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Item 1.D.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 02/28/2022 |
| Title: | W.O. 22-27, Landfill Gas Emissions Compliance, Professional Services Contract |
| Presented by: | Debi Meling |
| Department: | Public Works |
| Presentation: | No |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council award a contract for W.O. 27-27, Landfill Gas Emissions Compliance, to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc in the amount of $279,895.00.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The City of Billings Regional Landfill (BRL) operates under a Title V air quality permit issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT DEQ). As organic wastes decompose over time, a natural byproduct is created known as Landfill Gas (LFG). LFG is composed largely of methane and carbon dioxide, as well as a small amount of non-methane organic compounds. When solid waste is first deposited in a landfill, very little methane is generated due to the presence of oxygen. After the oxygen is consumed in the decomposition of the waste, the methane producing bacteria begin to decompose the waste, and methane production begins to ramp up. Peak methane production will occur 5-10 years after waste is placed in the landfill. Landfill gas can continue to be produced for more than 50 years.
The City of Billings has been proactive in capturing gas from the areas of the landfill that are no longer being filled (also known as “Closed Cells”). These areas have been capped off with soil for multiple years and are producing methane at or near peak production levels. In these areas, the Billings Regional Landfill (BRL) currently uses a gas collection and control system that consists of vertical piping wells and a gas header system where the gas is extracted from the closed landfill cells. This system was installed and is operated by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU). This gas is then sent to the MDU facility adjacent to the BRL, where it is processed into its various gas components, treated into a natural gas quality product, and then sent directly into the MDU natural gas pipeline. Under a joint agreement between MDU and the BRL, MDU is responsible for all costs associated with the landfill gas infrastructure related to these gas wells that have LFG with enough methane for them to process in their facility. MDU will also operate a compliance flare.
During a recent gas monitoring project, it was discovered that the areas of the landfill that are actively being filled (also known as the “open cells”) are operating outside the emissions limits established by the EPA and MT DEQ. Because waste in this area is at the beginning of the decomposition process, there is very little methane being produced and consequently MDU’s facility is unable to process this non-production quality gas to send to the natural gas pipeline. The landfill is currently taking steps to install gas wells in the “open cells” to extract this gas and reduce the surface LFG emissions to acceptable levels, but needs the infrastructure to process the non-production quality gas that is not covered under the agreement with MDU.
This project addresses that infrastructure need with a gas compliance flare that consumes the low-quality gas being produced in the open cells and significantly reduce the gas emissions, resulting in the landfill being compliant with the MT DEQ. When the waste decomposition begins to produce enough methane to make a production quality gas, the gas wells will be diverted to MDU’s facility where they can then process the gas for use in the natural gas pipeline. In addition, the gas compliance flare will be sized such that it can accommodate the total gas flow going to the MDU facility in the event of a prolonged shutdown of the MDU facility due to a maintenance outage or emergency shut down, allowing the landfill to operate safely and within emissions compliance limits.
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. was selected for the project using the pre-qualified list of firms from the Statement of Qualifications process. From the pre-qualified list of firms, Jacobs Engineering Group and Great West Engineering were requested to provide detailed proposals for the design and construction observation of the flare project. Great West Engineering declined to provide a proposal. The selection was based on Project Team and Availability; Project Approach; and Firm Qualifications and Experience with the Landfill Gas Collection and Control System at Billings Regional Landfill. This contract includes project management, evaluation of landfill gas flow rates, a geotechnical evaluation of the flare site, environmental permitting, design, bidding services, and construction contract administration for the landfill gas compliance flare and associated infrastructure.
The City of Billings has been proactive in capturing gas from the areas of the landfill that are no longer being filled (also known as “Closed Cells”). These areas have been capped off with soil for multiple years and are producing methane at or near peak production levels. In these areas, the Billings Regional Landfill (BRL) currently uses a gas collection and control system that consists of vertical piping wells and a gas header system where the gas is extracted from the closed landfill cells. This system was installed and is operated by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU). This gas is then sent to the MDU facility adjacent to the BRL, where it is processed into its various gas components, treated into a natural gas quality product, and then sent directly into the MDU natural gas pipeline. Under a joint agreement between MDU and the BRL, MDU is responsible for all costs associated with the landfill gas infrastructure related to these gas wells that have LFG with enough methane for them to process in their facility. MDU will also operate a compliance flare.
During a recent gas monitoring project, it was discovered that the areas of the landfill that are actively being filled (also known as the “open cells”) are operating outside the emissions limits established by the EPA and MT DEQ. Because waste in this area is at the beginning of the decomposition process, there is very little methane being produced and consequently MDU’s facility is unable to process this non-production quality gas to send to the natural gas pipeline. The landfill is currently taking steps to install gas wells in the “open cells” to extract this gas and reduce the surface LFG emissions to acceptable levels, but needs the infrastructure to process the non-production quality gas that is not covered under the agreement with MDU.
This project addresses that infrastructure need with a gas compliance flare that consumes the low-quality gas being produced in the open cells and significantly reduce the gas emissions, resulting in the landfill being compliant with the MT DEQ. When the waste decomposition begins to produce enough methane to make a production quality gas, the gas wells will be diverted to MDU’s facility where they can then process the gas for use in the natural gas pipeline. In addition, the gas compliance flare will be sized such that it can accommodate the total gas flow going to the MDU facility in the event of a prolonged shutdown of the MDU facility due to a maintenance outage or emergency shut down, allowing the landfill to operate safely and within emissions compliance limits.
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. was selected for the project using the pre-qualified list of firms from the Statement of Qualifications process. From the pre-qualified list of firms, Jacobs Engineering Group and Great West Engineering were requested to provide detailed proposals for the design and construction observation of the flare project. Great West Engineering declined to provide a proposal. The selection was based on Project Team and Availability; Project Approach; and Firm Qualifications and Experience with the Landfill Gas Collection and Control System at Billings Regional Landfill. This contract includes project management, evaluation of landfill gas flow rates, a geotechnical evaluation of the flare site, environmental permitting, design, bidding services, and construction contract administration for the landfill gas compliance flare and associated infrastructure.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Award the Professional Services Contract W.O. 27-27, Landfill Gas Emissions Compliance, to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. in the amount of $279,895.00; or
- Not award a contract. If the project is not awarded, the landfill will continue to produce gas emissions that are in excess of the environmental regulation limits, and the City may be subject to fines.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The Contract is in the amount of $279,895.00 and Is being funded with Solid Waste Landfill Funds In the FY22 budget.