Border Environment Cooperation
Commission
City of Uvalde Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Expansion
Uvalde, Texas
1.
Type of Project. The
project consists of the expansion of the citys Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
(MSWL), by opening the second cell, and the replacement of the operation and
maintenance equipment for the City of Uvalde, Texas.
2.
Project Location. The
City of Uvalde, the project sponsor, is located in Uvalde County in the State
of Texas, approximately 55 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border, and is
located inside the 62-mile border zone.
The current population in the City of Uvalde is approximately 16,214, and the population is expected to reach
31,379 in the year 2025.
Currently
the landfill facility receives waste from the city of Uvalde, Uvalde County,
Rocksprings and Garner State Park.
3.
Project Description and Work Tasks
The project consists of the expansion of the citys MSWL, by the
construction of a second cell and the replacement of the operation and
maintenance equipment. The MSWL will serve most of the Countys existing
population. In July 1985, the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission
(TNRCC), formerly Texas Department of Health, issued a MSW Permit No. 1725 to
the City of Uvalde to operate a 57.50 acre site, as a Type I Municipal Solid
Waste Facility. The city acquired used equipment to operate and maintain the
MSWL. The MSWL started operations in 1987. In 1994, the city initiated a permit
modification to comply with the new Subtitle D federal regulations for MSWL
facilities. The permit was granted by the TNRCC in 1996.
The Citys MSWL facility is divided into three stages or cells: Stage A,
which is the current operating cell; Stage B, adjacent to cell A, which is
the cell currently being constructed; and Stage C, adjacent to cell B,
which will be a future cell. The annual municipal solid waste volume
accommodated at the Citys facility is approximately 80,421 C.Y., including
construction debris and compacted cover material. At this deposition rate, the
remaining life of Stage A is approximately 12 months. The approximate
projected useful life for Stage B is of 11 years, and 15 years for future
cell C. It is expected cell B will be ready to start operation by July
2001.
When the City started operation of the MSWL, in 1987, the heavy equipment purchased
for the operation and maintenance of the facility, was already used but in good
condition. At this time the City intends to replace all of the operation and
maintenance equipment due to the fact the equipment has reached its useful
life.
4. Compliance with International Treaties and
Agreements. The project will not have any international impact, as all
operations are monitored and approved by the TNRCC. The MSWL will not receive
or send waste from or to other sites.
1.
Human Health/Environmental Need. The project will address human health and environmental concerns by
providing adequate solid waste collection and disposal for the residents of the
City of Uvalde and adjacent areas within the County of Uvalde.
The existing Citys Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWL)
facility was designed for three stages or cells, the first cell has a remaining
life of approximately one year. In order for the City to continue utilizing its
MSWL, a new cell must be constructed and in operation on or before the first
cell is full and closed.
The project will allow the citizens of Uvalde and the surrounding areas to continue to
properly dispose of municipal solid waste. This project minimizes potential for
illegal dumping in and around the city due to the proximity of the MSWL.
2.
Environmental Assessment. The City was granted a permit to
operate and maintain a MSWL Type I facility in 1985 from the Texas Department
of Health, now incorporated into the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC), and began operation in 1987. In 1994, a permit modification
was submitted to the TNRCC to comply with the new Subtitle D federal
regulations for MSWL facilities. On March 31, 1995, the Subtitle D
modifications received conditional approval from TNRCC with revisions required
to the leachate and contaminated water plan and liner details. On July 15,
1996, TNRCC issued a letter to the City of Uvalde, accepting the submittal
materials related to the leachate and contaminated water plan and liner details.
According to the Permits Section, Municipal Solid Waste Division, TNRCC, the
Class I Permit Modification to upgrade the Citys MSWL facility to Subtitle D
status was approved. Other permit modifications approved by TNRCC were the
alternate daily cover and the landfilling method.
3.
Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource
Laws and Regulations. The project
complies with all and Environmental and Cultural Laws and regulations based on
the application of the Federal Subtitle D rules, the 30 TAC § 330 rules and
TNRCC technical guidance.
1.
Appropriate Technology. After the citys MSWL facility was approved
to operate in compliance with Subtitle D regulations, in 1996, a Site Development
Plan was also part of the permit to modify the original Site Development Plan
submitted in February 1985.
As required by the permit, following are some of
technical issues addressed in this report:
Solid Waste Data
The Uvalde MSWL is used for the disposal of
municipal solid waste and for waste consisting exclusively of brush and
materials from construction-demolition activities. These wastes are generated
from commercial establishments, light industries, institutions, offices,
residences and construction site located primarily within Uvalde County, and
consists of similar proportions of materials, paper, glass, metals, etc., as
typical municipal waste. The solid waste is considered to have the following
approximate compositions: metal 6%, glass 6.5%, fabric 2.5%, paper 48.5%, and
trash and garbage 36.5%.
The city implemented a
recycling program where containers for recyclable materials (i.e. glass, paper,
plastics, cardboard, etc) are available to the public at a centralized
location.
Landfill construction and
operation is the same for both normal municipal solid waste and
construction-demolition waste except for the frequency of soil cover. The
municipal waste will be covered daily using an approved alternate daily cover
(ADC) system, and the construction-demolition waste will be covered at least
weekly with 6 inches of soil not previously mixed with solid waste.
Mixed waste (municipal and
industrial) may be accepted for disposal at the site, except that Class I,
industrial non-hazardous solid waste, may be accepted only if special
provisions for such disposal and special handling procedures are approved by
the TNRCC. Class I industrial non-hazardous solid waste, hazardous waste, or
radioactive waste is not proposed for this site.
Landfilling Method
The
site is being developed by excavating to an average depth of 15 to 20 feet
below existing grade and filling to an average height of 45 feet above grade.
Stage A consists of approximately 10.6 acres, Stage B approximately 7
acres, and Stage C approximately 11 acres.
Landfilling
will be accomplished utilizing the modified trench method and the area fill
method in all Stages, in accordance with the following schedule:
|
Stage |
Sequence |
Method |
Comments |
|
A |
I |
Modified Trench |
Up to Top of Perimeter Berm |
|
A |
II |
Area Fill |
Above Top of Perimeter Berm |
|
B |
I |
Modified Trench |
Up to Top of Perimeter Berm |
|
B |
II |
Area Fill |
Above Top of Perimeter Berm |
|
C |
I |
Modified Trench |
Up to Top of Perimeter Berm |
|
C |
II |
Area Fill |
Above Top of Perimeter Berm |
As
indicated in the above table, solid waste will be deposited in Stage A in two
sequences (Sequence I and Sequence II). Once Stage A is completed, solid
waste will be deposited in Stage B in the same sequencing and finally Stage
C. Upon completion of stage C, the landfill will be closed.
Access Control
Public
roads will be utilized for access to the Uvalde MSWL facility. These roads are
Highway 90 and F.M. 481 from the east, and F.M. 481 from the south, both roads
have all-weather access.
Deposition Rate and Operating Life
The
operating life of the site depends upon the volume of waste material ultimately
requiring disposal and the rate at which the waste material is brought to the
site for disposal. The design solid waste disposal rate utilized in this site
application was approximately 80 tons per day and is based upon a city studies
completed in 1982 and 1996. The compaction operation accomplished at this
landfill is anticipated to obtain a waste material density of approximately 2.5
cubic yard/ton in place. Therefore, at the design waste disposal rate, 80 tons
per day, approximately 80,400 C.Y. per year of space will be required for the
solid waste.
The
volume available for solid waste disposal is termed air space, and the
approximately air space in the landfill is:
Stage A 575,941 C.Y.
Stage B 907,854 C.Y.
Stage C 1,244,268 C.Y.
Therefore,
the estimated combined time for waste disposal capacity for all three Stages
(Cells) is approximately 34 years.
Alternate Daily Cover
The
original Site Development Plan for the Uvalde MSWL as submitted in 1985 called
for daily cover of 6 inches of soil. However, in February 1994, the TNRCC
authorized the use of tarpaulins as an alternate form of daily cover. Soil is
currently being placed in 6 inch layers, once a week as a permanent form of
cover. This alternate cover has increased the life of the Uvalde MSWL to the 34
years mentioned above.
Environmental Impact
The
development of the Uvalde site for the disposal of municipal solid waste will
not adversely impact on the environment or public health. The landfill is
designed, constructed, and operated to confine the solid waste material and
prohibit its release into the environment.
In
addition, with the drainage modification plan, existing surface and groundwater
will be further protected by site operating procedures which insure that there
is minimal contact between any rainfall runoff and refuse, and that any water
which does contact the waste, such as direct rainfall, will not be discharged
from the site.
Other
issues addressed in the report include provisions related to Wet Weather,
Windblown Waste, Endangered Species, Special Waste, Fire Control Facilities,
Subsidence, Closure Plan and Post-Closure Plan.
As
part of the integral project, the City of Uvalde plans to replace the following
equipment:
|
EQUIPMENT |
QUANTITY |
BUDGETED AMOUNT |
|
Paddle Wheel Scrapper |
1 |
$299,706 |
|
Compactor |
1 |
$221,005 |
|
Commercial Garbage Truck |
2 |
$230,000 |
|
Residential Garbage Truck |
2 |
$270,000 |
|
Grapple Truck |
1 |
$85,000 |
|
Brush Dump Body Truck |
2 |
$80,000 |
|
Roll-off Truck |
1 |
$95,000 |
|
Track Loader |
1 |
$260,000 |
|
Low Bay Equipment Trailer |
1 |
$50,000 |
|
¾ Ton Pick-up |
1 |
$25,000 |
|
TOTAL |
|
$1,615,711 |
2.
Operation and Maintenance Plan. An operation and
maintenance plan is included in the facility plan. The final operation and
maintenance plan must be prepared during final design and completed and
approved by the TNRCC prior to initiating operations in the MSWL facility.
3. Compliance
with Applicable Design Standards and Regulations. The proposed MSWL
expansion was developed to comply with all requirements of Subtitle D
Modification from TNRCC.
1. Financial
Feasibility. The NADB
is currently performing a financial evaluation to determine the financial
feasibility of the project. This
analysis will determine what level of grant Uvalde can receive from this
institution and what the impact of the proposed project on user fees would be under
different grant arrangements, as described below. The findings of the analysis will be presented to the City during
the second public participation meeting, which has been scheduled for the last
week of April 2001.
The following table summarizes the estimated
construction cost and purchase of equipment for the proposed project.
|
Estimated
Capital Cost Uvalde Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Expansion
|
|||
|
ITEM |
USD |
||
|
|
Construction of Stage B Geotechnical Services Construction Inspection Contingency |
$ 1,316,432 $ 130,000 $ 120,000 $ 100,000 |
|
|
|
Landfill Equipment |
$ 1,615,711 |
|
|
|
Professional Services |
$ 130,000 |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$ 3,412,143 |
To
this date, the City of Uvalde has secured funds by issuing Certificates of
Obligation for the construction and expansion of the landfill, and the purchase
of equipment.
Proposed
Funding Sources
|
Source |
Amount
(US$) |
% |
|
Certificates of Obligation |
2,915,000 |
85.4 |
|
NADB-SWEP Grant |
500,000 |
14.6 |
|
Total |
3,415,000 |
100 % |
The
City of Uvalde is requesting SWEP Grant funds to the NADB in the amount of
$500,000 to purchase the following equipment:
PROPOSED EQUIPMENT
PURCHASED WITH SWEP FUNDS
|
Description |
Cost |
|
Paddle
Wheel Scraper |
$ 299,706 |
|
Track Loader |
$ 260,000 |
|
TOTAL |
$ 559,706 |
City of Uvalde will be responsible for additional
cost of equipment
2. Fee Rate
Model: A fee rate model is being prepared by the NADB as part of the
financial analysis. This model will be
utilized to determine the impact on user fees of the proposed project under
several combinations financial assistance.
It is important to point
out that NADB has worked very closely with the city of Uvalde and the citys
financial advisor develop a detailed rate study. The study may recommend revisions to the citys rate structure.
PROPOSED RATES
|
YEAR |
2001 thru 2003 |
2004 thru 2010 |
|
Monthly residential rate |
$ 8.00 |
$ 8.80 |
|
Monthly non-residential rate |
$ 10.94 |
$ 12.03 |
3.
Project Operation and Management. The project will be
managed by the City of Uvalde, which has been managing successfully the
operation of the existing MSWL facility during several years. The City has the
authority to adopt utility rate adjustments, thus giving itself the authority
to impose rates, fees and charges. The
operation of the MSWL facility is to be self-supporting from the fees and
charges levied against their users.
Comprehensive Public
Participation Plan. The City of Uvalde
submitted a public participation plan to the BECC December 7, 2000, and was
approved on the 14th of that month. The plan comprises the
development of a steering committee, meeting local organizations, providing
project information to then public, holding public meetings and submitting a
final report for the project. A summary
of activities carried out in fulfillment of the plan is presented below.
Steering Committee: The steering committee was formed form the City
Planning Committee composed of Julian Contreras, Educator and Vice-Principal;
Nancy Zapata-Meandro, Private Business; Caroline Jones, Real Estate; Juanita
Garcia, Real Estate; Jesus V. Garcia, Contractor; Jack Easley, Developer; and Albert
Mirelez; of the Appraisal District. The Solid Waste Superintendent, Juan
Aguilera, completes the committee. The committee developed the outreach
strategies and attended the public meetings.
Local
Organizations: Local organizations contacted include the Kiwanis Club; Knights of
Columbus; Lions Club; Uvalde Area Development Foundation; Uvalde Board of
Realtors; and Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District. Letters of
support were received from several of these and other organizations.
Public Information: Copies of the proposed
Facility Plan and were available at the City Hall and after hours at El
Progreso Library. Project
informational flyers were available in City Hall, El Progreso Library, the
local Permit Office and the Utility Department. Public notices were posted in
the Uvalde Leader News, City Hall, and use of the Citys own public channel to
advertise the public meetings.
Public Meetings: Three public meetings
were held on January 9 and 16, and April 30, 2001. The first two meeting covered the technical aspects and the third
meeting the financial aspects were presented. It was announced that the rate
increase would be $0.80 for domestic users and would take effect until
2003.
a.
Definition and Principles
The project is consistent with BECCs definition of
sustainable development: conservation
oriented social and economic development that emphasizes the protection and
sustainable use of resources, while addressing both current and future needs,
and present and future impacts of human actions and with the four principles:
1) human beings are at the center
they are entitled
to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. This principle is addressed by the purpose
of the project, which is to address health risks associated with the present
inadequate capacity of the existing MSWL facility. Healthier lives and better living conditions will result from
this project.
2) The right to development
equitably meet
needs of
present and future generations. The
construction and expansion of the MSWL facility will accommodate growth
projected through the year 2025, while addressing a critical need today.
3)
environmental
protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process
All environmental parameters have been
met. The City of Uvalde has been
careful to ensure that natural resources are protected, plant and animal species
of concern are not impacted, and cultural heritage issues are recognized. Also,
the city has implemented a recycling program where containers for glass, paper,
plastics and cardboard are available to
the public at the citys recycling center.
4)
The stakeholders
must be part of any related activity. Stakeholders
have been a part of the process since the early part of the project
development. Public participation and outreach programs have ensured that
public input has been received, considered and employed.
b.
Institutional and Capacity Building
The new expansion will continue to
provide the capacity of the City to provide necessary quality of life services
for its residents. In order to minimize
the additional operational burden to the City, the technology chosen is the
required of typical facilities in use today.
The project will allow the City to meet all regulatory requirements
relative to Solid Waste disposal. Additionally, the project includes the purchase
of necessary equipment for the efficient operation of the MSWL facility, brush
pick-up and handling, and trash pick-up and handling as well. This equipment
will replace the already worn out equipment being used at this time, and that
has reached its useful life.
c.
Conformance with Applicable Local and Regional
Conservation and Development Plans
State legislation and rules from the TNRCC require
development of a Site Operation Plan to be in place in order to start
operation. This project meets all the requirements of the approval process.
d.
Natural Resource Conservation
As
mentioned above, the TNRCC requires a
Site Development Plan addressing equipment, site security, traffic control,
vector control, contaminated water, wet weather operations, waste composition,
waste control, special waste, fire protection, wind control, cover application,
leachate and methane monitoring. Also, recommends improvements to the citys
recycling program.
The
implementation of the project will enable the City of Uvalde to keep collecting
and disposing adequately the solid waste generated in the community, it will
minimize the risk of polluting soil and ground water, and will allow for the
purchase of the appropriate equipment to operate the landfill. Also, the
recycling program will be improved by providing for the pick-up of recyclables
throughout the city, that will contribute to the natural resources
conservation.
Permit issued on July 12, 1985.
Municipal Permit No. 1725 conditional approval by
TNRCC issued on March 31,1995.
Final permit approval issued July 15,1996.
Approved
by TNRCC October 10, 1996.
5. Revisions to Landfill Gas Management Plan,
approved by TNRCC on July ` 24,1997.
--Airport
Location
--Floodplain
Location
--Wetland
Location
--Faulting
Location
--Seismic
Impact Zone Location