Piping in the new Sludge Blend Tank Building, part of the biosolids handling improvements (Jan 2007)

Monthly report—May 2007

Improved biosolids process begins

Quick reference
— Highlights of the month
— Progress of projects under construction
— Projects in design stage
— Other activities
— Completed projects
— Ambient Monitoring Program
— Contracts
— Legislative action
— Funding
— Appendixes

Highlights of the month

Work activities on the Midland Phase II project during May included:
- Backfilling along the remaining portions of the 144-inch pipe.
- About 65% of the exterior brick and architectural panels on the RTF have been installed.
- The plumbing contractor continued to install roof drains and roof leaders on the RTF portion of the building. The HVAC contractor is installing the boiler units and associated piping in the RTF and also installed the first air-handling unit.
- The electrical contractor continued to install electrical conduits in the RTF portion of the building and grounding systems around the perimeter of the underground storage tank.
- The metals subcontractor continued installing walkways, stairs, and handrails throughout the RTF building.
- The roofing subcontractor has placed the vapor barrier on the roof which allowed painting to start inside the RTF.
- Concrete pours continued. In total for the entire facility, 20,037 cubic yards of concrete have been placed to-date of an estimated 23,000 cubic yards planned for the total facility.
- As of May 31, 2007, $44,016,134 has been paid on the four prime contracts which is 82.3% of the total contract sum. The current sum of the prime contracts, including approved change orders, is $53,493,488.
All major construction has been completed on the biosolids handling improvements at Metro. The project is now operational and in its performance period, as required by project specifications. All equipment appears to be operating as designed. Any deficiencies that may arise will be addressed and corrected.
A notice of intent-to-award the bid was sent to J. J. Lane construction on May 8 for the sewer separation project for CSO 050 (Parkway-Rockland) slated to begin construction in July. Bids were opened on April 11. The post-bid meeting was held on April 30, and the preconstruction meeting is scheduled for June 20.
The prebid meeting on the Phase III Midland construction was held on May 9. Bid opening is scheduled for June 6.
A progress meeting with representatives of the NYSDEC and Atlantic States Legal Foundation was held on May 31 with County representatives giving those present an update on construction completed and the status of the remaining ACJ projects.

Progress of projects under construction

Midland conveyances and regional treatment facility (CSO)

(ACJ completion date—Phase II RTF—9/1/05 (revised) & Phase III Conveyance—5/01/07. Further Milestone revisions requested)

Phase II construction continues

Contractor Installation Location

Specialty metals Walkways, handrails, and stairs RTF

Plumbing Roof drains and leaders RTF

HVAC Boiler units and associated piping

HVAC First air-handling unit

Electrical Conduit RTF

Electrical Grounding systems Underground storage tank

Children from the Dunbar Association visit the Midland construction site

Total amount of concrete poured to date is 20,037 cubic yards of an estimated 23,000 yards for the completed facility.

65% of the exterior brick and architectural concrete panels have been installed on the RTF.

Installation of storm drain piping around the site continued this month.

Backfilling continued this month on sections of 144-inch pipe.

Geotechnical Monitoring Instrumentation Reports continue to be compiled and submitted to the County and consultants for review.

Upcoming work

Work anticipated for June 2007 includes continuation of the following:

Backfilling of the 144-inch pipe
Placement of exterior bricks and architectural concrete panels
Painting in the interior of the RTF
Installation of boiler unit and piping and HVAC ductwork
Installation of storm drain and sanitary piping on site
Installation of roof drains, roof leaders, and plant water lines in the RTF by the plumbing contractor

Additionally, the roofing system will be installed.

Midland Phase III activities this month

Prebid meeting held on May 9. Bids scheduled to be opened on June 6.

Construction on the Phase III pipeline will begin at the West Castle Street end and progress over 2½ years toward West Newell Street. No single area will be affected for the full 2½ years, and the length of time that construction will take place along each street depends on the size of the pipe to be installed. The pipeline ranges in size from 12 feet in diameter near West Castle Street to 4 feet in diameter near Newell Street.

Biosolids handling improvements

Performance period begins

Construction has mainly been completed, and we have begun a performance period on the new biosolids handling improvements at the Metro site.

The piping for the new cogeneration system is being installed, and it is being pressure-tested to insure all joints are sealed and water/gas tight. Connections to the existing biogas and natural gas lines have been made. We anticipate receiving the new gas engine generator in July.

The electrical contractor is installing the new motors and variable frequency drives for the waste activated sludge pimps in the Sludge Recycling Building.

Sewer separation: Rockland-Parkway area

Sewer separation for CSO basin 050—the Rockland Avenue-Parkway Drive area of Syracuse—involves installation of 4200 feet of new sewer pipeline. Construction will begin on July 9, 2007 at the intersection of Rockland and Hunt. The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2008 at an estimated cost of $4 million.

Work underway (May 2007)

Bids were opened on April 11. Three bidders responded. The notice of intent-to-award was issued on May 8 to J. J. Lane, the successful low bidder.
Construction is to begin in July and scheduled to be completed in fall of 2008.
A public availability meeting has been scheduled for June 19 at the Southwest Community Center.

Projects in design stage

Clinton conveyances and RTF (CSO)

(ACJ date—Construction completion—2012)

Conveyance-related work RTF-related work

Continued work on property acquisition and easement activities

Bids opened April 17. Two bids were received and are under review. 100% design documents submitted to NYSDEC for review on April 13

100% design documents submitted to EPA on April 20

The goal of the project is to abate eleven CSOs between Fayette and Oneida streets. The Facility Plan evaluates alternative technologies to address the overflows and alternative sites for a storage-treatment facility. It recommends:

In-line storage and a regional treatment facility (RTF) with a vortex separator as the most cost-effective approach
Construction on a site between the elevated railroad tracks and Onondaga Creek southwest of the MOST on West Jefferson Street.

Harbor Brook CSO abatement project (CSO)

(ACJ completion date for in-water system—7/1/02—Not implementable—new stipulated completion date Jan 1, 2012)

Conveyance-related work RTF-related work

Continued work on 95% design

Continued work on geotechnical report including micro-tunneling design Commenced work on 95% design

The Facility Plan recommends two regional storage and treatment facilities (RTFs), five underground floatables control facilities, upgrading one pump station, and installation of conveyance pipelines to transport CSO flow to the facilities. The Facility Plan also identifies two sites, both are privately owned vacant land, for purchase for sites of the RTFs.

Other activities

Planning was finalized for the 6th Annual Onondaga Lake Day. It will be held Saturday, June 2 at Onondaga Lake Park. The County will have multiple displays for this Onondaga Lake Partnership event.

The skimmer boat began operation in the Inner Harbor for the 2007 season during the week of May 14.

Completed projects

Hiawatha regional treatment facility (July 2001)

Projects completed since July 2002—not included in Interim Projects—are the following:

Major milestones met for CSO interim projects

The following is a summary of the projects completed under Appendix B, pages 10-12, of the Amended Consent Judgment. Each of these ten CSO-related projects 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. The projects are listed below by date completed:

Project Completion date

Evaluation of siphon crossings May 1999

Hiawatha regional treatment & storage facility July 2001

Newell regional treatment facility
Disinfection tested and report filed July 2001

Teall Brook floatables control facility December 2001

Evaluation of CSO toxicity May 2002

Erie Boulevard storage system upgrade June 2002

Onondaga Creek floatables control facility
Skimmer boat in operation beginning summer '02 June 2002

Harbor Brook floatables control facility July 2002

Harbor Brook in-water system
Project changed: Facility plan drafted and published 3/02 Project changed and milestone revised to 1/1/12 under ACJ amendment signed 12/14/06

Kirkpatrick St. pump station upgrade and force main
Construction delays. Project completed by 11/1/02. 11/1/02

Major milestones met for Metro Interim Projects

Under Appendix A of the Amended Consent Judgment, 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 were completed well ahead of schedule. The projects are listed below by date completed:

Project Date completed

Phase II plant improvements January 1999

Aeration system upgrade January 2000

Odor control and residual handling December 2000

Digester modifications—Phase III Improvements December 2000

Chemical storage April 2001

Digital system improvements December 2001

More than a dozen billboards promoted the County's recommended practices for spring cleaning. This poster, on Thurber Street, says “Don't dump down storm drains.”

Ambient Monitoring Program

Summary of sampling program

Biweekly tributary sampling conducted May 1, 15, and 30.
Special Onondaga Creek samples relating to the Midland dewatering project were collected on May 9 and 26 at Dorwin Avenue.
South Deep biweekly sampling of the Lake conducted on May 8 and 22.

Biological monitoring—Fisheries and macroinvertebrate

2007 monitoring season has commenced and the following sampling has been conducted:

Pelagic larval trawl conducted on May 2 and May 17—to be completed every 2 weeks through July
Completed spring electrofishing sampling (to be conducted once in the spring and once in the fall) on May 20, 21, and 22
Started spring gill net sampling on May 31—completed on June 1.

Riprap placed along Onondaga Creek near Midland RTF

Riprap placed along Onondaga Creek near Midland RTF

Contracts

New contracts

None to report.

Amendments to existing contracts

Clinton Street CSO/RTF project

Contract with Environmental Engineering Associates, LLP (EEA) amended to include additional engineering services for final design and bidding phase.
Contract amendment amount: $628,447.00. Executed: 5/11/07.
Contract with CDM/C&S amended to include additional services regarding Onondaga Creekwalk.
Contract amendment amount: $349,618.00. Executed: 5/14/07.

Project management services

Contract with John R. Clare amended for project management services for various ACJ projects.
Contract amendment amount: $80,100.00. Executed: 5/14/07.

Change orders

None to report.

Legislative action

County Legislature

Approved the increased cost of certain improvements for the Clinton Street conveyances and RTF for the Onondaga County Sanitary District.
Authorized the issuance of an additional $79,942,042 bonds of the County of Onondaga to pay the increased cost of certain improvements for the Clinton Street conveyances and RTF project
Authorized the acquisition of real property to enable the County of Onondaga to comply with requirements set forth in the Onondaga Lake Amended Consent Judgment for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Midland Avenue project at a cost of $5,500.

Upcoming for June

Authorizing the county executive to execute an intermunicipal agreement relative to the ACJ and related matters and to execute documents to implement the agreement and carry out the intent of the resolution.