Fitting into place a segment of the 72´´ precast concrete pipe that is part of the ammonia-phosphorus treatment facility

Monthly report — July 2002

Project progress

Highlights of the month

Interim projects reach milestone

A number of CSO projects referred to as "interim" projects were required to be completed by July 2002 under the Amended Consent Judgment. Of the total of ten such interim projects, eight have been completed and milestone revisions have been requested for two projects. See the CSO section of this report for a full listing of the completed projects.

The eight finished projects have been completed over the past 3 years with the first one, rehabilitation of the siphon crossings, done by May 1999. The only two "interim" projects not completed by the deadline involve extenuating circumstances. Major construction delays due to unforeseen site conditions were encountered at the Kirkpatrick Street Pump Station upgrade and a total change in alternative needs to be pursued on the Harbor Brook In-water system due to ongoing contamination near the mouth of the brook. The Harbor Brook project will require a facility planning process which is currently underway to develop consensus around new alternatives to the in-water system.

EPA chief tours lake

County Executive Nicholas Pirro was among the local officials who toured the Lake and described improvements underway to EPA Director Christine Todd-Whitman when she visited the area on July 8th. Whitman praised the cleanup efforts of all those agencies involved. The EPA Director was invited to tour the area by Congressman James Walsh who hosted the event along with representatives of the Lake Partnership.

ACJ all-parties hold 2-day meeting

Representatives of the parties to the ACJ met for their required quarterly meeting during July. This month, the parties extended their meeting to 2 days to allow time to discuss the status of a number of the projects in depth and tour completed projects and those under construction.

On Thursday, July 25th, the group toured the construction site for the new advanced ammonia and phosphorus removal facilities adjacent to the existing Metro plant and were briefed on the construction progress to date. On Friday, representatives discussed the status of all the CSO-related improvement projects and made site visits to the most recently completed projects. Those taking part in the two day meeting included representatives of the EPA, State Attorney General's Office, State DEC, Atlantic States Legal Foundation, and the County.

Brighton Avenue sewer separation project bids received

Sewer separation area: Brighton Avenue at Hunt Avenue

Bids for this sewer separation project involving CSO basins 053 and 054 on the City's south side were opened on July 2. After review of the bids and further evaluation of the bid documents, changes in the documents were made and the project will be re-bid during the month of August.

The project is slated for construction to start this fall and will involve the streets of Bishop, Marguerite, Hunt and a portion of W. Brighton Avenue New sewer lines will be installed and the combined lines converted to stormwater use only.

Aeration system upgrade

(ACJ Completion Date—7/1/02—Complete—January 2000)

Retrofitting a total of eight tanks was completed well ahead of the required ACJ completion milestone. The tanks are all fully operational with the new more energy-efficient and effective fine-bubble diffuser aeration system. Lower ammonia levels reported in lake corresponding with operation of new system.

Ammonia/phosphorus removal combined project

(ACJ Completion date for Ammonia Full Scale—11/3/03—schedule concerns)
(ACJ Completion date for Phosphorus Removal Stage II—4/1/05—on schedule)
 

Interesting facts as of July 2002
Materials removed for disposal	133,265 tons
Ground water treated	175 million gal
Sheeting place	123,503 square ft
Volume of concrete place	1,887 cylinders
Reinforcing steel placed	480 tons

Pouring the first layer of concrete for the north gallery for the biological activated filters (BAF), July 25, 2002

Construction continues at accelerated pace

Placement of steel and concrete are moving at an accelerated rate in the ammonia removal and UV portions of the facilities. Large diameter stainless steel piping is now being installed in the BAF (ammonia removal) section. Work in the existing plant galleries is progressing to allow tie-in with the new facilities when required. The existing boilers have been removed from the Low Lift Pump Station and the foundation for the jib crane has been place.

An acceleration schedule was developed and is being implemented to attempt to recover some of the time lost earlier in the construction during site preparation contracts. Coordination has been initiated by the County and its construction managers between the equipment provider (Contracts 1A/B) and the general contractor to attempt to avoid delays due to equipment and materials delivery.

Force mains nearly completed

First section of the 84´´ bypass

Installation of the 84´´ force main and outfall pipe was completed in June and the completion of the 72´´ force main is now scheduled for August. This is the last significant work item to be completed under the site preparation contract.

Dewatering continues

Dewatering (under contract 2D) is continuing and the system has lowered ground water below the excavation of all areas needed. The dewatering contractor has increased the capacity of the dewatering and treatment system to meet the needs of the project. The dewatering operation will continue until the general contractor for the facilities has constructed to grade and can backfill around the structures.

Pile driving nearly half completed

Using four pile-driving cranes operating full-time, the pile-driver contractor has now installed over 1050 piles and is over 95% complete. All pile-driving should be completed on this project in August.

Meetings held

Wall sleeves installed for northwest BAF cells

The following meetings were held this month:

• Construction progress meeting were held weekly on Thursdays at 10 a.m.
• Coordination meetings with CDM/C&S, EEA and the County were held weekly.
• Status meetings were held weekly by construction manager with County and Design Engineer.
• Schedule meetings are held routinely with all contractors.
• Tours of the construction are requested and given to interested groups including two tours for the public offered this month in conjunction with the Onondaga Lake Partnership's Lake Day on Saturday, June 8th.

This is the largest and most costly single project in the Amended Consent Judgment program and will have the greatest positive impacts on the water quality of Onondaga Lake by removing more ammonia and phosphorus from the Metro effluent discharge.

Digester modifications, chemical storage

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—Complete—ahead of schedule)

Digital system improvements

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—Complete—December 2001—ahead of schedule)

New system in operation. The new digital system is operational in all locations. Certificate of Substantial completion was submitted to NYSDEC. The contractor's warranty continued through May 31, 2002.

Odor control and residuals handling

(ACJ Completion date—7/1/02—Complete—December 2000—ahead of schedule)

Project completed. This project which was designed to reduce odors at the headworks of Metro adjacent to Hiawatha Boulevard is completed and in operation. Positive comments have been received from the public on a noticeable reduction in odors as a result of this project.

Phosphorus removal pilot project

(ACJ milestone date for completion of pilot—4/1/07—well ahead of schedule)

Final report in preparation. The pilot was completed in December 2000. Currently work continues on evaluation and analysis of data compiled during the pilot operation which tested a variety of phosphorus removal technologies. The County is more than 6 years earlier than is called for in the ACJ in carrying out this pilot project

Status of ACJ interim projects with completion 7-1-02

As described in Appendix B, page 10-12 of the Amended Consent Judgment—listed below chronologically by date completed:
 

ACJ interim projects with completion 7-1-2002
Project	Completion	Notes
Evaluation of siphon crossings	May 1999	Evaluated and rehabilitated
Hiawatha Regional Treatment Facility	July 2001	Part A—30´´ CSO interceptor sewer Part B—Regional Treatment and Storage Facility Part C—Underflow Force Main and Outfall pipeline
Newell Regional Treatment Facility	July 2001	Disinfection Tested and Report filed.
Teall Brook Floatables Control Facility	Dec 2001
Evaluation of CSO Toxicity	May 2002	Evaluated and report approved
Erie Blvd Storage System Upgrade	June 2002
Onondaga Creek Floatables Control Facility	June 2002	Skimmer boat operating summer '02 under contract, long-term control will include County's purchase of boat
Harbor Brook Floatables Control Facility	July 2002
Harbor Brook In-Water System		Milestone revision requested Project changed Facility plan drafted
Kirkpatrick Street Pump Station Upgrade		Milestone revision requested Construction delays

Clinton conveyances and RTF

(ACJ dates—Commence construction of conveyances and RTF—May 1, 2003, Completion of conveyances 5/1/07 and RTF 1/1/12)

Other activities

Environmental review activities continues on areas common to preferred sites and traffic engineering consultation work continues to be compiled. In addition, the subsurface exploration program for the three preferred sites was developed and additional presentation boards prepared for public meetings. Mitigation talks with affected groups to be held.

The goal of the Clinton project is to address the abatement of ten CSOs between Fayette and Adams Streets to be served by a Clinton Area Facility located near downtown Syracuse. The Facilities Plan evaluates alternative technologies to address the overflows and alternative sites for a storage/treatment facility. The current contract with EEA also covers preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment and conceptual design.

Erie Boulevard storage system upgrade

(ACJ Completion date—7/1/02—Complete June 2002—Milestone met)

Construction completed, system operational. System is fully operational. Punch list items being worked on. Training sessions for County personnel held in July. O & M manuals under review.

The project involved upgrading an existing large diameter underground storm sewer previously constructed to store combined sewage in storm situations. Following a storm event, the combined flow is released back to the sewer system for treatment at Metro. The existing system had experienced operational problems with control gates and was in need of upgrading to function effectively. The project is now complete and has successfully operated in storm events for the past two months.

Franklin Street FCF

(ACJ completion date—5/1/00—Complete—May 2000)

Facility in operation. This $4.7 m facility was completed by its ACJ milestone date of May 1, 2000 and is in operation. This is the largest floatables facility currently planned by the County and removes floatable debris from both the Burnet and Butternut trunk sewers to prevent their discharge into Onondaga Creek. Quarterly reports on their operation are filed with DEC.

Harbor Brook FCF

The net bags in action at the Harbor Brook FCF, July 2002

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—Complete—July 2002)

Construction complete. Construction was completed and system is operational with three net bags in place. County personnel have begun maintaining facility. 15 month performance period has started. Punch list being worked on. Gate and fence installed this month. Seeding of entrance area to be completed. Final inspection conducted by EFC. Training held for County staff by equipment supplier this month.

This project consists of a floating net-bag collection system in the brook which includes 3 net bags to trap floatables before they enter Onondaga Lake.

Harbor Brook CSO abatement project

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—Revision requested )

Milestone revision discussed at all-parties meeting. In a letter dated June 5, 2002 to DEC, the County provided a summary of the history and status of this project with a milestone revision request. The letter requested that all the ACJ parties agree to a stipulated modification of the ACJ that removed the in-water demonstration project from the ACJ and established a new minor milestone date of July 1, 2003 for submittal to DEC of a final Facility Plan. This letter was follow up to the County's presentation on the project given at the ACJ All-parties meeting held on May 23.

At this month's All-Parties meeting held on July 26, this project and the need for a milestone revision was discussed. Further discussions are planned.

The draft facilities plan issued in March 2002 by the County indicates that the County can not proceed with implementation of the in-water system due to the extent and type of contamination present in the area and the fact that the contamination is on-going. As the County has indicated previously to the ACJ parties at previous all-parties' meetings, the County feels these concerns make the project not technically feasible at this time; therefore a milestone revision is necessary.

The draft facility plan which was released in March 2002 outlines and evaluates alternative technologies including the in-water system for abating and treating the 18 CSOs which release into Harbor Brook and identifies potential sites for CSO abatement facilities. The County is planning to proceed with public participation activities with interested residents and organizations in the Harbor Brook area and could finalize the Facility Plan with a recommended alternative over the next year.

Hiawatha Boulevard RTF

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—Complete July 2001—ahead of schedule)

Construction completed and operational. Construction of all major structures of this facility is complete. The facility was operational by July 2001.

Kirkpatrick Street pump station upgrade

Workers add an attractive façade to the pump station, a facility located in a very visible part of the Inner Harbor

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—milestone revision requested)

Milestone revision request discussed at All-parties meeting. In a letter dated May 24, 2002 to DEC, the County requested an extension to its major milestone date of July 1, 2002 for completion of this project. The revision request was discussed at the July 26th All-Parties meeting. As the County explained at the May and July meetings of the parties, the project has expanded in scope since it was originally conceived in the ACJ and unforeseen hydrogeologic conditions have impacted the construction schedule. The County has requested that the milestone be extended to November 1, 2002 by which time the County anticipates the project would be fully operational. Decision on revision request still pending.

Construction activities

Construction activities related to the pump station upgrade continued this month.

Maltbie Street FCF

(ACJ completion date—5/1/99—Complete May 1999)

Facility fully operational. This is the first floatables control facility completed under the Onondaga Lake ACJ program. Quarterly operation and maintenance reports are filed with DEC.

Midland conveyances and RTF

(ACJ completion date—Phase II RTF—5/01/04 & Phase III Conveyance—5/01/07)

County continues to participate in mediation meetings. The County and its design engineers attended the DEC weekly facilitated mediation meetings held on July 11 and July 18.

County design engineers were tasked and spent further time on development of construction and operation and maintenance costs for additional options brought up for consideration. Engineers also developed detailed anticipated construction and neighborhood disruption impacts for certain options and developed presentation graphics to depict the affected areas.

Design work on hold

Design engineers completed the 95% design documents for Phase II of the project which includes the RTF and 1000´ of conveyance to the facility and plans were transmitted to the State DEC on December 3, 2001. The County will not finalize the documents to 100% until the County and City are able to reach agreement and/or the Federal Court orders transfer of the needed City property to the County or takes other action which resolve the issue.

Newell Street pilot treatment facility

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—pilot disinfection project completed)

Newell Street CSO investigated under Midland project. Abatement of the Newell Street CSO is currently being evaluated under the Midland Phase II and III design contracts with EEA.

Onondaga Creek FCF

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02 -Complete—June 2002)

Trash skimmer vessel in operation in harbor

The County obtained the services of a private company, CNY Aquatic Harvesting to collect, remove and dispose of floatable debris from the Inner Harbor beginning on June 7. Contacts continued this month with officials from the Lakefront Development Corporation to coordinate the harbor cleaning operation with the scheduled events in the Harbor. The response of officials and the public to the operation of the boat and its ability to pick up the floatable debris and improve the aesthetics of the harbor has been extremely positive. The boat can not however pick up debris which collects around the two man-made shallow islands placed on either side of the amphitheater which provide a collecting place for a great deal of debris. These areas continue to need to be picked up from the shore and detract for the overall improvement brought about by our maintenance contractor.

Services bid for the remainder of the summer

Specifications were prepared for a maintenance contract for the rest of the summer '02 through early November which would involve continued use of a skimmer vessel to collect and dispose of floating debris in the Inner Harbor. The project was re-bid and the maintenance service contract for the rest of the season was awarded to low bidder CNY Aquatic Harvesting.

DEC reviewing skimmer vessel usage

In a letter dated May 22, 2002 to DEC as per their request, the County provided a detailed summary of the pilot project, alternative solutions that were evaluated, and information on the County's recommendation to use a skimmer boat in conjunction with a boom in the Inner Harbor to provide effective floatables containment and collection. The letter concluded with a formal request for approval from State DEC on the use of the boat with or without booms as meeting the intent of the ACJ requirement for control of CSO-derived floatables in the harbor and Lake. The letter also contained a list of additional benefits of selective placement and use of booms in the harbor area. The information provided in the letter and the report filed April 26th are currently under review by DEC. The issue was discussed at the July 26th All-Parties meeting.

Sewer separation

(ACJ completion date—1/1/12—on schedule)

Brighton sewer separation 053/054 bid

Construction is slated to begin on this project later this summer. Bid opening was July 2, 2002. Three bids were received and, following their review, the decision was made to re-bid the project with some material changes to the bid documents involving deletion of work to be done and additional wording regarding balanced bids. The project was re-bid and bids will be opened on August 23, 2002.

Meetings have been held and will continue with Niagara Mohawk and the City to coordinate work to be done.

Public information materials are under development and availability sessions for residents in the affected areas will be held. The work is estimated to take 6-9 months.

West Street sewer separation

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—Complete—December 1999—Milestone met)

This was the first sewer separation project conducted under ACJ and eliminated 3 CSOs on Onondaga Creek by converting them to stormwater discharge only.

CSO 024 sewer separation construction completed

One of two previous combined lines in the Water Street area was relined and now transports wastewater only. The other combined line is now used for stormwater only. Close out paperwork underway.

Completion of this work has eliminated one additional CSO on Onondaga Creek. From the start of the lake improvement program, the County has reduced the number of untreated CSOs from 66 to 57 which includes total closure of 4 overflow points by sewer separation.

Design of additional ten sewer separation areas under review

Design documents are under internal review for the additional ten areas in the City of Syracuse proposed for sewer separation under the ACJ.

Siphon rehabilitation

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—Complete—May 1999—Milestone met)

Work completed May 28, 1999 well ahead of schedule.

Teall Avenue FCF

(ACJ completion date—7/1/02—Complete—Milestone met)

Construction completed. Construction was completed on this project in December 2001 and the facility is operational.

Ambient monitoring program

Tributary sampling

Bi-weekly tributary sampling events were conducted 7/01, 7/16 and 7/29. Appropriate notification was provided to DEC and ASLF prior to sampling dates.

Lake sampling

Summer season sampling continued this month with sampling in the south deep area on July 8 and 24 and special weekly sampling on July 2, 8, 24 and 31. The south deep sampling on July 24th included dry weather bacterial monitoring. Appropriate notification was provided to DEC and ASLF prior to sampling date.

River sampling

A monthly and supplemental sampling of the river was completed on July 25th.

Fisheries sampling

During the month of July, a total of three littoral larval sampling events were conducted on July 3, 18-19 and 26-30. Three pelagic larval sampling events were conducted on July 2, 17 and 30. Two juvenile seining events were conducted in the lake on July 9 and July 26-30, thus completing 4 of the 8 required. Ten littoral and pelagic sampling events are required under the approved AMP program. With the July activities, eight of the 10 events for both types have been accomplished.

Macrovertebrate and macrophytes sampling

On July 13th, an aerial survey was conducted and photographs taken through contract services with AirPhotographics. The photos are to provide information for assessment of the abundance and type of macrophytes in the lake and its shoreline.

Zebra mussel sampling

None to report.

Other activities

A video on the Ambient Monitoring program was completed by a summer intern with the Department.

Additional activities and accomplishments

Lake Improvement project office had a display at the Central New York Job Fair on August 1st at the OnCenter re: jobs in the program and the apprentice program for construction jobs through the unions.

Contracts

New contracts

None to report.

Amendments to existing contracts

Environmental Engineering Associates, LLP
Contract with EEA amended for revised construction drawings for BAF re-design on Ammonia/Phosphorus Removal Project.
Contract amendment amount: $19,300. Executed 7/3/02.
Environmental Engineering Associates, LLP.
Contract with EEA amended for additional services for meter probes on the Franklin Street FCF Project.
Contract amendment amount: $1,870. Executed 7/9/02.

Change orders
Contract with M.A. Bongiovanni Construction increased to include backfilling voids, crane rental and start-up delays on Ammonia/Phosphorus Removal Project.
Change Order amount: $243,840.00. Executed 7/9/02.
Contract with Moretrench increased to include Coke Bin dewatering on Ammonia/Phosphorus Removal Project.
Change Order amount: $21,158.00. Executed 7/9/02.

Legislative action

Action items of the County Legislature in the month of July: - No action items presented.

Actions items of the County Legislature in the month of August: - No action items to be presented.

Upcoming for August Committees: - No items scheduled.

Funding

Grants

State Bond Act funds

Payments received this month from State Bond Act funds:
Erie Boulevard Storage System—Request #13 for $159,517.34 received 7/8/02 and Request #14 for $214,807.30 received on 7/17/02 for aggregate total of $1,085,657.94.

Total received to date in State Bond Act funds: $29,166,215.

Federal EPA funds

Payments received this month from Federal EPA funds: None to report.

Total received to date in Federal EPA funds: $6,766,532.

Federal Army Corps of Engineers funds

Payments received this month from US Army Corps of Engineers: None to report.

Total received to date from US Army Corps of Engineers Funds: $643,325.75.

Loans

The following reimbursement payments were received from EFC during the month of July:

• Ammonia/Phosphorus Removal—Request #24 for $567,212.11 on 7/22/02 for aggregate total of $38,956,871.54.
• Erie Boulevard Storage System—Request #9 for $65,322.01 on 7/22/02 for aggregate total of $1,654,890.20.
• Franklin Street FCF—Request #1 for $167,241.53 on 7/1/02 for aggregate total of $167,241.53.
• Kirkpatrick Street Pump Station & F/M—Request #17 for $1,314,830.67 on 7/22/02 for aggregate total of $7,704,340.34.
• Metro Phase III Improvements—Request #1 for $143,721.35 on 7/1/02 for aggregate total of $143,721.35.

Total reimbursement monies received to date through EFC Loans for the funded ACJ projects: $71,308,460 (short term), $7,677,996 (long term).

Upcoming

Meetings

• Continuation of DEC facilitated meeting with City and others on the Midland project.
• Lake Technical Advisors Meeting on September 11 and 12, 2002.

Milestones

• Completion of Interim Projects—July 1, 2002
• Site Acquisition for the Midland Project-Phase II—Revised from April 1, 2002 to October 1, 2002.
• Submit Engineering Report for Clinton Project—revised to November 1, 2002.

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Susan Miller, Project Deputy Director
Phone 315-435-2260   Fax 315-435-5023
 Onondaga County Dept of Water Environment Protection