21-05-26 EMC minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Director Mansour said that process continues as we continue working with the EPA. Because it could be a litigation issue, he said he is limited on what he could share but would take questions to the best of his ability. Commissioner McIntosh asked whether converting to a gang septic system is an option the County is considering, and if not, what other options are being considered because from previous comments it did not appear DEM was willing to proceed with the lagoons that were currently in the works. Director Mansour said moving from gang cesspools to gang septic systems would not be a change that would be entertained by the Department of Health or the EPA. The written administrative order on consent is for a secondary treatment sewer plant; unfortunately that train has passed the station a long time ago back in 2005. Commissioner Fulton asked Director Mansour if it were possible to make comment to a testifier’s comment about the Brown and Caldwell contract. Can he say anything to that? She also had a concern about the amount of money being spent on something that may not develop. Director Mansour said he had no idea where the testifier came up with the idea that we were going to spend $31 million. He did not know that DEM was going to spend that kind of money to that extent on that contract. He could not answer the question. Commissioner Olson asked about the timeline for “any forward movement.” Director Mansour said we are under certain deadlines based on the administrative order on consent. Deadlines are subject to negotiation and discussion; therefore he could not talk much about it. But, he added, we are in the route of doing something. However he could not talk about the details. Commissioner Olson asked if the testifier’s description of the cost was anywhere close. Director Mansour said it depends how future rulings go. The EPA does not look at costs; it looks at implementation of the rules. Commissioner Olson asked about considering the costs and benefits. He was just trying to figure it out, he said, to which Director Mansour agreed. Chair Adams summarized that the Director is stuck between a rock and a hard place to negotiate any changes to the consent order. The two of them had thrown out some ideas to brainstorm where we can go. It’s very frustrating, and we feel the pain, some of us more than others. If there’s something the Commission can do to help in that way we would be happy to consider it but at this time we cannot be part of the negotiation process, she said. 19