Full Text
Date: To: From: Subject: AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(E) February 21, 2012 El Cerrito City Council Garth Schultz, Environmental Analyst Melanie Mintz, Environmental Services Manager Jerry Bradshaw, Public Works Director Signature Authorization for Tipping Wall Solid Waste Registration Permit Application ACTIONS REQUESTED Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to sign and submit a Registration Permit Application to the Local Enforcement Agency regarding operation of the new solid waste Tipping Wall at the Recycling Center. BACKGROUND &ANALYSIS In November 2010, the City Council approved construction of the new Recycling and Environmental Resource Center (RERC) at the site of the old Recycling Center at 7501 Schmidt Lane in El Cerrito. The construction project included the design, engineering, and construction of a new "tipping wall" area to accommodate municipal solid waste transfer activities that had long been accommodated on the Recycling Center site. These activities include transferring garbage, street sweeping spoils, and green waste from City and City-contracted vehicles (e.g. pickup trucks and street sweepers) into much larger solid waste containers as a means of avoiding many trips to local transfer stations, and thus reduce the cost of handling these materials. Concurrent with the design and construction of what is now being referred to as the Tipping Wall Transfer Facility, Environmental Services Division (ESD) staff contacted Contra Costa Health Services, the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) for solid waste permitting, in order to ascertain what tier of solid waste permit would be necessary for compliant operation of the new Facility. As staff researched this topic in conjunction with the LEA, it was determined that the Registration Permit tier, which allows for daily transfer of solid waste between 15 and 99 tons per day, was necessary to accommodate the anticipated solid waste transfer activities at the Tipping Wall Facility. Under the direction of the LEA, staff prepared the Registration Permit and associated Facility Plan (attached) and submitted it to the LEA in January, 2012. After LEA receipt and review of the complete application, ESD staff was notified that County Counsel requires documentation of signature authority for the application. In staffs experience, this is an unusual requirement for compliance-based activities (e.g. it is not required for the Recycling Center's Storm Water Permit, Hazardous Materials ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. S(E) Business Plan and Permit, etc.) and was thus not anticipated and obtained in advance. Staff is now requesting approval of and signature authority for the Registration Permit application in order to complete the application process, receive the Permit, and begin operation of the Tipping Wall Transfer Facility. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS The cost impacts of applying for the Registration Permit are a one time application fee of $1,580 and annual permit inspection costs of approximately $5,700. These are more than offset by cost avoidance associated with the operation of the Tipping Wall Transfer Facility, attributable to the minimization of vehicle trips to local transfer stations on the part of the City's maintenance workers, street sweepers, tree trimmers, and other City functions. Permit costs will be shared by the various operations that will use the tipping wall (e.g. Public Works, Custodial, Recycling Center), and will be allotted based on level of use. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS The solid waste transfer and consolidation activities at the Tipping Wall Transfer Facility minimizes the number of vehicle trips to local solid waste transfer stations, which in turn minimizes greenhouse gas emissions attributable to these activities. The operations of the Tipping Wall itself have been designed to protect environmental health by shielding the operations from public view and access, reducing the potential for windblown litter, and treating all storm water run-off via a large bio-swale. Tipping Wall operations will include documentation of all loads delivered and removed from the site, load-checking to ensure that no hazardous wastes are improperly disposed of, and salvage of recyclable materials. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS Acquiring a Registration Permit for the type and volume of solid waste transfer activities at the new Tipping Wall is a requirement of California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 18104. Operation of the Tipping Wall for the transfer of solid waste generated by municipal activities is currently included in the Use Permit for the Recycling Center. Reviewed by: Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachments: 1. Resolution 2. Copy of Registration Permit Application and Tipping Wall Transfer Facility Plan Page 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- RESOLUTION 2011-XX Agenda Item No. S(E) Attachment 1 RESOLUTION OF THEEL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR A REGISTRATION PERMIT FROM THE LOCAL ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REGARDING OPERATIONS OF A SOLID WASTE TIPPING WALL AT THE RECYCLING CENTER WHEREAS, in November 2010, the City Council approved construction of the new Recycling and Environmental Resource Center (RERC) at the site of the old Recycling Center at 7501 Schmidt Lane in El Cerrito; and WHEREAS, said project included the design, engineering, and construction of a new "tipping wall" area to accommodate municipal solid waste transfer activities; and WHEREAS, for compliant operation of the new facility Contra Costa Health Services, the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) for solid waste permitting, requires a permit at the Registration Permit tier, which allows daily transfer of solid waste between 15 and 99 tons per day; and WHEREAS, Contra Costa County Counsel requires documentation of signature authority for the application. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City ofEl Cerrito authorizes the City Manager or his designee to sign and submit a Registration Permit Application to the Local Enforcement Agency regarding operation of the new solid waste Tipping Wall at the Recycling Center. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage and adoption. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on February 21,2012 the City Council of the City ofEl Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City ofEl Cerrito on February XX, 2012. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: William C Jones III, Mayor ---PAGE BREAK--- !Agenda Item No. 5(E)j I I State of California - CIWMB Form 83 (rev. 12/96) Registration Permit Application Facility Name: El Cerrito Recycling Center Address/Location: 7501 Schmidt Lane El Cerrito, CA 94530 Phone Number: (510) 215-4350 Facility Operator: City of El Cerrito Mailing Address: 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 Address Where Process May be Served: Same as above. Phone Number: (51 0) 215-4300 Facility Information: California Integrated Waste Management Board Land Owner: City of El Cerrito Mailing Address: 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 Address Where Process May be Served: Same as above. Phone Number: (51 0) 215-4300 Section Authorizing Eligibility: 17403.6 Medium Volume Transfer/Processing Facilities Volume and Type ofWaste/Materials(s) Handled: Garbage, green waste, concrete and street sweeping spoils Site Capacity: Peak Loading: Annual Loading: ___1§Q_~orTon,L._ Cubic Yards or