Item 11.2 - Resolution in Support for Elimination of Waste Shredding Requirement AGENDA .EPORT SUMMARY
TO: Honorable 14ayor and Hembers of City Council [~'~
.IOM: James L. Bowersox, City Man
DATE: May g, 1995
SUBJE~r~J': Resolution in Support of an Application to the Regional Water Quality
Control Board for the Elimination of the Waste Shredding Requirement at
the San Marcos Landfill
In 1992, the County of San Diego sought a permit to expand the San garcos Landfill in
conjunction with the construction of the NCR~ facility. One of the conditions
included in the permit was a requirement that 75 percent of the waste to be deposited
in the landfill would be shredded to a size no greater than four inches. Since this
was a performance objective of the NCRRA facility, the County agreed to the condition
in order to obtain the permit. After dealing with the NCRPJk facility for over a year,
it is apparent that the cost of operating the facility is financially detrimental to
the solid waste system. Therefore, the Board of Supervisors, with the recommendation
of the Solid Waste Authority, has initiated the closure process for NCRRA. In order to
finalize the closure, operating permits must be modified including that requiring
shredding.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not subject to CEQA review.
ACT
The closure of the NCRRA facility would save $14.3 million within the Solid Waste
Authority budget.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
None.
REC0HHENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution {Exhibit B} supporting the
request for elimination of the shredding requirement from the San Marcos Landfill
permit.
ACTION
NAY 9 1995 ITEM 11. 2
CITY OF POWAY
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of Athe City Council
FROM: James L. Bowersox, City Man~)~)
OATE: May 9, 1995
SUBJECT: Resolution in Support of an Application to the Regional Water
Quality Control Board for the Elimination of the Waste
Shredding Requirement at the San Marcos Landfill
BACKGROUND
In 1992, the County of San Diego sought a permit to expand the San Marcos
Landfill in conjunction with the construction of the NCRP, A facility. One of the
conditions included in the permit was a requirement that 75 percent of the waste
to be deposited in the landfill would be shredded to a size no greater than four
inches. Since this was a performance objective of the NCRRA facility, the County
agreed to the condition in order to obtain the permit. After dealing with the
NCRRA facility for over a year, it is apparent that the cost of operating the
facility is financially detrimental to the solid waste system. Therefore, the
Board of Supervisors, with the recommendation of the Solid Waste Authority, has
initiated the closure process for NCRILA. In order to finalize the closure,
operating permits must be modified including that requiring shredding.
FINDINGS
Attached is a copy of a letter (Exhibit A) from Dianne Jacob, Chairwoman of the
Board of Supervisors, and Ron Morrison, Chairman of the Solid Waste Authority,
requesting support for the elimination of the shredding requirement at the NCRRA
facility.
The engineering and construction of the expansion of the San Marcos Landfill
contains features that technically support the request for elimination of the
shredding requirement. Further, there is no evidence that any other landfill in
the County has a shredding requirement of this magnitude as a provision of a
discharge permit. Therefore, in consideration of both technical reports and
practicality, there is no need for the shredding requirement.
2 of 6
9 1995 ITEM 11. Z
Agenda Report
Hay 9, 1995
_ Page 2
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not subject to CEQA review.
FISCAL IMPACT
The closure of the NCRRA facility would save $]4.3 million within the Solid Waste
Authority budget.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC NOTIFICATXON AND CORRESPONOENCE
None.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution (Exhibit B) supporting
the request for elimination of the shredding requirement from the San Marcos
Landfill permit.
Attachments:
1. Exhibit A: Letter from Dianne Jacob and Ron Morrison
2. Exhibit B: Proposed Resolution ,
3 of 6 )lAY 9 1995 ITEM
DIANNE JACOB
CHAIRWOMAN
April 26, 1995 N~y - 1 1995
The Honorable Mickey Cafagna crF~ OF POWAy
CITY MANAGERS OFFICE
City of Poway
13325 Civic Center Drive
Poway, California 92064
Dear Councilmember Cafagna,
The purpose of this letter is to request your support of our application to the Regional Water
Quality Control Board to eliminate the shredding requirement from the San Marcos Landfill
permit. As you will probably recall, the State Water Resources Control Board included a
condition as part of the permit which states that "upon commencement of operation of the
landfill's recycling center, at least 75 percent of all waste disposed at the site shall be no greater
than four inches in size."
Therefore, as we move forward to close the NCRRA facility and remove the cost of operating
the facility from the tip fee, we must also seek an amendment to the permit which will allow us
to continue to operate the landfill without the requirement to shred the waste first. From an
economic standpoint, we have no choice but to eliminate the cost of the NCRRA facility. From
an environmental standpoint, all of the studies have concluded that there will be no adverse
impact on the beneficial uses of the waters of the State with the removal of the shredding
requirement.
We seek your support either by letter or by resolution (draft attached) to the Regional Water
Oualitv Control Board. We understand our application will be heard on May 16, 1995. Thank
you in advance for your consideration of this request.
If you should have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Tom Webster, General
Manager of the Solid Waste Authority and Acting Deputy Director of the County's Solid Waste
Division at 974-2828.
Diarthe JacOb ~ Ron Morrison
Chairwoman, Board of Supervisors Chairman, Solid Waste Authority
Attachment
(619) 531-5522 FAX (619) 696-7253 T~ ~:REE 800-852-7322
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EXHIBIT A
)lAY 9 1995 ITEM 11. 2
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF POWAY, CALIFORNIA
REQUESTING THAT THE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD
ELIMINATE THE SHREDDING REQUIREMENT
IMPOSED UPON THE SAN MARCOS LANDFILL
WHEREAS, the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)issued a permit
to the County of San Diego for the expansion of the San Marcos Landfill in
January of lgg2, which did not impose any requirement that any portion of
waste be reduced to the size of four inches or less; and
WHEREAS, the County agreed to all of the conditions in the permit issued
by the Regional Board and presented substantial evidence that the design as
approved by the Regional Board was protective of the beneficial uses of the
waters of the State; and
WHEREAS, the discharge requirements were appealed to the State Water
Resources Control Board and as a result the State Board conducted a workshop
to assess the need for additional requirements; and
WHEREAS, during the workshop it became known that the separately
- permitted NCRRA facility was going to produce shredded waste; and
WHEREAS, the San Marcos Landfill and the NCRRA facility were and still
are two separate solid waste management entities which were designed
independently at different times and were never intended to rely on one
another; and
WHEREAS, the State Board decided to include Condition B. Discharge
Specification, #16 of Order 92-02 in the permit to operate the San Marcos
Landfill which states that "upon commencement of operation of the landfill's
recycling center, at least 75 percent of all waste disposed at the site shall
be no greater than four inches in size;" and
WHEREAS, a Technical Report has been submitted to the RWQCB which
demonstrates that as a result of the many engineering containment features
installed at the San Marcos Landfill that the removal of the shredding
requirement would have no adverse impact on the beneficial uses of the waters
of the State; and
WHEREAS, there is no landfill operation in the United States where
shredding of municipal solid waste of this magnitude is a discharge
requirement; and
5 of 6 EXHIBIT B
~AY 9 1995 ITEM 1 1 . 2
Resolution No. ..
Page 2
WHEREAS, the cost associated with running the NCRRA facility has created
economic distress to the San Diego Solid Waste System which therefore requires
the closure of the facility and that we stop running the shredders, or we may
be faced with closure of the landfill and the subsequent exportation of waste.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Poway City Council
strongly supports the request to eliminate Condition B. Discharge
Specification, #16 from Order g2-02 which would allow the San Marcos Landfill
to operate without the requirement that all waste disposed of at the site
shall be no greater than four inches in size.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Poway, State of
California this gth day of May, 1995.
Don Higginson, Mayor
ATTEST:
Marjorie K. Wahlsten, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
I, Marjorie K. Wahlsten, City Clerk of the City of Poway, do hereby
certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing Resolution No. was
duly adopted by the City Council at a meeting of said City Council held on the
__ day of , 1995, and that it was so adopted by the following
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Marjorie K. Wahlsten, City Clerk
City of Poway
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bIAY 9 1995 ITEM 11. 2