ILLICIT DISCHARGE CONTROL ACTIVITIES
ILLICIT DISCHARGE CONTROL ACTIVITIES
QUALITATIVE RESULTS
Municipality: City of San Ramon Permit Year: (2008/2009)
Introduction:
The City’s goal this year for the IDCA program was to continue to reduce illicit discharges. This was accomplished with a successful proactive screening process, as well as educating the public and businesses as well. The City has always made great efforts to provide quality service to its residents, and investigating incidents of illicit discharges is part of that service. Because of this, multiple staff members in Public Works, Police and Planning departments are educated in illicit discharge control. The first point of contact is the Program Manager Patrick Gutierrez in the Public Services Department. The primary contact staff member for permit compliance is Steven Spedowfski, Senior Analyst, (925) 973-2653.
In FY 2003-04, the City reviewed and revised its IDCA Plan (see FY 2006/07 IDCA Plan Attachment ID-1), to add documentation of inspections in medium and low priority areas and to address comments provided by the SFBRWQCB. In addition, the City has documented drainage locations of concern (see FY 2006/07 Stormwater Maintenance Map Attachment ID-2). This has been added to the IDCA Plan, and is used by City staff to identify areas of priority screening.
Implementation & Evaluation:
Develop an Illicit Discharge Control Program
The City adopted its Illicit Discharge Control Activities Plan in January 2001. The Plan has since been updated and revised to address medium and low priority screening areas, spill response flow charts, and amendments to certain Performance Standards. The latest version of the plan includes the City map with priority areas highlighted. This Plan is used by all the staff listed above for monitoring, controlling, and reducing illicit discharge. This map has proved effective in identifying priority areas for illicit discharge, and is continually updated as more incidents are located.
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Proactive: Field Screening Program
The City of San Ramon’s Public Services Department conducts dry and wet weather inspections of the City’s entire storm drainage system. Staff members responsible for these activities include Patrick Gutierrez, Maintenance Supervisor Kevin McGeary and Specialist Cliff King. The City conducts inspections of all facilities regularly in excess of the minimum requirements set forth in the countywide IDCA plan.
The City’s IDCA plan is also accomplished by utilizing the City’s storm drainage system maps, available both in print for field crews, and on the City’s GIS system (Attachment ID-1). GIS is more flexible, in that it allows office staff to superimpose storm drainage data with other infrastructure data, (i.e. sewer and water systems) to aid in identifying potential conflicts. This helps Public Services staff to coordinate with Engineering staff to identify high, medium, and low priority field screening areas based on analyses of past experiences.
Staff attends training sessions whenever possible to obtain the latest information on reducing the chances of illicit discharges and the proper procedures to follow when an illicit discharge occurs.
Reactive: Investigate Spill Reports/Complaints
The City’s immediate response to spill complaints has always been a high priority. The Public Services Department is the lead on all spill responses and in investigating potential illicit discharges. The Program Manager, Patrick Gutierrez, receives the complaints and immediately inspects them and reports to all other departments as applicable. Staff also coordinates investigations of potential illicit discharges that are reported directly to the City. This can be done by residents and staff people through the City’s Citizen Request Management System (CRM). CRM is available via the web, and allows residents to notify the City of illicit discharges. The software will automatically select the appropriate staff to handle the issues, and tracks response time for completion. (See Attachment ID-3 FY 2005/06 for a sample CRM request).
Staff has noticed that illicit dumping most often occurs in creek areas that are either very secluded, or are easily accessible to the public. Illegally dumped items are found during routine maintenance and inspections of creeks and channels in secluded areas. Prevention of illicit dumping is difficult due to some creek channels are privately owned and maintained, and secluded, such as San Catanio Creek. Debris in these locations generally consists of landscaping waste. City staff routinely conducts clean up efforts to remove dumped yard waste.
Finally, the City of San Ramon contracts with the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) for commercial and residential inspection services (See FY 2003/2004 for Agreement). As part of this contract, CCCSD will also investigate reported spills. CCCSD inspectors have authority to act as agents of the City of San Ramon. They investigate spill and complaints within the City and make a report that is copied to the City. Standards for reviewing complaints and follow-up review are standardized. These agencies are familiar with inspection practices and have been trained to recognize problems as well as identifying best management practices. Informational materials are distributed by CCCSD staff as appropriate.
Follow-Up: Enforcement and Reporting
Public Services staff usually notifies the discharger verbally on site. This seems to work well, since most illicit discharges are corrected on site. In not corrected on-site, staff pursues enforcement actions outlined in the Municipal Code. A written corrective letter is sent to the violator, and information provided as needed. Follow-up inspections are conducted if required. If the illicit discharge becomes more involved, meetings between the various departments are held to deal with follow up with residents, City Council, the company who performed the illicit discharge, and contractors.
Alcosta Boulevard Fuel Spill
On May 29 at 10:42 a.m., Police Services and San Ramon Valley Fire Dept responded to a non-injury traffic collision. A passenger vehicle collided with a fuel delivery tanker at the corner of Alcosta Blvd. and San Ramon Valley Blvd. in south San Ramon. As a result 2,581 gallons of unleaded fuel spilled into a nearby storm drain. The spill traveled approximately 1.2 miles through the storm drain system. Approximately 30 storm drain inlets were impacted by the spill. Only one inlet was located within the City of San Ramon (the point of entry inlet). San Ramon Public Works employees began tracking the spill through the Dublin stormdrain system and dumped absorbent material into the inlets where gasoline was found. Booms were deployed where the spill eventually day lighted at a tributary of San Ramon Creek in Dublin. Mitigation efforts were made to flush the storm drain system by releasing over 21,000 gallons of water in 3,000 gallon intervals. Vacuum trucks were used at the creek site to remove the hazardous product.For additional details, please see attachment ID-2 San Ramon After Incident Report May 29 Fuel Spill
A Unified Incident Command was established with:
· San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
· San Ramon Police Department
· Alameda County Fire Department
· Dublin Police Department
Other responding agencies included:
· California Office of Emergency Services
· California Highway Patrol
· Alameda County Sheriff’s Department
· California Fish and Game
· Contra Costa and Alameda County Environmental Health
· San Ramon Public Works and Engineering
· Dublin Public Works
· Dublin School District
· NRC Environmental
· Chevron Corporation
· Zone 7 Water District
· Dublin San Ramon Services District
· PG&E
· Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Below are photos of the incident courtesy of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District:
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Modifications:
There are no current modifications to any IDCA Performance Standards.
Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Goals:
The City plans to continue educating and informing residents who live on or adjacent to creek corridors.
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Attachments
ID-1 San Ramon Stormdrain Map GIS Screenshot
ID-2 San Ramon After Incident Report May 29 Fuel Spill
Please see FY 2006/2007 Annual Report for the following:
ID-1 Updated City of San Ramon IDCA Plan (2005)
ID-2 Stormwater Maintenance Map (2006)
Please see FY 2005/2006 Annual Report for Sample CRM Request
Please see FY 2003/2004 Annual Report for Agreement between CCCSD and CCCWP for Inspection Services
Illicit Discharge Control Activities – quantitative results
Field Screenings
Total number of field screening areas identified within the Agency’s entire drainage area / 0 / 1 / 11 / 12
Total number of field screening areas identified in the Annual Illicit Discharge Control Plan / 0 / 1 / 11 / 12
Number of priority field screening areas inspected / 0 / 1 / 4 / 4
Number of medium and low priority areas inspected. / 0 / 0 / 7 / 7
Number of illicit connections/illegal discharges eliminated / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Number of incidents that involved removal of the following materials
Construction materials/debris / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Sewage / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Food wastes / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Automotive fluids / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1
Yard wastes / 0 / 0 / 8 / 8
Other / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Other / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Enforcement Activities
Number of Enforcement Actions Taken
Written corrective measures / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Notices to comply / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Stop work orders / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Notices of violation / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Fines / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Other / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Number of enforcement referrals (e.g., to code enforcement, City or District Attorney, other agencies, Regional Board, etc.) / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1
Education/Outreach Activities
Number of illicit discharge control education materials distributed / 0 / 25 / 35 / 60
Number of employees attending illicit discharge control training workshops / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
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