Resolution 2662
1 RESOLUTION NO. 2662
~ 2 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
3 OF THE SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
AUTHORIZING SOUTH "Y" AREA GROUNDWATER
4 CONTAMINATION INVESTIGATION
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WHEREAS, the South Tahoe Public Utility District (District) owns and operates the
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7 Industrial Avenue Wells, Clement Well, Julie Lane Well and Tata Lane Well (collectively
8 Wells) in the South "Y" area of South Lake Tahoe, California, for the purpose of providing
9 a safe and reliable source of drinking water to the District's customers; and
10 WHEREAS, the continued operation of the Wells by the District is necessary to
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maintain overall District water supplies and system reliability; and
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13 WHEREAS, tetrachloroethylene, more commonly know as perchloroethylene (PCE),
14 is a colorless, nonflammable dry cleaning and degreasing solvent often found as a
'-' 15 groundwater pollutant; and
16 WHEREAS, in addition to PCE being a probable human carcinogen, public health
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officials have suspected a link between PCE exposure and birth defects; and
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19 WHEREAS, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PCE is five (5) parts per
20 billion (ppb) and many public agencies have previously shut down, abandoned or
21 destroyed wells or constructed treatment facilities because PCE was detected at levels
22 above safe drinking water levels; and
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WHEREAS, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MtBE) is a chemical compound used in the
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25 blending of gasoline as an octane booster to meet Federal Clean Air Act requirements for
26 oxygenates in wintertime oxygenated gasoline and in federally reformulated gasoline; and
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Resolution No. 2662
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WHEREAS, unlike other hydrocarbons in gasoline, MtBE is very water soluble and
poorly adsorbed to soils allowing it to move with groundwater flow, largely unretarded; and
WHEREAS, gasoline constituents, including MtBE can leak into the groundwater
from leaking underground storage tanks (USTs) or leaking pipelines; and
WHEREAS, the health effects of groundwater contaminated with MtBE are currently
unknown but the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has
nevertheless established a health advisory of 70 ppb based on a subchronic drinking water
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toxicity study; and
WHEREAS, taste and odor thresholds for MtBE in water range from 15-135 ppb,
with the lower end of the range falling below the USEPA health advisory level of 70 ppb;
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and
WHEREAS, PCE and MTBE contamination have been detected in the Wells and
17 the aquifer within the vicinity of the Wells in several instances in excess of the MCL, health
18 advisory level and taste and odor threshold; and
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WHEREAS, the District has previously expended sums in excess of $500,000 in
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treating the contaminated groundwater from the Wells which includes costs for designated
lines and an air stripping tower along with annual operating costs of several thousands of
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dollars; and
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WHEREAS, the cost of drilling new replacement wells and abandoning old wells as
a result of PCE and MtBE contamination, although difficult to precisely determine, could
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range anywhere from $500,000 to $2,000,000 if the PCE and MtBE concentrations exceed
\..-, 28 the capacity of the air stripping tower; and
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Resolution No. 2662
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WHEREAS, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (Lahontan) over the last
several years has been conducting a limited hydrological investigation to identify sources
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of the contamination in the South "Y" area and the parties responsible for the
contamination (Responsible Parties); and
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WHEREAS, in addition to the limited investigation conducted by Lahontan, the
District has recently conducted extensive investigative work, in collaboration with
Lahontan, of the South "Y" groundwater contamination, including the collection of soil,
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water and aquifer data; and
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WHEREAS, the cost of the extensive investigative work to the District is nearly
$200,000 thus far; and
WHEREAS, to avoid further contamination of the Wells, to prevent PCE and MtBE
concentrations from exceeding the air stripping tower capacity and to protect the District's
source of supply of water and the health and safety of its customers, additional
investigative work by the District is necessary to determine the full nature and extent of
groundwater contamination including the sources of contamination; and
WHEREAS, Lahontan is requesting to contract with the District to have the District
or its subcontractors perform this investigative work of the South "Y" groundwater
contamination by installing monitoring wells and piezometers, conducting soil borings,
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aquifer tests and laboratory analyses; and
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WHEREAS, the total reasonable cost for services performed by the District will be
26 thirteen thousand dollars ($13,000) and Lahontan, upon submission of invoices from the
District, will agree to reimburse the District for those costs under the contract.
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Resolution No. 2662
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A contract with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board -
Lahontan Region for the performance of groundwater contamination investigative work in
the South "Y" area of South Lake Tahoe, California is authorized.
2. The investigatory work for determining the source of the PCE and MtBE
contamination shall include installation of monitoring wells and piezometers, collection of
soil samples and conducting aquifer tests and laboratory analyses in an amount not to
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exceed thirteen thousand dollars ($13,000).
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3.
All investigatory work shall be performed by the District and/or its
13 subcontractors and, upon completion of the work, the data shall be submitted to Lahontan
14 along with invoices for reimbursement of District costs.
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4.
The General Manager is directed to take any additional action necessary
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and appropriate to implement this Resolution.
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5. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing
Resolution was duly and regularly adopted and passed by the Board of Directors of the
South Tahoe Public Utility District at a regular meeting duly held on the 18th day of
December, 1997, by the following vote:
AYES: Directors Wallace, Strohm, Jones, Gochnauer, and
Mosbacher.
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
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Resolution No. 2662
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Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
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