Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-05-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - ELSMERE DEIR DEIS REVIEWAGENDA REPORT City Manag Item to be N[W BUS d Jeff Koli o DATE: May 24,1994 SUBJECT: ELSMERE DEIR/DEIS TECHNICAL REVIEW -- CONSULTANT SUPPORT DEPARTMENT: Public Works BACKGROUND Per previous City Council direction, staff has initiated and completed the Request For Qualifications (RFQ) process to solicit proposals from qualified consultants to provide technical expertise and support for the upcoming review of the proposed Elsmere Canyon Landfill Draft Environmental Impact Report/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/DEIS). Upon release of the DEIR/DEIS for public review, the consultant team would assist City staff in preparing a comprehensive analysis and response to the document. The RFQ (attached) was sent out to 25 companies and individuals selected from the City's standing environmental consultant list. Two local companies received the RFQ, and were also contacted by phone to ensure receipt of the RFQ packet; the companies declined to offer their services to the City as each felt they lacked the specific expertise desired. ANALYSIS The required disciplines and expertise identified by staff as necessary for a thorough review and response to the DEIR/DEIS document include: Landfill Design and Engineering; Geology and Seismicity; Hydrology and Water Quality; Air Quality; Cultural Resources; Transportation and Circulation; Biology and Terrestrial Resources; Risk assessment and Public Health; and Electromagnetic Fields. Upon receipt and review of the packets submitted in response to the RFQ, staff has identified the following companies and individuals as capable of providing the technical support required by the City: Hushmand Associates -- Geology Stone Lions Environmental Corporation -- Air Quality Thomas S. Buquo -- Hydrogeologist Global Environmental -- Landfill Design/Engineering/NEPA Lee Jones -- Biology/Terrestrial Resources Kenneth Wilson -- Seismicity Other disciplines not here represented will require additional staff contacts to qualified consultants as needed. Age'. Item:-9 FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT Funds have been included in the FY 93-94 budget and proposed FY 94-95 budget for DEIRJDEIS technical review consultants. RECOMMENDATION Authorize and direct the Deputy City Manager of Public Works to initiate and conclude contract negotiations with the above consultants, and others as needed, for the expertise and disciplines identified above. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ("RFQ") FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT REVIEW OF DEIS/DEIR - ELSMERE CANYON Overview The City of Santa Clarita ("City") is requesting a statement of qualifications ("SOQs") from technical consultants to assist the City in the review of environmental and other associated documentation being prepared by proponents of a landfill proposed in Elsmere Canyon. The City Council has adopted as policy its objection to the development of the pristine Elsmere Canyon, located in the Angeles National Forest immediately adjacent to the City of Santa Clarita, as a landfill. The County of Los Angeles, the United States Forest Service, and the proposed owner/operator BKK Corporation are preparing draft environmental documentation (DEIR/DEIS) and Forest Plan amendments and land exchange documents to develop Elsmere Canyon into the largest landfill in the United States. u The City is seeking the assistance of technical consultants to review the joint National Environmental Policy Act/California Environmental Quality Act (NEPA/CEQA) environmental documentation and other information, provide draft comments, and assist the City in pursuing its options to oppose this project. Work could also include development of policy statements, technical position papers, public presentations, and expert witness testimony on behalf of the City. Consultants with expertise in the following disciplines are invited to submit statements of qualifications: Landfill Design and Engineering Geology and Seismicity Hydrology and Water Quality Air Quality Cultural Resources (Including Historic, Archaeology, and Paleontology) Transportation and Circulation Biology and Terrestrial Resources Risk Assessment and Public Health Electromagnetic Fields Consultants are invited to submit SOQs in one or more of the above issue areas provided that the consultants' principals have the direct expertise applicable. The use of subconsuitants to meet the requirements of any of the areas will not be permitted. It is anticipated that several consultants will be required to meet the specific project needs. The City of Santa Clarita retains the right to select or reject any and/or all qualification statements, and to select consultants for individual specific disciplines. The City reserves the right to amend or cancel this RFQ at any time without notice. Submittal Requirements Consultants are invited to submit SOQs for one or more of the disciplines identified in the Scope of Work. Should a consultant wish to propose more than one discipline, a separate SOQ must be provided for each discipline. Statements of qualifications must be limited to 15 pages, excluding cover letter, single-spaced with a type font of not less than 12 point. Submittals must be double -sided, with the exception of a one Request For Qualifications Tecnical Support Review of DEIR/DEIST Elsmere Canyon Page-2- page cover letter and must be printed on post -consumer recycled content paper. The consultant should clearly identify discipline in the cover letter. The submittals should be organized as follows: I. Introduction H. Qualifications of the Project Team Proposed A. For each individual proposed, a brief description of at least five projects that they have had major involvement on as principal investigator in the proposed discipline, with client references and telephone numbers. B. A discussion of experience in providing expert witness testimony. C. Any other direct experience that may apply. D. Three references for technical work. E. Degrees, licenses, registrations, certifications, etc. F. Total years experience in both the discipline and in the professional field. Ili. Determination of Conflict of Interest The consultants shall disclose any current and previous work completed for BKK Corporation, the EIsmere Corporation or any subsidiaries thereof, the U. S. Forest Service and the Angeles National Forest, Dames & Moore, the County of Los Angeles, or the City of Los Angeles. Disclosures shall include at a minimum: Client and Project Applicant Nature of the work Dates when work was completed Location of the project Project budget Current status of project In addition, the consultant shall disclose all work completed for solid waste disposal firms and solid waste disposal agencies located in Los Angeles County. Disclosure should include the following: Total revenues attributed to solid waste work for each of the last five years and percent of solid waste revenues of consultants total revenues for each year. Nature of the work completed. Current status of work. Listing of any outstanding proposals. The City of Santa Clarita will make a determination as to whether a potential conflict .2- Request For Qualifications Tecnical Support Review of DEIR/DEIS, Elsmere Canyon Page-3- of interest exists based on the information submitted. The City's determination shall be final. The consultant shall submit a cover letter and five (5) copies of the statement of qualifications for each discipline, if more than one, by no later than 2:00 p.m. April 22, 1994, to: City Clerk City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Attention: Donald M. Williams, Senior Planner Fax submittals will not be accepted. edvancelehmriq.dmw -3-