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Home My WebLink AboutItem 04 - WWTP Permit RenewalSubsequent to the TCEQ's relaxing of the limits, Freese & Nichols' staff pursued a variance from these limits for a period of three years. During this time, the City will have the opportunity to study the TCEQ's dissolved oxygen criteria in the Morehead Branch Cove and possibly provide justification for an amendment to the water quality standards imposed by TCEQ. TRA is facing similar issues on Lake Grapevine and is developing a work plan to study dissolved oxygen in the lake in an effort to relax the TCEQ limits. Freese & Nichols' staff contacted TRA staff to incorporate the City's needs in the TRA work plane The ongoing efforts of Freese & Nichols are included in the proposed contract amendment. Staff recommends approval. MS/ms September 26, 2007 (4:48PM) s rpre Freese 0ivo10-1 Q.WF�,4 arrcl N C 1 h o Ls, Inc. Engineers Environmentat Scientists Architects 4055 International Plaza, Suite 200 Fort Worth, Texas 76109 817 735-7300 817 735-7491 fax www.freese.com September 4, 2007 Mr. Matt Singleton Director of Public Works P.O. Box 95104 Grapevine, Texas 76099 Re: Request for contract modification for additional services Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Permit Renewal Dear Mr. Singleton: Our existing contract authorized Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI) to prepare a permit application for a routine renewal of the City's TPDES wastewater discharge permit. Upon completion and submittal of the application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the City received a draft permit with exceedingly more stringent effluent limits than the City is required to meet in its existing permit. In fact, FNI estimates that the cost to comply with the draft effluent limits would require a wastewater treatment plant upgrade that would cost several million dollars. Consequently, FNI immediately began negotiating with the TCEQ water quality modeling and permits staff to seek a relaxation of the draft effluent limits. This effort included a careful evaluation of TCEQ water quality modeling assumptions, input data, and results, as well as obtaining copies of the electronic model input files, adjusting input variables based on additional data not considered by TCEQ, and performing more than 100 iterations of the computer model. While the results of this effort convinced TCEQ to relax its draft effluent limits slightly, the change was too small to thwart the need for significant and expensive plant modifications. Therefore, FNI assisted the City in pursuing the next logical course of action, which was to request a variance to existing water quality standards of Morehead Cove in Grapevine Lake. The variance, if granted, will allow the City time (approximately three years) to study the appropriateness of the TCEQ's existing dissolved oxygen criteria in the cove and possibly provide justification for amendment of the water quality standards. If successful, the amended standards could allow a relaxation of the draft effluent limits proposed by TCEQ which could eliminate or substantially postpone the need for wastewater treatment plant modifications. As you are aware, wastewater service providers in the Lake Grapevine watershed have also been surprised by TCEQ with more stringent effluent limits. Most notable of these Mr. Matt Singleton Page 2 is the Trinity River Authority (TRA), which is already in the process of developing a work plan to study dissolved oxygen in Lake Grapevine to support a relaxation of TCEQ imposed effluents limits. We have been in contact with TRA and its consultant, on the City's behalf, to incorporate measures into their study work plan that would address the permit issues faced by the City. The intent of FNI's efforts in this regard is to address the City's anticipated TPDES permit condition that will require submission of a work plan to study the potential for site-specific dissolved oxygen standards in Grapevine Lake. Thus, this request for contract modification is to cover the effort already expended in negotiating permit limits and requesting a variance, as well as for developing the work plan for studying site-specific dissolved oxygen standards in Grapevine Lake. We appreciate the opportunity to serve the City and look forward to being part of the successful outcome of this challenging permitting situation Please do not hesitate to call me or Mike Morrison (512-617-3150) if you have any questions or need additional information regarding this request Yo' s truly, Steven P. Watters, PWS Associate Attachment cc: Michael G. Morrison, P.E. WO CONTRACT CHANGE AUTHORIZATION FORM Client: City of Grapevine F&N Project No.: GPV05364 P. O. Box 95104 Grapevine Texas 76099 Client Contract Ref.: Letter agreement approved October 11, 2005 ATTN: Matt Singleton. Director of Public Works Date: September 6, 2007 Project Description: TPDES Permit Renewal Application Description of Services Added/Deleted: Freese and Nichols shall assist the City with the following services addressing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality proposal to revise effluent limitations which would result in comprehensive modifications of the Peach Street Wastewater Treatment Plant. Services added by this authorization include the following: 1. Preparation for and participation in meetings with TCEQ in Austin regarding draft permit limits, water quality modeling, permit limits, variance request, and site-specific dissolved oxygen standards. 2. Water quality modeling to evaluate TPDES permit effluent limits proposed by TCEQ. 3. Preparation of a request for and negotiation of a variance from TCEQ proposed effluent limits in the TPDES permit. 4. Participation in meetings with the Trinity River Authority (TRA) and its consultant regarding a study to identify the appropriateness of site-specific dissolved oxygen standards for Lake Grapevine. S. Participation in joint work plan development with TRA and its consultant for study of dissolved oxygen in coves of Lake Grapevine and possibly other nearby lakes (Lewisville and Ray Roberts). Deliverables: Proposed effluent limits based on modeling results; request to TCEQ for permit variance; work plan for site-specific dissolved oxygen study. Compensation shall be adjusted as follows: FNI shall bill the City for the services described above on an hourly basis in accordance with the rates presented in Attachment CO, Compensation. The amount of this authorization shall not exceed $55,000.00 (FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO CENTS). If we see the scope changing such that this fee limit might be exceeded, we will contact the City for authorization of a budget amendment prior to proceeding. Original Contract $18,500.00 Amendment No. 1 $55,000.00 Revised Total Contract $73,500.00 *Breakdown attached Schedule shall be adjusted as follows: FNI shall commence with the additional services upon execution of this Contract Change Authorization. The authorized tasks shall be completed within 90 days of issuance of the TPDES permit by TCEQ. The above described services shall proceed upon return of this Contract Change Authorization. Services will be billed as they are done. All other provisions, terms, and conditions of the agreement for services which are not expressly amended shall remain in full force and effect. ❑ A contract modification will be submitted. ® This Contract Change Authorization will serve as contract modification. FREESE AW NICHOLS, I C.: CITY OF GRAPEVINE: BY: - BY: TITLE �C TITLE: DATE: ( '? —f)7 4055 INTERNATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 200 • FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76109-4895 s TELEPHONE: 817-735.7300 • METRO: 817-429-1900 • FAX: 817.735-7491 U:\FORMS\CONTRACT,CONTRACT CHANGE REOUEST.DOC Summary of Labor Hours and Fee for Completed and Prospective Effort Related to the City of Grapevine TPDES Permit 4055 INTERNATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 200 • FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76109-4895 • TELEPHONE: 817-735-7300 • METRO: 817-429-1900 • FAX: 817-735-7491 U:\FORMS\CONTRACTCONTRACT CHANGE REOUEST.DOC Hours Fee Expended/ Expended/ Tasks Estimated Estimated Preparation of Application 150 $13,650 Follow up w/ TCEQ after submitting the permit application • respond to TCEQ RFIs on the permit application • Prepare and submit comments on TCEQ draft TPDES permit • perform critical evaluation of TCEQ's Qua] -TX water quality model set up for Morehead Cove, Lake Grapevine • conduct GIS analysis of cove bathymetry • Identify alternative discharge points • Identify treatment options to meet TCEQ proposed effluent limitations • modify input coefficients and perform more than 100 runs of TCEQ's Qual- TX water quality model • Arrange and participate in meeting with TCEQ in Austin regarding Qual-TX modeling and proposed permit limits • participate in telephone conferences and correspond via email with TCEQ water quality modeling and permitting staff and the City 400 $40,260 • Draft variance request for City's review/approval • Finalize and submit variance request to TCEQ • Meet with TRA and City and Coordinate w/ APAI on dissolved oxygen study work plan development 50 $9,580 • Prepare DO study work plan, • conduct cove sampling site reconnaissance, • meet with TRA/APAI and TCEQ to finalize work plan 52 $10,010 Total 652 $73,500.00 4055 INTERNATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 200 • FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76109-4895 • TELEPHONE: 817-735-7300 • METRO: 817-429-1900 • FAX: 817-735-7491 U:\FORMS\CONTRACTCONTRACT CHANGE REOUEST.DOC