finding the widespread presence of “forever chemicals”. EPA and CalEPA are currently working on regulations to address it. In the meantime, the ongoing program to sample and test drinking water systems for “forever chemicals” in accordance with the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) is a moving target. The public health goal (goal as opposed to requirement) maximum limit is reduced based on ever-improving minimum scientifically achievable standard laboratory testing limits and is currently 5 parts per trillion. The maximum contaminant level for water systems is expected to be established within the coming year around 4 parts per trillion.
To date, periodic monitoring of Merced’s drinking water system has detected the presence of 1 to 3 PFAS analytes well below the proposed maximum limits in 4 of the 22 water supply wells. The test results ranged from 0.003 to 0.007 parts per trillion, nearly one one-thousandth of the propose maximum limit. Three of the wells (1A,1C & 2B) blend with adjacent wells before entering the distribution system thereby further reducing the analyte concentrations. The 4th well (5B) initially tested positive and subsequent testing has not resulted in more detections. Testing for the analytes is so sensitive and the potential for cross-contamination from other sources is so widespread that the initial positive test may have simply been the result of something so innocuous as inadequately removing the Teflon tape that comes on the sampling bottles.
The RWQB originally required investigation of these contaminants at the Airport remediation site in 2016. The limits and extents of these chemicals may comprise of pollution plumes and concentrations differing from that of PCE. The RWQCB is now moving into a phase of further characterization and eventually expanded groundwater study for the site.
Thirteen firms submitted proposals to carry out the state ordered work plan. An evaluation did not have to be convened as only one proposal provided the requested workplan scope and budget to carry out the work plan, Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc.
Provost and Pritchard have and continue to provide groundwater remediation services to the City for the past several decades and performed satisfactorily.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funding is available within the Fiscal Year 2023/24 adopted budget in Fund 6001-Water System Operation, professional Services account. Future appropriations will be incorporated into the annual budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement for Professional Services
2. Regional Water Quality Control Board - June 21, 2022 letter