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Forming the T section of BAF gallery wall (Mar 21, 2003)
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Monthly report—March 2003
Advances in facilities construction
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Construction continues at an accelerated pace on the
new ammonia/phosphorus removal facilities at Metro.
The project is approximately 75% complete based on
earned revenue of the 11 prime contractors. The
combined work force on the project of all the
contractors increased in March by 30% to 110 workers.
72% of the concrete has been poured to date totaling
20,150 cubic yards.
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Construction work on Brighton Sewer Separation
project still is on hold due to weather conditions.
One manhole was installed in January. Construction
scheduled to re-commence in April.
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Meetings held and design development activities
continue on proposed revised location and placement of
Midland CSO treatment facility further north and
nearer to Centro.
(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)
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Pouring concrete for a wall in the upper gallery of BAF Cell 1-3 (Mar 21, 2003)
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BAF structure (ammonia removal).
This month a total of 496 cubic yards of concrete was
placed in the BAF. All 360 of the USFilter/Krüger
supplied pre-cast nozzle slabs were grouted in place.
The concrete for the North and South gallery slab on
deck elevation 392 was completed. Substantial progress
was made with the completion of twenty-seven of the twenty-eight
7-ft high small wall pours and five of the eleven
14-ft high large wall pours in the upper cell
walls. The transformer pad on the west side of the BAF
Utility Building was poured in preparation for the
delivery of the facility transformers scheduled to
arrive April 7th.
BAF utility building.
The remaining second floor concrete housekeeping
equipment pads and the exterior stairwell concrete
slab were poured. The concrete masonry units block
walls on the first floor were completed, and 90% of the
block walls on the second floor were completed. The
structural steel ceilings in the electrical and
mechanical rooms and the block walls inside each room
were painted which allowed the electrical equipment to
be set in-place.
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Pouring concrete for the deck of the BAF South Gallery (Mar 7, 2003)
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HRFS Facility (phosphorus removal).
Work re-commenced this month in this area following
winter shutdown. A total of 368 cubic yards of
concrete was placed including the upper walls of the
injection tank, the drop box area, and the west
influent gallery slab on grade.
UV disinfection facility.
The contractor proceeded to install the 8-foot wide
motorized weir gate and started the installation of
the four sluice gates.
Secondary effluent pump station and chemical gallery.
Underground electrical conduits, reinforcing steel and
120 cubic yards of concrete were placed in the
electrical room of the pump station. All structural
concrete work is now completed in the pump station and
the first course of block wall began to be installed
this month. In addition, the balance of the structural
steel anchoring was completed in the chemical gallery
along with the A/C paving sub-base. The chemical
gallery is ready for paving and landscaping in April.
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Discharge piping of the blowers for the BAF (Mar 21, 2003)
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Mechanical work.
The main components of the aeration grids have been
installed and leveled in BAF cells 8, 9, 10 and 12.
The discharge header and laterals for the eight Hoffman
blowers were installed and the control panel set. The
contractor installed the conduits and control boxes
for the blowers and began installation of the control
wires. Installation of conduits has also begun from
the electrical room to the Galleries. The HVAC air
handler and heat exchanger were also installed on the
second floor equipment pads.
At the low lift pump station, all three of the boilers
were run on biogas and adjustments are being made.
Service utilities.
Steam and condensate piping for the new BAF/HRFS
facilities from the New Screening and Grit Building to
the BAF Pump were installed and tested. The balance of
the high voltage switchgear and housing arrived on the
site and the contractor gave the required two-week
notice for shut down and disruption of plant power for
the installation of the new switchgear.
Structural backfill and paving sub-base was installed
for the roadway between the existing Aeration Tanks
and the Secondary Clarifiers. Insulating and pipe
identification of the new piping in the galleries
continues.
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Wiring the programmable logic controller (PLC) for the blower (Mar 21, 2003)
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Other information
A Project Team Chartering Meeting was held on March
12th to discuss the procedures to be followed and
responsibilities for the BAF Start Up.
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.
(ACJ Project milestone—January 1, 2012—Project ahead of schedule)
Construction of separated sewers due to start in early April.
Due to sub-zero temperatures and frozen ground,
construction on this project was put on hold after
January 17th. The general contractor, Falter notified
the County that due to the depth of frost in the
roadway and cold temperatures, they would need to
cease construction until April 1st or earlier if the
weather improved before that time. The County and
CDM/C&S agreed with the contractor's concern that
while breaking up the frost, damage could occur with
utility lines including the new gas main just
installed. The construction schedule originally
submitted by the contractor included the potential for
2-3 month delay due to winter weather conditions. The
overall project was slated to take 6-9 months, weather
dependent.
NiMo also halted its work on installation of a new
gas main due to harsh weather conditions and
re-commenced their work at the end of March. They
anticipate finishing all their work in the area during
April.
This sewer separation project involves about eight blocks
on the City's south side and about one hundred houses.
Residents are being kept informed as work progresses.
When work commences again, the contractor will be
working along Brighton Avenue and at the intersection of
Brighton and Hunt with installation of another new
manhole.
Work to be done includes the installation of new sewer
lines and conversion of existing combined lines to
stormwater use only. Lead water services encountered
during sewer construction will be replaced by the
County to reduce presence of lead services. Much
coordination will be necessary between the County's
contractor, NiMo, City Water, and other utilities.
(ACJ completion date—Phase II RTF—5/01/04 & Phase III Conveyance—5/01/07)
Meetings and design activities conducted related to possible revised location—Centro.
Meetings continue between design engineers—EEA and
County staff to discuss design, site plans, property
acquisitions and environmental review on this project.
This month's meetings focused on a revised location of
the Midland CSO facility to include more property
currently owned by the Central New York Regional
Transportation Authority/Centro. If agreed to by
Centro, it would allow the RTF to move farther north
of its current proposed location and place an
underground storage tank adjacent to the RTF.
Meetings and activities this month included the following:
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Two meetings with Centro representatives regarding property acquisition
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Meetings with design architects to discuss exterior design concepts
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Meetings and planning work concerning supplemental subsurface investigation work for Centro area
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Preparation of plan view and sections for revised locations
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Continued design development.
Public meetings/participation.
Attendance at subcommittee meeting of the Syracuse
City Common Council on March 27 concerning report from
City's engineering consultant on large underground
storage option.
Attendance and participation by County Executive and
staff in public information meeting on Midland project
sponsored by Syracuse United Neighbors (SUN) on March
31.
Await decision from federal Judge.
Information on city-owned properties needed for this
project were forwarded as requested to the federal
judge in follow up to his November '02 decision which
supported the County's right to use eminent domain
with just compensation to acquire City-owned
properties. A decision from the judge is pending.
Design documents received by County
Design documents were finalized and forwarded to the
County for the additional ten areas in the City of
Syracuse proposed for sewer separation under the ACJ.
Funding for this design effort was through the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. Design documents for the Brighton
Avenue and the Water Street projects were completed
under this contract and finalized earlier so that
projects could be moved along into construction. Water
Street is completed and the Brighton Avenue project is
underway.
RFP for engineering services
An RFP for engineering services was issued on January
10 to review designs and facilitate construction for
the remaining sewer separation projects over the next
5 or more years. A pre-proposal meeting was held on
January 30th. Three proposals were received by the
County on February 21 and are currently under review.
(ACJ dates—Commence construction of conveyances and RTF—May 1, 2003—milestone revision requested.)
The following work activities were accomplished this
month: meeting with Ontrack representatives on March 6
to discuss possible construction of Clinton facility
in proximity to Ontrack elevated railway, continued
refinement of the work plan for the Phase IB
archeological field reconnaissance for the Dickerson
Street west and Clinton Station potential sites, and
continued work on the development of the environmental
information document for the project.
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.
(ACJ completion date for In-Water system—7/1/02—Not implementable—Milestone Revision requested )
This month, the County and design engineers continued
to make contacts with local residents about the
project, develop plans for the environmental
information document, and update timetable for
facility plan finalization.
The draft Harbor Brook facility plan was released in
March 2002 which outlines and evaluates alternative
technologies including the in-water system for abating
and treating the 18 CSOs which release into Harbor
Brook. This draft plan also identifies potential sites
for CSO abatement facilities.
During 2003, the County will continue to proceed with
public participation activities with interested
residents and organizations in the Harbor Brook area
and hopes to finalize the Facility Plan with a
recommended alternative and necessary environmental
review by the end of 2003.
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Finalized teacher guide and student activity book for Urban Best Management Practices (UBMP) public education program underway by the County through funds from the Lake Partnership.
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Met with contractor to finalize public service announcement script and gave direction for development of new draft script for the UBMP educational video under development through Partnership funds by the County.
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County staff continued to represent the County on monthly meetings of the Partnership's four committees—Executive, Resource, Outreach and Project.
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Compiled information on current ACJ milestones and revisions requested.
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Finalized funding needed for renewal of service contract to collect and dispose of floatables debris from the Inner Harbor.
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Prepared specifications for RFP for 5-year services contract for floatables debris collection and disposal from the Inner Harbor.
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Pouring the concrete slab for the BAF's North Gallery (Mar 21, 2003)
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The year 2002 was important in the Amended Consent Judgment program
because under Appendix B pages 10-12 of the ACJ,
ten CSO-related projects each had a
major milestone completion date of July 1, 2002. Some
of these interim projects were completed well ahead
of the major milestone date, and all except two met the
major milestone date. Two projects—the Kirkpatrick
Street Pump Station upgrade and the Harbor Brook in-water
system—required milestone extensions which were
requested of the State and are under review. The
projects are listed below by date completed:
Under Appendix A of the ACJ, certain improvement
projects at Metro were designated as interim projects
and given a major milestone date for completion of
July 1, 2002. All six projects were completed by the
milestone date and most well ahead of schedule. The
projects are listed below by date completed:
Tributary sampling
Biweekly tributary sampling events were conducted.
Appropriate notification was provided to DEC and ASLF
prior to sampling dates.
Lake sampling
Sampling in the Lake was conducted at the South Deep
station. Appropriate notification was provided to
DEC and ASLF prior to sampling dates.
River sampling
None to report.
Fisheries sampling
All of the 219 larval samples collected during 2002
have been sorted and identified. Verification is underway.
Proposed year 2003 Ambient Monitoring Program
forwarded to State DEC on February 28, 2003 for review
and approval. The annual program is to commence April
1, 2003.
None to report.
None to report.
The Pike Company (ammonia/phosphorus removal)
Contract increased to include placement of material
to cover exposed force main.
Change Order amount: $41,819.00. Executed 3/7/03.
Payments received this month from State Bond Act funds:
Ammonia/Phosphorus Removal: Request #1 for
$5,058,675.15 received on 3/31/03 for aggregate total
of $5,058,675.15.
Onondaga Creek FCF: Request #10 for $28,402.51
received on 3/7/03 for aggregate total of $397,938.60
Total received to date in State Bond Act funds:
$38,130,312.
Payments received this month from Federal EPA funds:
Ammonia/Phosphorus Removal: Various requests totaling
$2,505,280 received on 3/4/03 for aggregate total of
$26,224,017.
Total received to date in Federal EPA funds:
$27,659,880.
None to report
Total received to date from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
funds: $4,853,425.
The following reimbursement payments were
received from EFC during the month of March:
None to report.
Total reimbursement monies received to date through
EFC Loans for the funded ACJ projects: $109,883,359
(short term), $7,694,490 (long term).
Authorizing the acquisition of property to enable
the County of Onondaga to comply with requirements set
forth in the Onondaga Lake Amended Consent Judgment
(ACJ) for the construction, operation, and maintenance
of Phase II of the Midland Avenue Regional Treatment
Facility and Conveyances Project.
Authorizing the expenditure of up to $125,000 to
provide for collection of floatables debris from the
Syracuse Inner Harbor waters required pursuant to the
Amended Consent Judgment ($62,500 approved by
Legislature on April 7, 2003).
Authorizing the acquisition by purchase or
condemnation of Onondaga Creek bank property located
in the City of Syracuse.
Thursday, April 3, 2003: Meeting of Onondaga Lake
Technical Advisors at OCDWEP.
Thursday, May 15, 2003: Quarterly ACJ All-Parties
meeting
Saturday, June 7, 2003: Onondaga Lake Partnership
sponsored Lake Day for the public.
—Metro photos by Joe Lorah
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Susan Miller, Project Deputy Director
Onondaga County Dept of Water Environment Protection