Agenda

Return

C. 10

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Greg Baer, Director of Airports
Date:	May 24, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract with Mead & Hunt, INC. for the PFAS Investigations and Final Report at Buchanan Field Airport

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/24/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Beth Lee, 925-681-4200

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 24, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Director of Airports, or designee, to execute a contract with Mead & Hunt, Inc. in the amount of $452,160 to implement the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) work plan and final report for Buchanan Field Airport. Concord Area. (District IV)

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no impact on the General Fund. All costs will be covered the Airport Enterprise Fund.

BACKGROUND:

In March 2019, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issued Order WQ 2019-0005-DWQ (Order), which requires certain airports, including Buchanan Field Airport, to (i) conduct a “one-time preliminary site investigation” regarding the storage and use of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), and (ii) obtain a preliminary understanding of PFAS concentrations in soil and/or groundwater resulting from the use of PFAS at the airport. PFAS is a family of more than 3,000 man-made and mostly unregulated chemicals that are resistant to degradation in the environment. PFAS are manufactured globally and have been used in the production of many industrial and household products such as dental floss, non-stick cookware and products, waterproof products, cleaning products, and fire-fighting foams. The Order applies to Buchanan Field because Buchanan Field operates pursuant to 14 CFR Part 139. As a result of the Order, the County is required to submit a one-time investigation work plans (Work Plan) to the local Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board).

The contract that is the subject of this Board Order will enable Mead and Hunt to perform Phase 2 of the County’s compliance with the Order. Phase 1 was completed through a contract with Mead and Hunt dated April 15, 2019. Under that contract, Mead and Hunt prepared the Work Plan for Buchanan Field Airport which was submitted to the Regional Water Quality Control Board before the required deadline. Under the contract that is the subject of this board order, Mead and Hunt will conduct the planning, environmental, sampling, and legal support services needed to implement the Work Plan and final report.

The County’s use of PFAS at Buchanan Field is not optional. It is mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which requires airports with Part 139 certifications to provide aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) services using aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) that meets military specifications (MIL-PRF-24385) (MilSpec) which must include PFAS constituents. Not only must Part 139 airports have such AFFF available, FAA mandates that airport operators test and calibrate their equipment to ensure proper operation in case of an emergency. Part 139 airports have no option but to comply with FAA’s mandates in order to maintain their operating certificates.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the Airports Division does not engage a team to implement the work plan, it will be non-compliant with the Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements and could be subject to a daily fine (up to $5,000) and criminal penalties.