STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
BOARD MEETING SESSION – CENTRAL VALLEY REGIONAL BOARD
OCTOBER 21, 1999
ITEM: 15
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE, EXECUTE, AND AMEND AS NECESSARY, A CONTRACT WITH KENNEDY/JENKS CONSULTANTS TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT WATER SUPPLY AND CONDUCT SOIL AND GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION OF GASOLINE CONSTITUENTS FROM AN UNDERGROUND TANK LEAK, GLENNVILLE, KERN COUNTY
DISCUSSION: Gasoline containing Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) was released from the underground storage tank (UST) at the Glennville Shopping Center, 10675 Highway 155, Glennville, Kern County. During an investigation in July of 1997, significant concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, TPH-g, and/or MTBE were detected in three monitoring wells, the shopping center well, and numerous domestic wells. At least four domestic water supply wells in the community of Glennville have concentrations of MTBE which greatly exceed the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s public health goal of 13 parts per billion (ppb).
The responsible parties, Ralph A. Wilcox III and Jan C. Wilcox failed to take corrective actions ordered by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) in Cleanup and Abatement Order No. 97-721. Significant amounts of petroleum remain in soil and groundwater at the site and are a continuing threat to human health, safety, and the environment.
The concentration of MTBE in four water supply wells meets or exceeds the risk level for ingestion and dermal exposure, and due to lack of action by the responsible parties, the residents with impacted wells are being provided water for drinking and domestic use by the CVRWQCB for their health and safety. The CVRWQCB funded emergency improvements at four locations, which consisted of installing water storage tanks, connecting these tanks to the homes, and disconnecting piping from the homes to the degraded domestic wells. The CVRWQCB also contracted for the hauling of potable water to these storage tanks. A fifth residence has recently been provided a water supply tank and piping. The CVRWQCB is also providing bottled water to residences where the concentration of MTBE in their domestic wells exceeds the public health goal of 13 parts per billion. These emergency improvements and water deliveries are necessary for health and safety reasons until a permanent alternative potable water source can be provided.
Elevated levels of MTBE may appear in other domestic wells in the area in the future. Given the characteristics of MTBE and the hydrogeology in the area, it is impossible to identify the wells that may be impacted or the timing of any future impacts. Therefore, while the five interim water supply systems are a good short-term solution, trucking water from Bakersfield for a possibly-expanding number of residences is not considered a viable long-term option. Public health will continue to be threatened until the community is provided a safe and reliable community drinking water system.
A request for a work plan and cost estimate for a permanent drinking water supply and to conduct groundwater/soil assessment and remediation was sent to eight consulting firms with relevant experience and technical competency. Written proposals were reviewed and interviews held by State and Regional Board technical staff. The criteria used to evaluate the proposals included technical adequacy of problem assessment, technical adequacy of solutions, and experience and qualifications.
Kennedy/Jenks Consultants was selected. More than the other firms, Kennedy/Jenks demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the project, including site-specific hydrogeologic conditions, a superior knowledge of MTBE characteristics in groundwater and soil, and an awareness of the need for community involvement. Kennedy/Jenks is also participating in a pilot MTBE treatment project for the City of Santa Monica. Their expertise with hydrogeologic projects in fractured bedrock was well demonstrated as was their familiarity with Regional Board regulatory issues, CEQA, and DHS drinking water system requirements. They also thoroughly addressed institutional issues related to the establishment of community water systems, including potential funding sources. Kennedy/Jenks has the best applicable experience and demonstrated the greatest understanding of the project and issues that could arise.
At least two sources of funding will be used to conduct the project. As a result of a 1991 lawsuit settlement with previous site owners, a settlement account managed by the Attorney General’s Office was established. The settlement account has a balance of $626,652 (as of 7/31/99). To date, the State Board has approved a total of $800,000 from the Emergency, Abandoned, Recalcitrant (EAR) account for corrective action work at Glennville. The total amount of the contract for the project should not exceed $1,400,000.
POLICY ISSUE: Should the State Water Resources Control Board adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend as necessary, a contract with Kennedy/Jenks Consultants to establish a permanent water supply and conduct soil and groundwater assessment and remediation at Glennville for an amount not to exceed $1,400,000?
FISCAL IMPACT: The EAR Account will be reduced by up to $1,000,000.
RWQCB IMPACT: The contract for the project will be managed by the CVRWQCB.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the State Water Resources Control Board adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend as necessary, a contract with Kennedy/Jenks Consultants to establish a permanent water supply and conduct soil and groundwater remediation at Glennville for an amount not to exceed $1,400,000.
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October 21, 1999
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
RESOLUTION NO. 99- ___
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE, EXECUTE, AND AMEND AS NECESSARY, A CONTRACT WITH KENNEDY/JENKS CONSULTANTS TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT WATER SUPPLY AND CONDUCT SOIL AND GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION OF GASOLINE CONSTITUENTS FROM AN UNDERGROUND TANK LEAK, GLENNVILLE, KERN COUNTY
WHEREAS:
1. Gasoline containing Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) was released from the underground storage tank (UST) at the Glennville Shopping Center, 10675 Highway 155, Glennville, Kern County.
2. Concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, TPH-g, and/or MTBE were detected in three monitoring wells, the shopping center well, and numerous domestic wells.
3. The responsible parties, Ralph A. Wilcox III and Jan C. Wilcox, failed to take corrective actions ordered by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) in Cleanup and Abatement Order No. 97-721.
4. The concentration of MTBE in four water supply wells meets or exceeds the risk level for ingestion and dermal exposure. Due to lack of action by the responsible parties, the CVRWQCB has provided residents at these well locations with interim water supply systems for drinking and domestic use. For the health and safety of the residents, the CVRWQCB has contracted for the regular delivery of potable water to the interim systems. Additionally, residents with domestic wells with concentrations of MTBE in excess of the risk level for ingestion are being provided with bottled water by the CVRWQCB for their health and safety.
5. Significant amounts of petroleum remain in soil and groundwater at the site and are a continuing threat to human health, safety, and the environment. Given the characteristics of MTBE and the hydrogeology in the area, it is impossible to identify the wells that may be impacted in the future or the timing of any future impacts. Public health will continue to be threatened until the community is provided a safe and reliable community drinking water system.
6. A request for a work plan and cost estimate for a permanent drinking water supply and to conduct groundwater/soil assessment and remediation was sent to eight consulting firms with relevant experience and technical competency. Written proposals were reviewed and interviews held by State and Regional Board technical staff. Kennedy/Jenks Consultants was selected because they have the best applicable experience and demonstrated the greatest understanding of the project and issues that could arise.
7. At least two sources of funding will be used to conduct the project to establish a permanent water supply and conduct soil and groundwater remediation. A settlement account managed by the Attorney General’s Office will be utilized as well as the Emergency, Abandoned, Recalcitrant (EAR) account. The total amount of the contract for the project should not exceed $1,400,000.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The State Water Resources Control Board authorizes the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend as necessary, a contract with Kennedy/Jenks Consultants to establish a permanent water supply and conduct soil and groundwater remediation at Glennville for an amount not to exceed $1,400,000.
CERTIFICATION
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 21 October 1999.
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Maureen Marche
Administrative Assistant to the Board