3. Big Marine Sewer Utility Facility Plan and NPDES Permit Modification 3 �
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INUMMEEMIDEMEM
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: January 4, 2023
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Anne Hurlburt, Interim City Administrator
Re: Big Marine Sewer Utility, Bliss System: Authorize Completion of
Facility Plan and NPDES Permit Modification
Action Requested:
Authorize Bolton and Menk to:
a) complete the Facility Plan for the Bliss Sewer System; and
b) proceed with the NPDES permit modification through the MPCA for the improvements.
Background:
There is an opportunity to apply for state funding for required improvements to the Bliss Sewer
system. This includes low interest loans,and the Point Source Implementation Grant(PSIG)which
could cover 80% of eligible costs. The first step is submission of a facility plan and application,
due to the MPCA by March 3, 2023. In addition, the project must go through the full MPCA
permitting process, which needs to be started immediately.
Budget Impact:
The expected fee to complete the facility plan is$20,000. Fees to complete the permit modification
are estimated at $7,500.
If the city is successful in obtaining state funding, it could free up the ARPA funds that have been
earmarked for the project for other uses. This will be discussed in the next round of updates to the
city's budget and CIP.
The Council may wish to refer this information to the Wastewater Committee to keep them up to
date with the project.
Attachment:
• Memo Dated December 28, 2022 from Seth A Peterson, P.E. and Ryan Goodman, P.E.,
City Engineer, Bolton& Menk
O LTO 12224 Nicoll Avenue
Burnsville,MN 55337-1649
Ph: 19521890-0509
Real People.Real Solutions. Fax: (9521890-8065
Bolton-Menk.com
MEMORANDUM
Date: December 28,2022
To: Anne Hurlburt, City Administrator
Scandia City Council
From: Seth A. Peterson, P.E.
Ryan Goodman, P.E., City Engineer
Subject: Scandia Bliss Wastewater System
City of Scandia, Minnesota
We had a virtual meeting with representatives from the MPCA on December 16, 2022,to discuss
funding and timing options for the Bliss wastewater system. The Bliss system is designed to treat more
than 10,000 gal/day and therefore is governed by a NPDES(National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System) permit that is issued through the MPCA. The City's permit was reissued in September 2021 and
includes a compliance agreement to meet a nitrate limit of less than 10 mg/l. The permit required a
plan to be sent to the MPCA in September 2022 that outlines how the City intends to meet the nitrate
limit. The next item on the compliance schedule is the submittal of a Facility Plan to the MPCA. A
facility plan is a formal engineering report submitted to the MPCA and allows the City to be placed on
the funding lists. The funding programs include low interest loans through the Clean Water Revolving
Loan Program and grant opportunities through the Point Source Implementation Grant(PSIG) program.
Since the City has a nitrate limit,they are eligible to apply for the PSIG program. The PSIG program
allows for grants that cover 80%of eligible costs for a maximum grant of$7 million. The project was
estimated at$1.3 million in February 2022. For the City to be eligible for both the loan and PSIG
program, below is a schedule of key dates and milestones.
Key Dates for meeting compliance
• March 3, 2023-Submit Facility Plan to MPCA/Project Priority List(PPL) application
o Public hearing required as part of Facility Plan—hold in February or March 2023
• March 2023—City Council approval to start design of improvements at Bliss
• June 2023—apply for Intended Use Plan (IUP)
• June/July 2023—submit plans/specs to MPCA for approval
• July 2023—apply for PSIG program
• Aug.2023—Draft IUP/PSIG lists published
• Sept. 2023—IUP/PSIG lists finalized
• Oct.2023—MPCA certifies project
Depending on if/how PSIG is funded by an upcoming bonding bill, the project could proceed to bidding
in 2023 (Nov/Dec). However, it is likely the project would be a 'carry over' project due to the
competitive nature of PSIG funding and then the following would occur for timing:
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Name: Scandia Bliss Wastewater System
Date: December 28,2022
Page: 2
• June 2024—reapply for IUP
• July 2024—reapply for PSIG (assuming there are bonding dollars for PSIG)
• Aug.2024—Draft IUP/PSIG lists
• Sept. 2024—IUP/PSIG lists finalized
• Oct/Nov 2024—Advertise/Bid Project
To meet the above schedule, we are asking for approval to complete the Facility Plan for the Bliss
system which must be submitted to MPCA by March 3, 2023. The City already completed the Nitrogen
Mitigation memo report in September 2022 and this report will be the basis for the Facility Plan and we
will expand upon this existing memo report so that it conforms with the MPCA requirements for Facility
Plans. The expected fees to complete the Facility Plan is$20,000.
Additionally,the proposed improvements at the Bliss Facility will require a NPDES permit modification
that must go through the full M PCA permitting process. Due to the time requirements in working
through a permit modification,this work should also be started immediately. We estimate the fees to
complete the permit modification process at$7,500.
1 will be available to discuss these items in further detail at the January 4, 2022 City Council meeting.
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