REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Approve a Budget Amendment and Expenditures Paid to Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. For Provision of Emergency Diesel Fuel Cleanup Services at Laurelwood Storm Pump Station and Acceptance of Post-Emergency Report
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The City is regulated by a Municipal Regional Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (MRP) issued by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The MRP mandates that only storm water or clean ground water can be discharged from the City's storm drain collection system into rivers and creeks that flow to the San Francisco Bay. If the City becomes aware of an illegal discharge into the storm drain collection system, the MRP requires measures to be put into place to attempt to stop the polluted water from entering a creek or river. These measures include things such as removing the contamination, conducting an investigation to identify the source of the pollution, and taking appropriate actions to stop the discharge.
The City operates and maintains the Laurelwood Storm Water Pump Station (Pump Station) located at 3401 Victor Street. A network of catch basin inlets and underground storm drain pipelines direct storm water from 308 acres of land area to the Pump Station wet well. When the water level in the wet well reaches a specified level, it is pumped through a levee into the Guadalupe River. In the event an illegal discharge is detected in the pump station wet well or in a storm drain pipeline, the pumps can be turned off to prevent discharge into the river to enable pollutants to be removed and a source to be identified. It should also be noted that during a storm, the pumps must operate to alleviate potential flooding in the surrounding area.
DISCUSSION
Overview of the Emergency Event
On February 6, 2024, the Department of Public Works (DPW) ...
Click here for full text