LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH CENTER
File #: 16-894    Name:
Type: General Business Status: Passed
File created: 7/26/2016 In control: Broken Arrow City Council
On agenda: 8/16/2016 Final action: 8/16/2016
Title: Consideration, discussion, and possible approval of and authorization to execute a Consent Order on Case Number 16-180 from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), Water Quality Division
Attachments: 1. Consent Order 16-180

Broken Arrow City Council

                                                                                               Meeting of: 08-16-2016

                                                                                    

To:                     Mayor and City Council

From:                     Utilities Department

Title: 

title

                     Consideration, discussion, and possible approval of and authorization to execute a Consent Order on Case Number 16-180 from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), Water Quality Division

End

 

Background:

The Broken Arrow Municipal Authority owns and operates the County Line Road (23rd Street or 193rd East Avenue) sanitary sewer trunk line that conveys all wastewater collected from the north east part of the city to the Lynn Lane Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment and disposal.  The 36” diameter concrete cylinder pipe has been in service since 1984 and had experienced several failures along the six miles of sewer line.  All the pipe failures have been primarily due to Hydrogen Sulfide gas induced corrosion of the concrete pipe surface.

 

On the morning of April 21, 2016, city staff was advised that sewage was overflowing in the roadside borrow ditch into the Broken Arrow Creek, around the Camp Robson Boy Scout Camp.  Utility staff investigated and determined that a portion of the pipe had collapsed under New Orleans Street (101st Street South) and sewage was backing up and being relieved through upstream manholes.

 

The City took immediate action and closed New Orleans Street to through traffic.  Staff mobilized and installed three (3) temporary diesel engine pumps and hoses to pump around the collapsed line segment.  Crews later exposed one (1) buried manhole around the road curb line and made improvements to the temporary pump around setup.  The temporary pump system was kept operational until the permanent repairs were substantially complete on May 11, 2016.

 

According to the Consent Order issued, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) had received a citizen complaint on April 23, 2016, alleging that the wastewater discharged from the sewer system overflow had resulted in a fish kill in the Broken Arrow Creek.  A follow up investigation by representatives from DEQ and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) did, in fact, indicate that they had observed dead fish in the Broken Arrow Creek.

 

Per ODEQ Consent Order, the department had received three (3) more citizen complaints for sewer overflows at the same location.  The Consent Order also verifies that utility staff had properly reported all bypasses using the self-reporting bypass form and a total of 3,238,400 gallons of wastewater was discharged during the line failure.

 

On April 22nd an emergency City Council meeting was convened to authorize an emergency construction contract with McGuire Brothers to replace the failed line segment.  The total estimated cost is $166,298.00 for the replacement of about 80 feet of concrete pipe with new 48” diameter, fiberglass pipe and two new manholes.  All construction improvements were substantially complete on May 11, 2016.

 

On July 15, 2016, the city received a Consent Order from ODEQ that listed the penalty of $10,000.00 for unpermitted discharge payable to DEQ and $5,820.94 payable to ODWC for the fish kill caused by the discharge.

 

BAMA has initiated a two (2) phase CIP to replace the 36” County Line sewer trunk line.  Phase I is being designed by E&C staff for the replacement of about a mile from the wastewater plant up to Jasper and 9th.  Phase II is being designed by Professional Engineering Consultants and shall replace about 4 miles from Jasper to Washington.  Staff recommends that the council approve the Consent Order. 

 


Cost:                                                                $5,820.94 to ODWC by September 1, 2016 and $10,000 to ODEQ by
                                    October 1, 2016

Prepared By:                                           Anthony C. Daniel, Director of Utilities

Reviewed By:                                          Finance Department
                                    Assistant City Manager-Operations
                                    Legal Department                                   
                                   

Approved By:                      Michael L. Spurgeon, City Manager
                                   

Attachments:                                          Consent Order 16-180
                                   

Recommendation:

Approve the ODEQ Consent Order and authorize its execution.