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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #02A - Discussion ItemFebruary 25, 1993 Mr. Cesar H. Odio City Manager City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida 33133 CUR � �� METRO-DADE CENTER OFFICE OF COUNTY MANAGER SUITE 2910 111 N.W.lot STREET MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128-11*1 (M) 376-5311 record in c * I- c ;. i a p i lh atty Hirai City Cle-T.k RE: Sanitary Sewer Service Agreement Restrictions Dear Mrtr: This shall acknowledge receipt of your letter of February 12, 1993 concerning the above referenced matter. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend your meeting of February 25 due to prior commitments. As an entity also affected by this prohibition, we in Dade County are keenly aware and understand the difficulties this situation presents. We welcome this opportunity to share with you the conditions that precipitated this action and the rationale used by County officials in determining its implementation. We have prepared a response for each of the six questions which you posed in your letter. For the sake of clarity, we have used the same order and numbering system in which they were presented. As you will see from these responses and as has been discussed with you and your staff previously, Dade County did not hide this situation or its magnitude. The problems with the sewer system, in particular the bay crossing, have been the subject of numerous public meetings, newspaper articles and other media presentations and a Grand Jury investigation. The City and its officials have been a part of this process from the very beginning. Therefore, it seems to me that this situation should not have come as a surprise to City officials. Shortly after the State Department of Environmental Regulation imposed new permitting requirements for sanitary sewer projects in Dade County, all affected parties were notified and invited to participate in the discussions that took place to interpret, assess and respond to this new state mandate. These points were discussed at length with you during our meeting of February 17th. As per your request, we are pleased to submit the following responses to your questions. 1. The January 27, 1993 order by the Director of the Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management prohibiting new sanitary sewer service agreements was made partly in response to the new, more stringent permitting requirements imposed by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (FDER) on November, 1992 for sewer construction projects within Dade County. In particular, these new requirements established guidelines which, based on flow data and Di -S(_us slog other documented facts, can not be met in certain areas - within the County. On December 10, 1992, after -a number of clarification meetings with FDER, the County notified utility officials, building officials and consultants about these new state requirements (copy attached). On December 23, 1992, a meeting with consultants and utility officials was held to discuss the new state requirements. In the meantime, data was — gathered and analyzed to determine those areas of the County which could be adversely affected by the new state requirements. Based on our analysis of the data, _ the County determined that this measure would avoid lengthy and costly engineering studies which at their conclusion would have shown the inability of the system to comply with the new state requirements. 2. The sanitary sewer service agreement prohibition applies to those areas of Dade County designated as "Critical Sewer Service Areas". As indicated in the map dated _ January 25, 1993 (copy attached), these areas include regions other than the Central District. Information -- currently available from other areas of Dade County does not indicate the existance of capacity problems elsewhere. However, it should be noted that as more information becomes available or as existing problems — are corrected, the boundaries of these "Critical Sewer Service Area" will change, either expanding or — contracting based on the data gathered. 3. We are currently negotiating with FDER and anticipate a settlement in a few months. Meetings have been scheduled at the following dates and locations: March 18 and/or March 19 - Tallahassee _- April 15 and/or 16 - Gainesville _ Mav 20 and/or 21 - TBA 4. The County has planned its wastewater treatment plant and facilities expansion program in accordance with its _ regional Wastewater Facilities Plan. This plan was prepared by engineering consultants in the mid-1980's, and was approved in 1987 by FDER and the U.S. • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after extensive ,� M d j4 review. The majority of the facilities proposed under that plan have either already been constructed, are ,:.-. under construction or are to be designed in the near p., v future. p U Cl Despite the planning and construction of major treatment facilities over the past decade, the County has experienced sewage flows which have increase more than o population growth. Sewer system evaluation and survey (SSES) studies performed in the 1970's recommended �i 4 specific repair work to reduce infiltration and inflow � and that work which was identified as cost effective was completed. The County's on -going infiltration/inflow (I/I) program was further accelerated in 1990. A priority list of collection systems with the highest I/I D was compiled based on pumping data, chloride content of sewage, and metered flow during late night hours in the wet and dry seasons. All pipelines with leaks will be 93— 121-1 i either chemically grouted, replaced or sliplined. As you may be aware, combined sewers (stormwater connections to the County's sanitary sewer system) have been identified as a major source of inflow. Your city, along with other agencies, has responded to our requests to disconnect these combined sewers. However, we continue to discover new connections with our on -going investigations and their disconnections are being pursued through the efforts of regulatory agencies. 5. During the past five years, the County has completed a number 'of wastewater projects in the City of Miami. These projects include slipl.ining of gravity interceptors, replacement of inverted siphons, installation of telemetry monitoring system, construction of pumping station 33-P1, and rehabilitation of the 4th Street pumping station at an approximate cost of $16 million. In addition to the above projects, the Department has an extensive in-house I/I program utilizing nine TV and Grout crews. The County has budgeted capital expenditures of approximately $9 million for the next two fiscal years solely for I/I work, with similar amounts estimated to be budgeted in succeeding ,years. Most recently, the Department contracted with Ric -Man International, Inc:. to perform TV and Grouting services along the banks of the Miami River at a cost of $1..5 million. This project is on -going. In addition, a new contract will be let next month for a similar effort in the northwest area of the City at an estimated cost of $2 million. Furthermore, a recently -executed contract with a consulting engineer to update the Departments' Wastewater Facilities Plan will include additional I/I work, concentrating initially in the Central District area. 6. The County's three treatment plants are interconnected allowing for a partial diversion of flows. However, capacity at the North and South plants is limited and additional diversions are not possible. A major transmission main is currently under construction in the North District area (N. 24) and upgrades to selected pumping stations are being designed. We trust that these responses clarify the issues to your satisfaction. In closing, let me state that we appreciate the statements of support which we have received from the City in this matter, and welcome your assistance in the resolution of this situation. Submitted into the public S'ncerely, record in connection with Jo uin G . Avino, P . E . , P.L.S. item C County Manager orl �" �fB Attachments chatty Hirai City Clerk 93- 121• 1 METROPOLITAN DADE , LINTY, FLORIDA METF1d'-iIhDE Snbznitted into the Pubic 0 ? inCOrl11E? METRE?-DADE CENTER record i item gqFNVIRONMENTAL REStlUitt'ES MANAMMM SUM WO • 111 w.w.1I1 STREET MIAMI, FLORIDA 33120-1971 DATE: DECEMBER 10, 1992 M attY Hirai (305) 3753376 City' Clerk TO: BUILDING OFFICIALS, UTILITY OFFICIALS AND SANITARY SEWER CONSULTANTS IN DADE COUNTY FROM: JOHN W. RENFROW, P.E. y DIRECTOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES EMENT RE: NEW PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING STATE APPROVAL OF SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION/TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS WITHIN DADE COUNTY THIS- SHALL SERVE TO NOTIFY YOU OF NEW PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT WITHIN DADE COUNTY FOR OBTAINING STATE APPROVAL OF SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION/TRANS— MISSION SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION (FDER) HAS MADE A PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION THAT THE EXISTING WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION FACILITIES SERVING DADE COUNTY ARE INADEQUATE TO CONVEY PEAK FLOWS. BECAUSE OF THEIR CONCERN AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN RULES 17-4.070 AND 17—4.530(2), FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, FDER HAS DECREED (SEE ATTACHED LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 16, 1992) THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, APPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION FACILITIES CANNOT BE APPROVED BY THE USE OF A "GENERAL PERMIT`. INSTEAD, NEW PROJECTS MUST SUBMIT A FULL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION (FDER FORM 17-604.900(1), APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCT DOMESTIC WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS). THE OBJECTIVE OF THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS IS TO ENSURE THAT NEW FACILITIES ARE DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND OPERATED IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE DOWNSTREAM CAPACITY TO PREVENT OVERFLOWS AND FLOODING DURING PEAK FLOW CONDITIONS. THESE NEW PROVISIONS ARE IN EFFECT COUNTY WIDE. PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE DELEGATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN DADE COUNTY AND THE STATE, DERM WILL PROCESS AND REVIEW THESE APPLICATIONS AND ISSUE, WHEN WARRANTED, THE CONSTRUCTION PERMITS. ATTACHED YOU WILL ALSO FIND A PACKAGE PREPARED BY OUR STAFF WHICH CONTAINS THE AFOREMENTIONED APPLICATION FORMS, INSTRUCTIONS AND' -GUIDELINES FOR THE ENGINEERING REPORT WHICH MUST ACCOMPANY EACH NEW APPLICATION. THESE GUIDELINES ARE INTERIM IN NATURE AND MAY BE MODIFIED AS A RESULT OF FURTHER REVIEW AND COMMENTS: FURTHERMORE, THE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING THOSE AREAS WITHIN THE COUNTY WHICH HAVE AND DO NOT HAVE AT PRESENT 93- 121•- 4 SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO ACCOMODATE ADDITIONAL FLOWS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS THE DEPARTMENT WILL SOLICIT YOUR INPUT ON THESE MATTERS, AND WILL BE ISSUING REVISED GUIDELINES AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC. THESE EFFORTS WILL BE GEARED TO ENSURE. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES, REGULATIONS AND MANDATES WHILE MINIMIZING ADVERSE: IMPACTS TO THE COMMUNITY. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE PLATTERS, PLEASE CONTACT THE WASTEWATER SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT AT 375-3308. ATTACHMENTS Submitted into the public record is connection vnith item S-1 on_� a S Matte Hirai City Clerk 93- 121•1