FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Lan C. Wiborg, Director of Environmental Services
SUBJECT:
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BIOSOLIDS THERMAL CONVERSION RFI UPDATE
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
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RECOMMENDATION:
Information Item.
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BACKGROUND
The 2019 Strategic Plan Biosolids Management Policy paper states that the Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) "will issue a request for information (RFI) to research and evaluate available emerging markets such as biosolids-to-energy options or other biosolids recycling operations within a 200-mile radius of the Sanitation District to potentially develop a scope of work and minimum requirements for a future contract solicitation".
The Biosolids Master Plan strategy also calls for maintaining diversity of biosolids management options by investigating emerging markets such as thermal conversion of biosolids. A biosolids-to-energy option RFI was completed in April 2020. The results of the RFI process will be presented along with anticipated next steps.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Maintain and adhere to appropriate internal planning documents (Strategic Plan, Biosolids Master Plan)
• Safe, beneficial reuse of Biosolids
• Comply with environmental permit requirements
PROBLEM
The Sanitation District has completed the RFI process and is ready to move to the next step. New and anticipated regulations may limit future options for biosolids recycling and there are only a small number of established Biosolids Thermal Conversion contractors with limited capacity.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
The Sanitation District plans to strategically establish contracts with Biosolids Thermal Conversion operators to secure capacity for beneficial reuse and/or disposal of biosolids in preparation for new and anticipated regulations.
TIMING CONCERNS
Several Biosolids Thermal Conversion Operations will be coming online in 2021, and the Sanitation District would like to secure capacity and demonstrate effectiveness of these technologies in advance of new and anticipated regulations.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
The Sanitation District may be facing inadequate offsite biosolids management capacity if future environmental regulations limit biosolids recycling options.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The RFI found two viable Biosolids Thermal Conversion options that have available near-term and long-term capacity that do not require guaranteed biosolids tonnages. These facilities have been funded for construction independent of the Sanitation District’s potential financial contributions, making these options low risk.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OCSD website (www.ocsd.com) with the complete agenda package:
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