Closed, Illegal and Abandoned (CIA) Disposal Sites

Sand City Dump Construction Completion Report

(Part 3 of 3)

4.0 Project Construction/Clean-up Activities

4.1 Construction Summary/Quantities

A summary of the construction activities performed and final quantities are provided in Table 4.1. Since invoices against Contract IWM-C3059 are paid for based on time and materials, the below quantities are for information purposes only and do not represent pay quantities.

Table 4.1 Construction Summary/Quantities

Table of Contents

4.2 Weekly Update Meeting/Update Status Report

In order to: (1) monitor contractor adherence to the construction schedule, (2) ensure that construction daily logs were submitted to validate invoicing, and (3) disseminate information and status of project to interested local agencies, a weekly update status meeting was held Wednesday of each week during the project at Sand City Hall. AB 2136 staff prepared progress reports to document the status of construction and sampling and analysis activities for the previous week. Regular attendees at the meeting included AB 2136 Project Engineers, the CH2M-Hill Construction Manager, Granite Program Manager and Project Engineer, MPRPD District Manager, Sand City Police Chief and Sand City Planner. Copies of the Update Status report can be found in Tab 13 of the Operations Plan located at Appendix B.

Table of Contents

4.3 Construction Schedule

The original construction schedule prepared and submitted by Granite Construction, Co. on February 13, 1996, was revised and reformatted into a Microsoft Project Milestone Chart. The milestone chart was updated weekly to reflect progress, adherence or delays to the original schedule and presented by Granite at the weekly update meeting. The only major delay occurred during the excavation of waste from the cell during week three and four; an additional 21,000 cy of waste, in excess of the original estimate was removed to meet the cell excavation grade lines. The delay was approximately two days. An additional two days was also required to create 21,000 cy of capacity in the cell to cover the additional material encountered. To ensure that the project was completed on time, the work week was extended to 6 days (Saturdays) during week 5. A gain in the schedule was made during week 7, when 25,000 less cubic yards of waste were encountered than anticipated during excavation of the bluff. No construction delays occurred due to encounters with hazardous materials or equipment break-downs. A copy of the milestone chart is at Tab 3 of the Operations Plan located at Appendix B.

Table of Contents

4.4 Daily Construction Logs

In accordance with Contract IWM-C3059, VII. Special Provisions, Section G, daily work logs (construction logs) are required to be maintained by Granite Construction, Co. and submitted to the Board to validate invoicing costs. The daily construction logs document the number and types of equipment used, the amount of equipment time expended, the number and classification of labor used, and the amount of labor hours expended for a given work day. Copies of the daily construction logs are available in Appendix B.

Table of Contents

4.5 Photographic/Videographic Logs

To provide photographic and videographic documentation and construction management evidence of the project, 35 mm color print photographs and VHS video footage were taken of major construction activities performed during the project. The photographs and video footage provide evidence of specific work or activities being performed to meet the requirements of Board work orders (GR-A4 and GR-A5) and the contractor’s work plan and permit requirements. A photographic log depicting the project is located at Appendix A. Video footage of the project can be found in AB 2136 Site Files for Sand City.  

Table of Contents

4.6 Health & Safety Issues

A Health and Safety Plan, as discussed in Section 3.52, was prepared for the project to ensure that site specific working hazards were identified and plans, procedures and equipment were in place to minimize the chances of injury or illness to Granite Employees working on the project.

Board and CH2M-Hill staff working at the site were covered under their respective organization’s Health & Safety Plan. The site specific health & safety issues identified were: (1) work exposure to airborne lead, (2) physical hazards of the waste material, (3) physical and trip hazards associated with cell excavation activities and (4) moving equipment hazards.

To ensure that workers at the site were not being exposed to lead levels exceeding the recommended Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for lead of 50 ug/m³, the Board and Granite agreed to begin work in LEVEL C and downgrade to level D if air monitoring results showed lead levels below the recommended PEL. Two Granite equipment operators were fit-tested for half-face respirators by Granite’s Industrial Hygiene Consultant (SP Environmental). Granite workers were also outfitted with air pumps and sampling cartridges for the first two days of the project. Board and CH2M-Hill staff donned full-face respirators and LEVEL C PPE (coveralls, gloves, boots, and hardhat) during sampling activities on the first two days. Board and CH2M-Hill staff were also outfitted with air monitoring equipment. Sampling cartridges from Granite, CH2M-Hill and the Board were packaged and express mailed to their respective analytical laboratories for analysis. The results of lead monitoring indicated that no concentrations for samples taken by Granite, the Board and CH2M-Hill, exceeded the PEL of 50 ug/m³. After review of the air monitoring results SP Environmental, Granite, CH2M-Hill and the Board down-graded the site to Level D (hard hat, vest and steel-toed shoes) on day 3. Two Granite equipment operators, at their own discretion continued to wear half-face respirators for an additional two days. The results of lead air monitoring testing can be found at TAB 7 of the Operations Plan at Appendix B.

To ensure that Granite Employees maintained a safe working environment, the Granite Operator/Foreman conducted daily morning "tail-gate" meetings to ensure that workers were kept aware of hazard conditions at the site to include trip hazards, moving equipment hazards and specific hazards associated with the cell excavation. The Granite Foreman established hand signals and procedures for equipment and personnel emergencies. All operators were instructed to shut-down equipment should unidentified personnel enter the excavation. On several occasions the system was tested by trespassers (anyone that did not sign-in at the Granite on-site trailer office) and equipment breaking down. During the project the Operator/Foreman relieved an equipment operator that was involved in two "close-calls" with moving equipment. The Operator Foreman actively reminded visitors, workers and other employees to abide by posted site rules, which were meant for everyone’s safety; his active participation was largely the reason that unsafe conditions did not occur during the project. In summary, the project was performed with no documented chronic or acute injuries or illnesses occurring to Granite, CH2M-Hill, Board employees or other on-site personnel. 

Table of Contents

4.7 Hazardous Material Management

During early project coordination meetings with government agencies and landowners, it was emphasized that hazardous materials encountered during excavation and emergency response were important issues that needed to be addressed by any project the Board proposed for the dump. Also the Coastal Development Permit (CDP No. 96-01), required that the Board furnish a hazardous material management plan as a condition for obtaining a City Grading Permit. The primary concern was that if hazardous waste were discovered, that the Board would handle the clean-up. Board staff agreed that if small, non-extensive quantities of hazardous waste were encountered, that clean-up would be handled as part of the project. Extensive soil contamination or significant quantities of hazardous waste encountered, would result in Board stopping the project and notifying appropriate agencies (Department of Toxic Substances Control). To this end a Hazardous Material Management Plan was prepared to ensure that the contractors had the capability to manage small quantities of hazardous waste. Management included, identification, hazardous categorization, segregation, containment, packaging, labeling and manifesting and transporting to a permitted facility.

During the first week of the project Granite Construction, Co. constructed a 16' x 32' x 6" plastic-lined and bermed hazardous storage area for containment of any hazardous wastes encountered. Overpack drums, 55-gallon containers, and pallets were kept on hand for repackaging hazardous materials in unserviceable containers. Spill equipment including shovels, sand bags, wheel barrows and neutralizing agents, were kept on-hand and stored in the C-trailer.

Also fire extinguishers and emergency eye fountains were available at the Granite Trailer. 

CH2M-Hill provided a  24-hour Hazardous Material Incident Response Operations (HMIRO) capability via subcontractor. 

Although over 180,000 CY of waste were excavated, no materials or containers were discovered or identified as hazardous waste by operators, foremen or construction managers. The only metal containers of interest were water heaters which were segregated and reclaimed by a metal recycler. The only exceptions to this was a single “mortar” round,  excavated on the second day of the project, which was segregated and marked. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers were consulted along with the local police and fire department. Upon inspection of the shell casing by local police, it was determined that the mortar casing was empty and inert.

Table of Contents

4.8 Results of Sampling & Analysis

A sampling and analysis plan, as discussed in Section 3.53, was implemented during the project to obtain data on the characteristics of waste and soil excavated during the project. The primary purpose for sampling and analysis was to confirm previous site data indicating that lead levels in the dump generally non-hazardous in nature and that waste materials did not exhibit any flammable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic characteristics.  

The CH2M-Hill Construction Manager procured and had on-site the first day, all necessary sampling equipment and material as specified in the sampling and analysis plan. A field sample-screening table was set up in the Granite storage trailer (C-trailer). Screening operations, described in the sampling and analysis plan, included tests for combustible gas, organic vapors, pH, electronic conductivity, sulfides, cyanides, PCBs and Draeger Detection Tubes for Vinyl Chloride, Benzene, Toluene and Hydrogen Sulfide. A data table for identifying samples, recording screening test results and lead results was maintained by the Construction Manager throughout the project. The data table and results of testing are contained at Appendix H. 

Samples were taken from predesignated grid locations indicated on the Grid Map in the sampling and analysis plan. Elevations and the types of material sampled, i.e. refuse, burn ash or sand, were recorded by the Construction Manager on a Grid Map. Samples obtained for screening tests were collected in plastic ziplock bags; samples obtained for laboratory analysis were collected in factory-prepared sampling containers. Samples sent to the laboratory for analysis were labeled, packaged and preserved in accordance with the sampling and analysis plan. Chain-of-custody forms and analytical request forms were also filled out for samples sent to the laboratory. Samples were usually sent express mail within seven days of the actual sampling (none of the analysis specified in the sampling and analysis plan requires less than seven day holding times). CH2M-Hill subcontracted with APPL Laboratories to provide analytical services for this project.  

As specified in the sampling and analysis plan, 100 samples were to be taken from grid locations specified on a sampling grid map for the site. Samples were taken in various elevations and layers within the grid at random. All one hundred samples were field screened and sent to the laboratory for lead concentration analysis, using ICP scan EPA method  6010. All lead concentrations exceeding 1500 mg/kg were for run for the Soluble Threshold Limit Concentration (STLC) test. Every ten samples were run for Title 22 metals, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), organopesticides/PCBs, total organic compounds and halocarbons. Two random samples (from the 100) were tested for Dioxins. 

The results of testing are summarized in TABLE 4.6a. In summary of 100 waste and soil samples field screened, none of the samples were combustible, water-reactive, oxidizing agents, or corrosive. 

Table 4.6a.  Field Screening and Lead Results for 100 Samples

Table 4.6b.  Suite-Testing Performed for 10 Samples

The Construction Manager also documented the approximate horizontal and vertical location of excavated waste in the new cell, i.e. documented waste from grid location and its disposition in the cell. A copy of this map is located in Appendix H.

Table of Contents

4.9 Security Issues

Due to site accessibility, construction hazards, and the high-profile nature of the project, Granite Construction, Co. was required in the contractor’s work plan to address specific site security issues to include public access, trespassing, vandalism, etc. To address the trespassing issue, Granite subcontracted for a private security service to provide security 12-hours (daylight) a day, seven days a week. Also, the Board and Granite coordinated with the Sand City Police Department to provide patrols of the site during off-work hours. To resolve public access issue, Granite installed a double-panel chain-link gate at the entrance of the site to prevent vehicle site access during off-work hours. Granite also installed temporary construction fencing along the northern property boundary (on top of the sand dune) and along the beach (during clean-up of the front slope). Granite also posted No Trespassing signs on the property fence along Highway 1 and on the gated site entrance. Granite’s Operator/Foreman also developed site procedures to ensure that if trespassing occurred during construction activities, that all equipment would cease operations, until any security violation was resolved. Several instances of trespassing occurred during the course of the project, however all were handled with incident or injury. A copy of the security log maintained by the security services subcontractor, is available in AB2136 Site Files for Sand City.

Table of Contents

5.0 Project Post-Construction Activities

5.1 Contractor Invoicing & Back-up Documentation

In order to receive payment, Granite Construction, Co. is required by Contract IWM-C3059, Exhibit C, to provide invoicing and back-up documentation as evidence of work performed. Invoices must substantiate, labor types used and number of hours, equipment types used and number of hours, rental equipment costs, subcontractor costs, material costs, administrative costs, etc. Contractor invoicing is reviewed and validated against the Board consultant’s Construction Manager Daily Logs. Discrepancies or ineligible costs are determined by the Board Project Engineer and Contract Manager. Once all discrepancies are resolved, payments to the contractor are disbursed by the Board. For the Sand City Dump Reconfiguration Project Table 5.2a and 5.2b reflects the final amounts disbursed to CH2M-Hill and Granite Construction. A copy of all invoicing and back-up documentation are located in the Board site files for Sand City and the Granite Contract.

Table of Contents

5.2 Summary of Project Costs

Costs incurred by the AB2136 program during the Sand City Dump Reconfiguration project include costs for engineering consulting and remediation construction work. The costs for this project were paid based on approved invoices from the Board contractors for work performed against work-orders issued by the Board. A summary of the final engineering consulting and remediation construction costs is provided in Tables 5.2a and 5.2b. The total final costs were: 1) $175,000 for engineering consulting and 2) $934,000 for remediation construction work. The total cost of the project was $1.109 million. 

Table 5.2a.  CH2M-Hill Final Cost Summary (IWM-C3060)

Table 5.2b.  Granite Construction Final Cost Summary (IWM-C3059)

A detailed cost accounting EXCEL spreadsheet was prepared by AB2136 staff to track the costs of labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors and other miscellaneous expenditures incurred for Work Order GR-A5. The spreadsheet was used to validate invoices submitted by Granite Construction, Co. against W.O. GR-A5 for payment. Labor and equipment pay rates used by the spreadsheet were in accordance with rates negotiated in IWM-C3059. The spreadsheet provides daily costs for the entire duration of the project and tallies all costs at the end of the project for each category of expense. A copy of the Excel spreadsheet is located at Appendix L.

Table of Contents

5.3 Permit Terminations

The only permit obtained for the Sand City project requiring termination was the NPDES General Construction Activity permit; Coastal Development Permit (96-01) and the Sand City Grading Permit were self-terminating upon completion of the project. In order to terminate the NPDES General Construction Activity permit, a Notice of Termination was filed with the State Water Resources Control Board/Storm Water Permit Unit on May XX, 1996; a receipt from SWRCB was received on June X, 1996 verifying termination of the permit. A copy of the Notice of Termination and receipt are located at Appendix K.

5.4 Final As-built Drawings & Survey Maps

At the completion of cell construction, survey points were taken to document the as-built location and elevations of the new cell, waste boundaries, etc. Also at the completion of construction activities, final elevations at the site were surveyed and a final as-built topographic map was created to document the final site conditions. A copy of the final as-built drawings are located at Appendix J. 

Table of Contents

5.5 Final Deed Notations and Record of Survey

For the purpose of providing permanent legal documentation for the remediation activities performed at the Sand City Dump site, a deed notation and record of survey are being filed with the Monterey County Assessor’s office for APN 011-510-014/13/10. The record of survey will be a copy of the final as-built drawings for the site, with notes detailing the remediation construction activities performed (including sampling & analysis data of waste and soil at the site). The deed notation will reflect specific information regarding the landfill and the status of current land-use and rezoning potential of the site for other land-uses. A copy of the Final Deed Notations and Record of Survey is located at Appendix I.

Table of Contents  |  Work Plan Development  |  Remedial Work Scoping

Last updated: April 18, 2008