Report Prepared by: Joseph D. Angulo, Deputy Director, Public Works
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of Two Agreements for Professional Services with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Incorporated, for the PCE Groundwater Project No. CP240022, in an Amount of $275,000
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving two separate agreements for environmental remediation services for the PCE Groundwater Project.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the Agreement for Professional Services (cleanup contract) with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Incorporated, in the amount of $240,000 for PCE groundwater cleanup; and,
B. Approving the Agreement for Professional Services (reporting contract) with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Incorporated, in the amount of $35,000 for report drafting; and,
C. Authorizing the City Manager or Deputy City Manager to execute 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 $36,000.00 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 2023-24 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
PCE Groundwater Cleanup - History and Past Actions:
On September 22, 2008, the City Council approved a settlement and cleanup agreement with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (Board) for the City’s PCE (tetrachloroethylene) groundwater project. Under the agreement, the City agreed to commit $250,000 annually to fund work specified in a mutually approved Action Plan. The Action Plan includes provisions for an annual work plan that generally includes tasks to be completed by the City for each following fiscal year.
The Council approved an initial Agreement for Professional Services with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc., at its February 2, 2009, meeting. Subsequent contracts have been approved by Council in the years since.
Current Site Status:
• One Hour Martinizing, 2828 G Street- The Board issued closure for the site on April 22, 2015. The site’s wells have been destroyed and the treatment system trailer transferred to the Sunshine site. This is the first of the seven sites to receive complete closure for the groundwater cleanup.
• Merced Laundry, 160 W. Main Street- The owners of the site have agreed to undertake corrective action to the satisfaction of the Board. In its May 2, 2022, letter correspondence, the Board concurred with the City ceasing all activity at the site in accordance with the settlement and cleanup agreement. The transfer of nine City-installed groundwater monitoring wells to the Merced Laundry responsible party is pending. The above Board letter also approved this action and upon completion, the City’s involvement with the site will cease.
Current Status of the remaining PCE Sites (5):
• Former Sunshine Cleaners, 1227 W. Main Street- The treatment system trailer formerly located at the above G Street site was transferred to the Sunshine site to initiate soil vapor extraction to remove PCE vapors. Several vapor extraction wells are currently in operation, with additional existing dry groundwater wells to be added to the vapor extraction system as feasible.
• Former Parkway Cleaners, 1530 Yosemite Parkway- A groundwater cleanup system is in operation. The system consists of air injection into groundwater with soil vapor extraction to remove PCE vapors. Although groundwater cleanup is occurring, it is progressing slowly.
• One Hour Martinizing, 1818 R Street- Staff requested closure for PCE impacts to soils at the site; however, the Board has contested whether additional cleanup of soils will be necessary. Groundwater impacts will be addressed in accordance with the Settlement Agreement priority list and further action at this site is pending.
• Former Simpson’s Dry Cleaners, 618 W. Main Street- The Board granted closure for PCE in soils at this parcel and concurred that the property may be developed. The Board has not issued closure for PCE in groundwater. Groundwater monitoring only is occurring, and further action is deferred in accordance with the Settlement Agreement priority list.
• Former Bel Air Cleaners, 950 W. Main Street- Groundwater monitoring only is occurring, further action is deferred in accordance with the Settlement Agreement priority list.
The new Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc., $240,000 cleanup contract under consideration includes the following major tasks for fiscal year 2023 - 2024:
Former Parkway Cleaners
• Installation of one additional monitoring well to further define the extent of the groundwater plume;
• Installation of one soil vapor probe to evaluate risks from indoor vapor intrusion;
• Continue monitoring a new groundwater recirculation well installed in 2021 to enhance the soil vapor extraction and air sparging system;
• Operation and maintenance costs of the treatment system;
• Carbon filter media replacement as necessary;
• System evaluation report.
Former Sunshine Cleaners
• Addition of one deep groundwater monitoring well to the vapor extraction system;
• Operation and maintenance costs of the treatment system;
• Carbon filter media replacement as necessary;
• System evaluation report.
The balance of the project annual $250,000 PCE cleanup funding commitment will be used to pay Board oversight fees for fiscal year 2023-2024.
PCE Reporting - History and Past Actions:
This Agreement for Professional Services is for consultant services to prepare quarterly monitoring reports on the status of PCE in groundwater in the City. The reports are necessary to demonstrate that the City is completing its obligations under agreements with the Board. In a January 31, 2023, letter correspondence, the Board recommended reducing the City’s groundwater monitoring/sampling frequency from quarterly to semi-annually. This will result in savings to the City for reporting costs.
The Council approved an initial Agreement for Professional Services for report drafting with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc., at its December 1, 2008, meeting. Council approved subsequent amendments to the original contract in the years since. This contract is for semi-annual Monitoring Reports for the fourth quarter of 2023 and the second quarter of 2024 (fiscal year 2023/2024) at a cost of $35,000. Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc., has provided satisfactory service for the PCE project.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
PCE Cleanup Contract:
On December 18, 2006, the City Council approved water service rates that include an amount of $250,000 annually to provide for source water protection and remediation costs at the PCE sites. Funds are available in the fiscal year 2023/2024 budget in Fund 5007- CIP Enterprise to cover the cost of the clean-up contract.
PCE Reporting Contract:
There are sufficient funds in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget in Fund 6001-Water System Operations to cover the amount of the contract.
ATTACHMENTS
1. PCE Cleanup Contract
2. PCE Reporting Contract