Title
Receive update from EAA staff on the Agricultural Secondary Containment Assistance Program (AgSCAP).
Body
STAFF RECOMMENDED MOTION:
This item is for discussion purposes only. No action required.
SUMMARY
The purpose of this agenda item is for the Permits/Enforcement Committee to receive a report from EAA staff summarizing results of agricultural aboveground storage tank (AST) assessments and compliance options provided by Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc. (“Baer Engineering”), under contract with the EAA.
The EAA is working to assist rural owners of regulated ASTs in meeting regulatory requirements outlined in EAA rules. As envisioned, the Agricultural Secondary Containment Assistance Program (AgSCAP) offers landowners located on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone an opportunity to obtain funding to upgrade (or remove from regulation) all or a portion of their AST systems. The informational flyer sent to potential AgSCAP participants is attached to this item. The EAA received AgSCAP applications from 10 property entities listing a total of 24 tanks.
At the April 10, 2018 meeting, the board voted to authorize staff to contract with Baer Engineering to provide these assessment and consulting services, and Baer Engineering submitted a final report to EAA staff on October 8, 2018. The report outlined observations, identified various compliance options, and provided general cost estimates for each site. During this portion of the investigation, no actual construction was envisioned or performed. It is anticipated that EAA will solicit construction related work based upon these recommendations in 2019.
At the October 23 meeting, staff will provide a report to the committee summarizing Baer Engineering’s findings and discussing the next steps with AgSCAP.
M/WBE PARTICIPATION:
Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc. is a M/WBE.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This agenda item supports the EAA's policy direction as set forth in the EAA 2016-20 Strategic Plan: Goal D. Prevent the Pollution of the Aquifer.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding in the amount of $337,000, for recommended construction activities associated with AgSCAP is programmed in the 2019 budget.