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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 Ordinance No. 008• • ORDINANCE NO. 'if SERIES OF 2015 BY AUTHORITY COUNCIL BILL NO. 6 INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GILLIT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BE1WEEN COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY (CSU) AND LITTLETON/ENGLEWOOD WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR THE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT ON LAND APPLICATION OF SEWAGE BIOSOLIDS ON DRYLAND WHEAT AND FOR THE APPLICATION OF CHEMICALLY COAGULATED PHOSPHORUS BIOSOLIDS . WHEREAS, since 1982 the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant (UE WWTP) and Colorado State University (CSU), Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, have successfully conducted a continuous research program to observe the long-term effects of the application of biosolids for dryland wheat farming; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Englewood approved an IGA between CSU and the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant with the passage of Ordinance No. 42, Series of 2004; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Englewood approved an IGA between CSU and the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant with the passage of Ordinance No. 8, Series of 201 O; and WHEREAS, the research has provided long-term research data and a sound basis of knowledge of the biosolids produced by the UE WWTP and the environmental impacts of the product; and WHEREAS, the LJE WWTP-CSU research project has been instrumental in establishing the basis for biosolids beneficial use for the growth of dryland wheat crops in the arid western states and in Australia; and WHEREAS, the long-term research demonstrates that the beneficial use of wastewater biosolids is an environmentally safe, economically beneficial and agriculturally sound practice for recycling and conserving a valuable resource; and WHEREAS, CSU has submitted their proposals for an additional cooperative research project on land application of sewage biosolids on dry land wheat and for a study of the application of chemically coagulated phosphorus biosolids; and WHEREAS, the 2015 studies includes study sites at the Bennett site, and the Byers site; and WHEREAS, the cost of the CSU Application of Sewage Biosolids Research Project is split 50/50 between Englewood and Littleton. 9biii NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Colorado State University Biosolids Research Proposal, attached hereto as Exhibit A, the application of Chemically Coagulated Phosphorus Biosolids, attached hereto as Exhibit B, and the letter of acceptance attached hereto as Exhibit C, are hereby accepted and approved by the City Council of the City of Englewood. Section 2. The Director of the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant is hereby authorized to further extend the Intergovernmental Agreement between Littleton/ Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant and Colorado State University, Biosolids Research Proposal, for the cooperative research project on land application of sewage biosolids and the application of Checically Coagulated Phosphorus Biosolids for five additional one year periods. Introduced, read in full, and passed on first reading on the 17th day of February, 2015. Published by Title as a Bill for an Ordinance in the City's official newspaper on the 19th day of February, 2015. Published as a Bill for an Ordinance on the City's official website beginning on the 18th day of FebJ'llllf}', 2015 for thirty (30) days . Read by title and passed on final reading on the 2nd day of March, 2015 . Published by title in the City's official newspaper as Ordinance No.l_. Series of 2015, on the 5th day of March, 2015. Published by title on the City's official website beginning on the 4th day of March, 2015 for thirty (30) days. I, Loucrishia A. Ellis, City Clerk of the City of Englewood, Colorado, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is ~e copy of the Ordinance passed on final reading and published by title as Ordinance No. L Series of 2015. • • • LAND APPLICATION OF SEWAGE BIOSOLIDS PROPOSAL FOR COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT BETWEEN COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY AND LITTLETON/ENGLEWOOD JOINT COUNCIL 2015 I . ' . X 1 H ,. l!l I t T A ·• 2 I. Land Application of Blosollds II. Personnel Project Leaders: K.A. Barbarick, Professor J. McDaniel, Research Associate Ill. Introduction We have studied the beneficial use of Littleton/Englewood (l/E) biosollds beginning in 1982 at East and West Bennett, 1988 at Kiowa t 1993 at North Bennett, and 1999 at Byers. We lost the East Bennett plots in 1993 due to a shift from dryland to irrigated agriculture and the last of the West Bennett sites to development In 2005. We ceased research at the Kiowa location In 2007. We will present the proposed research and associated budget separately for three studies (North Bennett, earthworm/hydraulic properties study, and Byers) and then present the total budget for our proposed research. IV. Bennett Study Site North Bennett We initiated the North Bennett experimental location to replace the East Bennett plots that we lost In 1993. Our former cooperating farmer at East Bennett, Kevin Helzer, decided to grow Irrigated crops on our study sites in 1993. We also changed the experimental approach at North Bennett to focus on determining the N equivalency of L/E biosolids associated with repeated applications in a dryland wheat summer-fallow agroecosystem. We grew prose millet (Pan/cum millaceum L.) In 2008 and sunflowers (Hellanthus annus, L.) In 2009 to help control an infestation of jointed goat grass (Aegi/ops cylindrica Host). For the 2009-2010 growing season, we went back to the wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.)-fallow rotation. We have added Ba, Be, and Mn to our plant and soil analyses since USEPA has identified them as potential pollutants to the CFR503 regulations. Although Ag has also been added to the CFR503 regulations, Colorado State University instrumentation utilized to detect Ag has been less than adequate. Therefore, at this point in time we will not analyze plants and soils for Ag. • • • • 3 A. Objectives for the Bennett study sites {North Bennett) The objectives of the Bennett study are: 1. To quantify the N equivalency of repeated biosolids application under field conditions compared with commercial N fertilizer at our North Bennett plots. 2. To study the long-term effects of L/E biosolids on soil accumulation and wheat uptake of Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, NI, Pb, Mo, and Zn. 3. To study the long-term effects of L/E biosolids on As, Hg, and Se levels in soil and grain in the 0, 2, and 5 dry tons/acre plots for the North Bennett site. Samples will consist of a composite of all replications for each rate for grain analyses. This gives three grain samples. We also will composite separately the 0-20 and 20-60-cm soil samples from the same plots as the grain samples. This will provide us a total of six soil samples to analyze for each site . 4. To determine the accumulated N03-N levels to a depth of 180 cm (6 feet) associated with repeated application of various N fertilizer or sewage biosolids at our North Bennett plots. 5. To determine the accumulated N03-N levels to a depth of 180 cm (6 feet) associated with repeated application of various N fertilizer or sewage biosolids at our North Bennett plots. 4 Bennett study sites budget. B. Table 1. Proposed budgets for the North Bennett sewage blosolids studies. North Bennett Current Proposed Proposed Cate1orv 2014 2015 2016 Routine Analyses 1000 1000 1000 As, Hg, Se Analyses 300 300 300 Travel 1730 1700 1700 Harvest, plot set-up 500 300 300 Research Assoc. (6 months) t 17980 18519 19075 Research Assoc. fringe* 4243 4685 4826 Professor (2 weeks) t 6810 7014 7225 Professor fringe* 1607 1775 1828 Total direct costs 34170 35293 36254 Indirect costs'II 16641 17188 17656 Total costs ,, 50811 52481 53910 t Assumes 50% on the North Bennett study and 50% on the Byers study. We also assumed a 0% increase in all non-personnel budget items for 2015. A 3% salary increase for the Research Associate and Professor were assumed for 2015 and 2016. , Fringe benefit rates were estimated to be 25.3% for 2015 and 2016 for the Research Associate and Professor. The total indirect costs are 48.7% MTDC for 2014 through 2016. • • • s V. Byers Study Site A. Introduction With the establishment of the L/E Byers biosolids-application site, we are developing some practical, never-done-before research. No-till and minimum tillage management Is increasing in popularity in eastern Colorado because It improves water conservation and allows more intensive cropping. Blosollds application could enhance the benefits of no-till or minimum tillage by improving soil cover and soil physical characteristics when surface applied. Blosolids could work in concert with crop residues to allow farmers to meet the Natural Resource Conservation Service 30% soil coverage required to comply with conservation programs. Blosollds application could initially supply soil cover until adequate crop residue can accumulate. Continued additions may even provide production and economic advantages. Farmers may eventually use blosolids as an integral part of a conservation program. Because of continuing draughty conditions, beginning in Fall 2005, we changed our crop rotations. We eliminated the wheat-wheat-corn-sunflower-fallow (WWCSF) and converted those plots to our other two rotations (wheat-fallow, WF and wheat-corn-fallow, WCF). This Increased our replications for WF and WCF from two to four, providing us with a more robust statistical analysis of the effects of these two rotations. B. Objectives Our objectives at the Byers site are: 1. To determine if increasing blosollds application from once every two years to two out of three years Is a feasible management alternative. 2. To determine if biosolids behave like crop residues in terms of moisture storage and crop production. Available-water storage and crop yields are the properties of greatest interest. 3. To determine the effects of biosollds application at the agronomic rate compared with commercial N fertilizer in two cropping systems on soil and grain accumulation of plant nutrients and trace elements limited by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment blosolids- application regulations. 6 C. Procedures Treatments: 1. Two crop rotations: a. Wheat-fallow (typical rotation) b. Wheat-corn -fallow 2. Biosolids/fertllizer treatments: a. Biosolids application to supply N recommended for the measured soil NO3-N (e.g., the agronomic rate). b. Commercial N fertilizer at the agronomic rate. o. Experimental design We now use four blocks (replications) of each treatment arranged in a split-plot design. A The main plots will consist of the cropping rotations. Each main plot will be split to • accommodate biosolids application on half the plot and commercial fertilizer addition on the other half. All phases of each rotation will be present each year to allow assessment of all soil and crop responses each year. This requires a total of 20 main plots and 40 split plots (4 replications, 5 cropping rotations, biosolids/fertillzer treatment splits). Each main plot will be 0 .8 km (0.5 miles) long by 30 m {100 feet) wide. Each biosolids/fertilizer split would, therefore, be 15 m (SO feet) wide. E. Measurements We will complete the following measurements or analyses. 1. Annual grain and biomass yields. 2. Records on farmer inputs. 3. Plant-available concentrations of NOrN, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Na, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mo, Ni, Ba, Be, and Mn in soil before each crop planting (determined in 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, and 20.30 cm samples from each replicated plot). • 7 4. We will composite 0-5-cm soil samples for As, Hg, and Se analyses for each replication before each crop planting. This will give us 14 soil samples to analyze for As, Hg, and Se each year. 5. Deep soil sampling before each crop planting by hydraulic probe for N03-N (determined 0-30, 30-60, 60-90, 90-120, 120-150, 150- 180 cm samples, if possible, from each replicated plot}. 6. Concentrations qf P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Na, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mo, Ni, Ba, Be, and Mn in grain sampled from each replicated plot. 7. For annual As, Hg, and Se grain analyses, we will composite grain samples for each biosolids or N fertilizer replication for each type of crop. This scheme will provide us with four wheat and two corn samples for As, Hg, and Se analyses each year . 8 F. Byers study site budgets. Table 2. Proposed budgets for the Byers sewage biosollds study. Byers Current Proposed Proposed Category 2014 2015 2016 Analyses 2200 1300 1300 Research Assoc. (6 months} t 17980 18519 19075 Research Assoc. fringe* 4243 4685 4826 Professor (2 weeks) t 6810 7014 7225 Professor frl nge * 1607 1775 1828 Harvest, plot set-up 1720 1500 1500 Weather Stat! on Mal ntenance ,i 400 315 315 Travel 3820 3300 3300 Total direct costs 38780 38408 39369 Indirect costs 18886 18705 19173 Total costs 57666 57113 58542 t Assumes 50% on the North Bennett study and 50% on the Byers study. We also assumed a 0% increase in all non-personnel budget items for 2015. A 3% salary Increase for the Research Associate and Professor were assumed for 2015 and 2016. Fringe benefit rates were estimated to be 23.6% for 2015 and 2016 for the Research Associate and Professor. Cost includes a dedicated cellular phone expense to remotely access weather data for CoAgMet. The total indirect costs are 48.7% MTDC for 2014 through 2016 . - • • • 9 VII. Total Budgets We have tabulated the total budgets by category {Table 3) and by location (Table 4) for 2014 through 2016. Table 3. Total budget by category for 2014-2016. Total by category Current Proposed Proposed Category 2014 2015 2016 Analyses 3500 2600 2600 Personnel (salary plus fringe) 61280 63986 65908 Supplies 0 0 0 Harvest, plot set up, weather station 2620 2115 2115 Travel 5550 5000 5000 Total direct costs 72950 73701 75623 t Indirect costs 35527 35893 36829 Total costs 108477 109594 112452 t The total indirect costs are 48.7% for 2014 through 2016. Table 4. Total budget by location for 2014-2016. Total ~Y location Current Proposed Proposed Category 2014 2015 2016 North Bennett Total direct costs 34170 35293 36254 Indirect costs 16641 17188 17656 Total costs 50811 52481 53910 Byers Total direct costs 38780 38408 39369 Indirect costs 18886 18705 19173 Total costs 57666 57113 58542 Total Total direct costs 72950 73701 75623 Indirect costs 35527 35893 36829 Total costs 108477 109594 112452 Soil Quality and Plant Productivity Following the Land Application of Chemically Coagulated Phosphorus Biosolids PROPOSAL FOR COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT BETWEEN COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY AND LITTLETON/ENGLEWOOD JOINT COUNCIL 2015 )( H I 8 I T B • I. Personnel: Project Leaders: K.A. Barbarick, Professor J.P. McDaniel, Research Associate II. Introduction: For many years, the land application of biosolids has been used as a method for the recycling of municipal blosollds. The application of blosollds to the soil supplies the plants with nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The application rate Is currently applied at the agronomic rate of N, but there has been discussion over the last decade about a potential transition of the application rate to be based on the agronomic rate of P. The change in the basis for the application rate would potentially be based on a Prisk index. Currently most of the agricultural fields In Colorado that receive blosollds would not be affected based on the current risk index. For Colorado, what has the potential to have a larger effect on the land application of blosolids to agricultural land would be a change in the makeup of the biosollds as a result In a change In the treatment process to reduce the concentration of P In the effluent being discharged . The effect on the ability of the blosolids produced to serve as a soil amendment for increasing fertility and soil quality will depend on the method of additional treatment of the wastewater at the treatment plant. If chemical coagulation is used to remove additional P, it Is unknown how this will change the plant availability of P from the blosolids, the leaching potential, and the availability of soil P following biosolids application. The objective of this study would be to determine the effects on soil and plant productivity following the ' land application of biosollds with higher P concentration due to chemical coagulation of P to reduce effluent P concentration. The overall project would be done with the use of greenhouse, field, and laboratory studies. The research questions that would be addressed would be: • How will the change in the treatment of wastewater effluent with chemical coagulation of P affect the plant available P In soil following land application? o Whatis the best method for extracting P from biosolids to predict plant available P? • How does soil P cycle between different pools of P over the course of the year following application of biosollds and does this differ from the cycling of P In agricultural land that does not receive biosolids? o Can a model be developed that will predict the forms and concentrations of P In the soil and the biomass P concentration as a function of the application rate of biosollds? • How does the long-term addition of biosolids affect the accumulation of Pin the soil profile? Ill. Experimental Designs: Ill.a. Plant Available P from Biosolfds: The best way to be able to determine how the new blosolids would affect plant available nutrients and particularly P would be to conduct greenhouse studies with the new blosolids. However since we currently do not have the new biosolids from Littleton Englewood Waste Water Treatment Plant (L/E}, we are not able to study the new biosollds directly. We propose that to begin to understand how the new biosollds wlll affect plant availability that we set up a study with both biosollds currently being produced at L/E and use biosollds from another treatment plant that has blosolids produced following chemical coagulation of P. The blosolids from the second plant would not be exactly the same chemically as the future blosolids from L/E, but they would serve to give a representation of what can be expected. The other question that would need to be addressed would be what extraction method should be used to determine the plant available P content of the blosolids. There may be a difference In the extraction method that best estimates plant available P from blosolids between the two treatment processes that produced the blosolids. There are currently few studies that have been conducted to try to determine the amount of plant available P that Is available from biosollds. The current research was conducted on an acidic sandy soil from Florida (O'Connor, et al., 2004). There has not been any work on the plant available P from blosolids that are applied to a basic (calcareous) soil. A similar experimental design to previous work (O'Connor, et al., 2004) would be utilized. A greenhouse study would be established that would investigate the correlation between different blosollds P extraction methods and the uptake of Pin sorghum~sudan grass. Sorghum-sudan grass was chosen because it is a relatively fast growing forge crop, which will allow for multiple harvests over the period of the study. Nine different extractions of the biosollds would be performed: sequential extraction of inorganic P (NH4CI, NH4 F, NaOH, H2S04 extractable), citric acid extractable, water extractable, KCI extractable, organic P, and Mehlich 3 (Table 1). There would be 14 treatments of fertilizer amendment: no amendment, triple super phosphate, agronomic rate of N, 12.5 % total P, 25 % total P, 50% total P, 75 % total P, and 87.5% total P, the 6 biosolids treatments would be set up with both of the biosolids. Two soils (from the North Bennett and Byers plots) would be used. Each of the treatments and soil combinations would have four replications. The sorghum-sudan grass would be harvested at four to six week intervals for eight months. The amount of biomass produced and the concentration of P In the biomass would be determined. • Table 1. Phosphorus extraction methods used for determining the plant available P from blosollds. Extraction Method NH4CI extractable NH4F extractable NaOH extractable H2S04 extractable water extractable KCI extractable organic P Mehlich 3 citric acid extractable Form of P extracted Soluble and loosely bound P Aluminum bound P Iron bound P Calcium bound P Soluble P Soluble and exchangeable P Organic P A common method for determine plant available P In soil Used to determine P in commercial chemical fertilizer The data would be analyzed with regressions to determine the effects of different treatments on the uptake by the plants. In addition, correlations would be made to determine which of the extraction methods best estimates the uptake by the plants. To determine if similar results are seen in the field the plant tissue that is collected from the seasonal dynamics of soil P pools study will be compared to the P from the biosolids applied, based on the same nine extractions. 111.b. Seasonal Dynamics of Soil P Pools: To Investigate the dynamics of P due to seasonal changes soil samples will be collected six times a year (July, September, November, January, March, and May) from the North Bennett plots. This sampling would continue for at least two years. The samples would be collected for both the field in production and the field In fallow. Soil samples would be collected from the 0-20 cm depth (zone of Incorporation) from all of the blosolids application rates and all replications . Attempts would be made to collect the soil from similar locations each time to reduce spatial variation . The soil P would be fractionated into the different organic (Labile P, biomass P, moderately labile P, and non-labile P) and inorganic pools {soluble and loosely bound P, aluminum (Al) bound P, Iron (Fe) bound P, reluctant soluble P, and calcium (Ca) bound P). Total P, plant biomass, and plant P concentration would also be measured at each sampling time to help account for the movement of P. Following the collection of the data, it would be analyzed to determine the dynamics of the soil P pools over a year. The data would also be modeled to predict the amount of Pin each pool and to be able to predict the amount of P that Is in the plant tissue. This prediction model would be useful in determining what pools of P the plants are using. With the potential change in the makeup of the biosolids following additional treatment of the effluent this information would aid in determining the plant available P. 111.c. Phosphorus Accumulation In the Soil Profile: Phosphorus does not have the same leaching potential as nitrate does due to adsorption to the solid mineral phase in soil. Studies have shown that there can be movement of P depending on the conditions of the soil. When blosollds are added, the P will be in many different forms and the type of treatment used will affect the likelihood for the P to leach. The downward movement of P could lead to Preaching ground water in areas that have a higher water table. In other areas, it may lead to the accumulation of Pat depths that do not allow plants to access the P. The addition of a chemical coagulant to remove P in the effluent at the treatment plant may also tie up P In the soil and reduce the amount of movement In the soil. The data collected from this study would provide a baseline for if P Is moving and determine a mechanism to explain the movement that could then be compared to the new blosolids when they become available. For this study, we collect soil samples from three blosollds application rates (O, 2, and 5 tons/acre). We would collect soil samples to a depth of six feet In six-Inch Increments, from each of the four replications in the field. The soil samples would be analyzed to determine the concentrations of the different fractions of organic and Inorganic P in the soil. From this information, we would determine if the P that has been added to the plots has moved deeper into the profile than the depth of Incorporation. If there is movement of P In the profile then In the second year we would establish a column • leaching study In the laboratory to attempt to determine the mechanism of the movement of the Pin - the profile. We believe that there is a potential for the P from the biosollds to move deeper Into the profile due to P complexes with the organic material that Is dissolved In the soil water. We would use adsorption Isotherms to attempt to identify the mechanism for the movement of P In the soil. -IV. Projected Cost: Table 2. Projected cost for the plant avallable phosphorus from blosollds study. Current Proposed Category 2014 2015 Supplies 1650 825 Analysis 600 300 Student hourly 4150 2075 Student hourly fringe (1.0%} 141 21 Travel 400 200 Total direct cost 6941 3421 Indirect cost (48.7 %) 3380 1666 Total cost 10321 5087 Table 3. Projected cost for seasonal dynamics of soil phosphorus pools study. Seasonal Dynamics of Spll P Pools Current Proposed Category 2014 2015 Supplies 3000 700 -Analysis 350 3S0 Student hourly 1050 1050 Student hourly fringe {1.0%) 36 11 Travel 500 soo Total direct cost 4936 2611 Indirect cost (48.7 %) 2404 1271 Total cost 7340 3882 Table 4. Projected cost for the phosphorus accumulation In the soil profile study. Phosphorus Accumulation in the Soll Profile Current Proposed Cate;orv 2014 2015 Sup_plles 400 600 Analysis 200 600 Student hourly 900 Student hourly fringe (1.0%) 9 Travel 200 200 ,. Total direct cost 800 2309 Indirect cost {48. 7 %) 390 1124 Total cost 1190 3433 Table 5. Total Projected cost for the overall study. Total Cost Category Direct Cost Indirect Cost Total Cost V. References: Current Proposed 2014 2015 12677 6174 18851 8341 4061 12402 O'Connor, G. A., D. Sarkar, S. R. Brinton, H. A. Elliott and F. G. Martin. 2004. Phytoavailability of Biosolids Phosphorus. J ENVIRON QUAL. 33:703-712. .. ITTLETON/ENGLEWOOD WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Cityof Littfeton Cityof Englewood 2900 S. Platte Rlvw Drive EngllWOOd, Colorado 80110 (303) 7112·2800 F~782·2820 January 29, 2015 Colorado State University Office of Sponsored Programs 2002 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, Colorado 80S23-2002 Attention : Marilyn Morrissey, Senior Research Administrator RE: INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR A COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT -SLUDGE APPLICATION TO DRYLAND WHEAT FIELDS -2015 FISCAL YEAR PROPOSAL Dear Ms. Morrissey: We are pleased to inform you that the 2015 proposals for the following projects were approved at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisory Committee held on July 17, 2014. 1. Cooperative Research Project on Land Application of Sewage Biosolids on dryland wheat, continuing the research projects at the Bennett and Byers sites, and 2. Soil Quality and Plant Productivity Following the Land Application of Chemically Coagulated Phosphorus Biosolids Study. This letter serves as authorization for the 2015 studies. Authorization is based on the following understanding: 1. The upper expenditure limit for the Bennett study is $52,481 for fiscal year 2015. 2. The upper expenditure limit for the Byers study is $S7, 113 for fiscal year 2015. 3. The upper expenditure limit for the Phosphorus study is $12,402 for fiscal year 201 S. 4. Separate authorization must be obtained for additional work beyond that described in the proposals. S. Progress reporting and invoicing will be on a quarterly basis. Project reports must accompany all invoices, also on a quarterly basis. A final report will be provided. 6. Invoices are to provide detailed background of project costs according to categories shown in the Proposed Budget Tables in your proposal. 7. All publications pertaining to the research work will be submitted to the cities for review prior to release . 8. All other conditions set forth in your June 2014 proposal shall be incorporated in this agreement. I! X H I a I T C CSU Research Projects January 29, 2015 Page 2 of2 We anticipate your program will proceed immediately. Please acknowledge your acceptance of the terms of the agreement by signing the bottom portion of both copies of the signature page. Return one (1) copy to: Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant, 2900 S Platte River Drive, Englewood, CO 80110 for the official City of Englewood records and retain one (1) copy for your records. Sincerely, Stewart H. Fonda Director ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS OF AGREEMENT: Signature Title SHF/ah Enclosure: two signature pages Date cc: Dr. Ken Barbarick, Dept of Soil & Crop Sciences, 1170 Campus Delivery, CSU, Ft Collins, CO 80523-1170 H:\Administration\Contracts\Currcnt Contracts\CSU\2015 Contract\CSU Contract 201S Cover Letter.doc File : 020.050.060 • • COUNCIL COMMUNICATION Date Agenda Item Subject February 1 7, 2015 11 a ii Colorado State University Biosolids Research Agreement INITIATED BY STAFF SOURCE Littleton/Englewood WWTP Supervisory Stewart H . Fonda, Utilities Director Committee Jim Tallent, Treatment Division Manager COUNCIL GOAL AND PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION Council action Ordinance No. 8, Series of 2010, approving the prior Intergovernmental Agreement with Colorado State University and authorizing extension of that Intergovernmental Agreement for five additional one year periods. RECOMMENDED ACTION The Littleton/Englewood WWTP Supervisory Committee recommended, on July 17, 2014, Council approve by Ordinance the renewal of an Intergovernmental Agreement with Colorado State University for cooperative research projects on the land application of wastewater biosolids to dryland wheat farming operations. The 2015 program cost is $121,996.00. BACKGROUND, ANALYSIS, AND ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFIED Since 1982, the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant (L/E WWTP), in cooperation with Colorado State University (CSU) Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, initiated a continuous research program to document the long-term effects of the application of wastewater biosolids for dryland wheat farming. The research has provided valuable research data and a sound basis of knowledge for the biosolids produced by the L/E WWTP and the environmental impacts of the product. The information has been used extensively as a public relations tool, as well. Additionally, this research project is instrumental in establishing the basis for the beneficial use of biosolids in the cultivation of dryland wheat crops in the arid western states of the United States and in Australia. This long-term research demonstrates that the beneficial use of wastewater biosolids is an environmentally safe, economically beneficial and agriculturally sound practice for recycling a valuable resource. The research has resulted in 33 refereed journal articles and book chapters, 51 technical papers, numerous bulletins and reports, 2 doctoral theses (1 in progress) and 3 master's theses. The research has benefited western states farming communities, biosolids researchers, regulators, generators, appliers and other environmental professionals. The L/E WWTP biosolids program has also received the following recognitions: • • • • • e : US EPA Region 8 Excellence Award for Beneficial Use of Sewage Sludge (1989) RM WEA Biosolids Management Merit Award ( 1996, 1998, 2003, 2012) US EPA Beneficial Use of Biosolids for Operating Projects National Honorable Mention (1996) US EPA Biosolids Research, National First Place (1999) AMSA-Research and Technology Award Biosolids (2000) US EPA Biosolids Management Excellence National First Place (2003) National Biosolids Partnership Platinum Certification (2013, 2014) Colorado State University has submitted their 2015 proposal for the cooperative research project on land • application of sewage biosolids on dryland wheat. The studies include sites located at the Bennett research site and the Byers research site, which is the City owned Biosolids Application farm. The cost for each study site is as follows: Bennett Byers Phosphorus TOTAL $ 52,481.00 $ 57,113.00 $ 12,402.00 $121,996.00 For reference, the 2014 expenditure for this project was $127,328. FINANCIAL IMPACT The cost of the project is budgeted and split 50/50 with the City of Littleton. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisory Committee Meeting minutes, July 17, 2014 Proposed Bill for an Ordinance • • LITTLETON/ENGLEWOOD WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT 2900 S. Platt• River Drive l:tlgllWOOd, Colorado 80110 {303) 7112•2ti00 FAX 7112.2520 /~~/70 •✓ 'l?~// City of 5 S City of Littleton ( (_ Englewood MINUTES SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING July 17, 2014 ATTENDING: Guests: Char1ie Blosten Gary Sears RickKnhm Stu Fonda David Robbins Andy Rottman Dennis Stowe Jim Tallent Chong Woo Mary Gardner Jonathan Bridges Sarah Reeves Scott Morse 9:00 a.m. Littleton Public Works Director Englewood City Manager Englewood Public Works Director Englewood Utilities Director Hill & Robbins, P.C. Hill & Robbins, P.C. Manager, UE WWTP Treatment Manager, UE WWTP Engineering/Maintenance Manager, UE WWTP Environmental Comp1iance Manager, UE WWTP Industrial Pretreatment Administrator, UE WWTP Brown & Caldwell South Platte Sanitation SECTION 111-TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION 1. Regulatory Programs -Site Specific Temperature Standard Mary Gardner reported the staff continues to work with Hill & Robbins and Integral to develop a Site Specific Temperature Standard. At WESTCAS, EPA presented a selenium proposal; the Wastewater Utility Council has contributed money to conduct a scientific analysis. The EPA continues to re-define Waters of the United States (WOTUS). UE WWTP has asked for an extension based on our biosolids property; staff is concerned how the definition affects streams running through the property. ACTION TAKEN -None. 2. Fiscal Management Dennis Stowe explained the year-to-date budget status for each division. Regulatory: under budget. Beneficial Use has approximately 63% remaining due to upcoming capital expenditures -replacing three biosolids trailers, approximately $300,000. Maintenance: 70% remaining, mostly in capital infrastructure. The disinfection improvement project costs came in less than originally anticipated. Capital items in the infrastructure portion of budget will not be done by year end. Operations: 50% under assisted by a significant reduction in power consumption. Laboratory, a smaller division and smaller portion of the budget, will replace a major laboratory instrument at Jess than the expected Supervisory Committee Meeting July 17, 2014 Page two of four budgeted cost. Business Services includes several significant purchases as well as completing some capital projects: IT systems replacing servers, including installation and set up, approximately $200,000. This has been approved by the Committee and going to the Englewood City Council. Industrial Pretreatment, a smaller division, has approximately 60% remaining. The division was short staffed first half of2014-just filled position. Overall, there is 60% remaining budget mostly in capital expenditures. Staff expects to come in under budget at year-end. ACTION TAKEN -None 3. Biosolids Land Application -Update Jim Tal1ent infonned the Committee the lack of rain resulted in lack of nitrogen uptake. Too hot nitrogen did not allow staff to apply biosotids; biosolids have been stored the last 2-4 weeks on an asphalt pad built for that purpose. Farmer Linnebur informed L/EWWTP he wants to take some of CRP property out of that, and put it back into production. David Robbins explained CRP is a 15-year program where the government pays the farmer $30 per acre per year to keep the land out of production. If the fanner puts it back in program, farmer has to pay the government back. ACTION TAKEN -None 4. CSU Cooperative Research Project Proposal Jim Tallent presented the 2015 CSU Cooperative Research Project Proposal. Costs have been holding A steady. The increase for 2015 is primarily persoMel costs. The study, since 1982, has been good for • us, good for industry. ACTION TAKEN -Charlie Blosten moved the Supervisory Committee approve the 2015 Colorado State University proposal to continue the Cooperative Research Project on Land Application of Sewage Biosolids in Dryland Wheat, including the proposed Phosphorus investigation, in the amount of $121,996. Rick Kahm seconded. Motion passed. S. Plant Energy Improvement Program Gunter Ritter, Project Engineer, and Greg Fanner, Process Specialist, gave a powerpoint presentation on the new Plant Energy Improvement Program. They reported this is staff driven program researching emerging technologies. The program consists of three groups: technical, non technical, and lead. Greg presented infonnation on baselining. benchmarking. energy monitoring module to monitor specific equipment energy usage, monitoring and improving\e process efficiency. Gary Sears recommended communicating to Councils what staff have achieved -goals, energy savings. ACTION TAKEN -None. 6. Project Status Update Chong Woo reported the current project status. Site Wide Repairs: Notice of Final Completion issued June 17; now waiting for final payment. Building space project: -issued Notice of Subtantial Completion; City of Englewood has issued a temporary Certificate of Occupancy; staff expects to • Supervisory Committee Meeting July 17,2014 Page three of four issue final payment end of July. Chong advised the Committee of an additional project to provide staff parking at the new pretreabnent building. A recommendation for approval to be presented at at an upcoming Committee meeting. Interim Disinfection Project: issued Notice to Proceed to RN Civil on July 11. ACTION TAKEN -None. 7. Electrical Maintenance Program -Arc Flash Hazard Analysis Study Contract Award Chong Woo infonned the Committee that the more formal maintenance program has added a significant amount of electrical equipment, new regulations and guidelines for electrical safety. Staff recommends taking the first step -an Arc Flash Hazard Analysis Study. National Fire Protection Association (NFP A) recommends an analysis every five years. The last analysis was performed in 2006.Staff received three qualified quotes and recommends accepting the low quote by Emerson Network Power. ACTION TAKEN -Gary Sears moved the Supervisory Committee approve a professional services agreement with Emerson Network Power in the amount of $53,528 for the Arc Flash Hazard Analysis Study. Michael PeMy seconded. Motion passed 8. Return Secondary Sludge Pumps Repair-Purchase Order Recommendation Chong Woo reported the secondary treabnent process utilizes a total of seven final clarifier tanks and eight return secondary sludge pumps which have been in service since 2006. The damage is within the expected service life for pumps of this type and size. lltree qualified vendors provided quotations for the repair and rebuild. A fourth quotation for complete replacement of both pumps would be $312,500. 2014 budget for repairs. ACTION TAKEN -Gary Sears moved the Supervisory Committee approve a purchase order in the amount of $92,000 for the repair and rebuild of return sludge pumps P-04-442 and P-04-462 to Fairbanks Nijhuis Pump Services. Michael PeMy seconded. Motion passed 9. 2015 Draft LEWWTP Budget Overview Stu Fonda reported the only major change is a request for one additional position for the Business Services Division. Cindy Goodbum explained the new Instrumentation and Controls Spec position would work under the SCADA umbrella of SCADA. The position would be responsible for all the equipment out in the field, computerized networks that control and operate this plant. The current SCADA Administrator will retire in one year. ACTION TAKEN -None. 10. Brown & Caldwell Report Sarah Reeves handed out the Executive Summary of The Roadmap to The Future; hardcopy of the presentation taking to the two Councils. Gary and Michael requested copies to include in both Englewood and Littleton City Council packets. ACTION TAKEN -None. Supervisory Committee Meeting July 17, 2014 Page four of four 11. Hill and Robbins Report Andy Rottman report on working with staff to resolve the Emerson Park issue with State, continuing communications with the State and Integral about Temperature standard, and the upcoming 2015 rulemaking is ramping up. David Robbins discussed two other things more general in nature. 1) EPA and the Corps of Engineers are updating the definition of Waters of The US {WOTUS)-doesn't directly affect the plant, but it does have potential to affect the Cities. 2) The US Fish & Wildlife Service has proposed a rule that would change definition of critical habitat that would allow the agency to designate land and areas where no endangered species has been known to exist and are currently not adequate habitat for the species. ACTION TAKEN -None. 12. Schedule for the Next Supervisory Committee Meeting The next Supervisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2014, 9:00 a.m., at the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant. Adjourned 10: 16 a.m.