6913G624Q300060 Bio_monitoring_SOW_2024.pdf

Request for Quotation (RFQ) No 6913G624Q300060

U.S. Department of Transportation

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Annual Biological Monitoring and Reporting

STATEMENT OF WORK

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Under an Interagency Agreement, the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

(Volpe Center) is providing support to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Facilities

Real Property Disposition program. As part of this effort, demolition and wetland restoration activities were conducted at the former Concord (CCR) Outer Marker (OM) facility in Concord, CA. In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Clean Water Act

(CWA) compliance, and in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and

San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) permitting, specific environmental consulting activities are required, including biological monitoring and annual reporting.

1.1 Sites for Demolition/Remediation

The environmental services shall be performed at the former FAA facility property listed below:

• CCR OM – Concord, California

Lat/Long: 38°02'46.9"N, 122°02'00.5"W (38.046363, -122.033478).

2.0 SITE ACTIVITIES

2.1 BACKGROUND

The former CCR OM (Project Area) was demolished in September 2023 and all FAA equipment and facility structures were removed from the property. To ensure compliance with NEPA and the implementing regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), site activities were performed in accordance with Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act.

The CCR OM is located at the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) base in Contra

Costa County. Site features for the CCR OM facility previously included a single-story fiberglass building (6 ft. x 8 ft. x 8 ft.) situated on a 4-ft. raised steel platform. Building foundations included four concrete piers. Two adjacent antenna towers were located on either side of the building and were attached to subsurface concrete foundations. The entire facility plot was enclosed by a 150 ft. x 150 ft. chain-link fence. A gravel surface underlaid the center of the plot adjacent to the gravel access road.

A wetland delineation was conducted in March 2021 to identify wetlands and non-wetland waters subject to jurisdiction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under Section 404 of the CWA. The delineation confirmed the presence of wetland vegetation and other features subject to jurisdiction of the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and

Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) as defined in the State Wetland Definition and

Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State (State Wetland

Policy, SWRCB, 2019). Additionally, a Biological Assessment was conducted in September

2021 which identified the potential presence of two Federally listed endangered species, including the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (SMHM: Reithrodontomys raviventris) and California

Ridgway's rail (CRR: Rallus obsoletus obsoletus).

The FAA also worked in coordination with the USACE to regulate discharge of fill material into the tidal marsh that adjoins to the Suisun Bay. The FAA submitted a USACE Clean Water Act

(CWA) Section 404 permit and a Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Section 401

Water Quality Certification in October 2021. The FAA provided a supplementary permit application in June 2022, which provided additional information in support of applications for the Section 404 Permit and Section 401 Certification for the proposed project. In a letter dated

June 27, 2023, the RWQCB issued FAA a Notice of Applicability for Enrollment of the Military

Ocean Terminal Concord Marsh Restoration Project under the Clean Water Act Section 401

General Water Quality Certification for Small Habitat Restoration Projects. In a letter dated July

18, 2023, the USACE issued FAA authorization under Department of the Army Nationwide

Permit (NWP) 27 – Aquatic Habitat Restoration, Establishment, and Enhancement Activities, pursuant to Section 404 of the CWA. Refer to Section 7.0 to review supporting information.

As detailed in a Biological Opinion (BO) issued by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in

September 2022, the USDOT proposed to decommission and remove the existing FAA infrastructure and restore the Project Area to near pre-existing conditions. This included demolition and removal of all structures, concrete supports, enclosure fencing, and reseeding with native marsh vegetation. Following removal of vegetation on-site to eliminate cover for the

SMHM, all structures and gravel were removed from the site and disturbed areas were seeded with a native salt marsh seed mix to promote the re-establishment of salt marsh vegetation within the restored areas.

An as-built report was developed in November 2023 (MOTCO As-Built Report), documenting baseline conditions immediately following infrastructure removal and seeding, fulfilling reporting requirements for Year 0, as stated in the Habitat Restoration section of the Updated

Regulatory Permit Application (Updated Application) prepared by WRA, Inc. in November

2022. The Project Area will be monitored for a period of five years, as described in the Updated

Application and required by Condition 3 of the approved RWQCB Water Quality Certification

(WQC).

In order to complete annual biological monitoring and reporting requirements, qualified biological expertise is required. This requirement includes five (5) years of monitoring to document if the marsh restoration project has satisfied the performance standards stipulated in the Mitigation Plan and agency permit requirements.

2.2 TASKS TO BE PERFORMED

The Contractor shall conduct all work in accordance with Federal, State and local requirements.

Where inconsistencies exist, the Contractor shall follow the most stringent requirement.

2.2.1 Annual Biological Monitoring (5 years)

Biological Monitoring to be performed every year for five years or until the Year 5 success criteria have been met (Table 1). The purpose of the annual monitoring program is to ensure that plant community development is progressing as anticipated, to make certain that the site is in good physical condition, and, if necessary, implement remedial action measures. For reference, Year 0 (as-built) was 2023, and immediately followed the seeding and restoration activities performed. The success of the habitat restoration will be monitored by a qualified biologist for a period not less than 5 years after site restoration, or until completion.

One site visit will be made in the summer of each monitoring year (July). The Contractor will establish permanent vegetation sampling locations and permanent photograph stations.

Photographs taken from the eight photo stations established in Year 0 will provide a visual comparison to photographs taken each subsequent year (Years 1-5).

Herbaceous ground cover in the restored wetland habitat areas within the Project Area will be monitored by visually estimating percent cover of hydrophytic cover in a total of 10 square meter quadrats placed randomly within the restored work area. Hydrophytic cover within the reference wetland areas will be monitored by visually estimating percent cover of observed species in a total of 10 square meter quadrats placed randomly within the reference marsh areas adjacent to the Project Area. Success of the restoration effort will be evaluated by comparing the quantified measures of vegetative cover, density, and species-richness of the restored site to similar parameters within non-manipulated areas in the adjacent marsh. Baseline data, or data from nearby reference areas, may be used as the standard for comparison, as detailed in MOTCO As-

Built Report, dated 11/14/2023.

Monitoring reports will provide the total percent cover of all plant species. If the success criteria are not achieved at the end of 5 years, the Applicant is responsible for implementing remedial action measures, including additional seeding, weeding, invasive plant eradication and an extension of the monitoring period.

Table 1: Performance Standards and Success Criteria for Wetland Restoration

Category Success Criteria Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Restored

Wetlands

Species Cover

Restored wetlands shall achieve at least

75% of the reference site absolute cover by wetland species (FACW or OBL) at the end of the 5-year monitoring period.

≥15% ≥30% ≥50% ≥65% ≥75%

Native Plant

Cover

Relative cover by native plant species in restored wetlands shall be at least 75% of the relative cover by natives in the reference site at the end of the 5-year monitoring period.

≥15% ≥30% ≥50% ≥65% ≥75%

Invasive Species Less than 10% cover by invasive plant species such as broadleaf pepperweed

(Lepidium latifolium)

<10% <10% <10% <10% <10%

Inspections during annual site visits will allow for the identification of any weed invasion problems (such as broadleaf pepperweed). Invasive weeds will be considered a problem in areas where they are the dominant cover type, threaten reestablishment of desirable species, or appear to be spreading off the restoration site. Weeds will be controlled using the "best available technology". Noxious weeds and other exotic plants will be removed from the restoration area so that the total cover does not exceed 10 percent aerial cover. Hand removal of these plants under direct supervision of a biologist will be the primary control mechanism for invasive species, but mechanical removal or herbicide application may also be used if deemed appropriate. Herbicides registered for use in aquatic ecosystems may be used to control invasive species. Such applications will be made in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

Herbicides will only be applied by a licensed applicator.

2.2.2 Annual Reports

Regulatory agencies require an annual monitoring report that includes data necessary to document compliance with success criteria as outlined in the permit conditions of approval.

Monitoring data will include plant cover data, general condition of the restoration site, and site photographs. During Years 1 through 5, The Contractor will monitor the habitat restoration areas in accordance with the methods presented above. Each year, a comprehensive annual report documenting the monitoring results will be prepared. The final annual monitoring report will include a wetland delineation map of the restoration area. Supporting documentation contains the information listed below in Section 3.0 Deliverables.

2.2.3 Notification of Completion Report

Upon completion of five years of monitoring, or achievement of the Year 5 success criteria

(whichever is sooner), a final report will be sent to the RWQCB, USACE, USFWS, and other interested agencies detailing the results of the final year of monitoring. If the restored areas have met the success criteria outlined above by the end of the monitoring period, then the proposed action in the final report will be for no further action. If the restored areas have not met the success criteria by the end of the monitoring period, then the final report may recommend additional corrective measures and/or extending the monitoring period. Supporting documentation contains the information listed below in Section 3.0 Deliverables.

CLIN 00100 – Annual Biological Monitoring and Reporting 2024 – Year 1 (Base)

Refer to Section 2.2.1 and 2.2.2.

CLIN 00200 – Annual Biological Monitoring and Reporting 2025 – Year 2 (Option)

CLIN 00300 – Annual Biological Monitoring and Reporting 2026 – Year 3 (Option)

CLIN 00400 – Annual Biological Monitoring and Reporting 2027 – Year 4 (Option)

CLIN 00500 – Annual Biological Monitoring and Reporting 2028 – Year 5 (Option)

3.0 DELIVERABLES

As part of each Annual Biological Monitoring and Report CLINS, the Contractor shall prepare the following required deliverables in accordance with the Updated Application and

Condition 3 of the approved RWQCB Water Quality Certification Letter and submit them to the

Volpe Center Point of Contact (POC) for review and comment prior to submittal to applicable regulatory agencies.

Annual reports will be prepared that discuss monitoring methodology and results that includes all data necessary to document compliance with restoration goals. Monitoring reports will include the following elements:

(A) Introduction;

(B) Goals, objectives, and success criteria;

(C) Methods: a description of monitoring methods;

(D) Results: a discussion of vegetative conditions compared to reference site and success criteria;

(E) Summary and recommendations: a discussion of any recommendations as appropriate;

(F) Figures: figures will show the site location, restoration areas, sampling locations and photo-stations; and

(G) Photographs taken at photo-stations.

Full annual reports will be provided for each monitoring year, which will be submitted to the agencies and other interested agencies by January 31 following each monitoring year.

Monitoring of mitigation areas shall begin in July-August 2024 and the first annual monitoring report shall be due on January 31, 2025. Prior to submittal to the required agencies, all deliverables will be submitted to the Volpe TPOC for review or comment, at least one month before the required due date, or no later than December 31 of each year. If restored habitats within the restoration area demonstrate that they are successfully meeting established performance criteria early into the monitoring period, the Applicant may request early signoff from the agencies. A qualified biologist with experience in biological monitoring will supervise the report preparation. These reports will assess progress in meeting success criteria and identify any problems with sedimentation, erosion, and/or other general causes of unsuccessful revegetation of the impact areas. If necessary, recommendations or improvements will be made to ensure the success criteria will be met during the monitoring period.

Annual monitoring reports shall reference AMR_450388_MOTCO Marsh Restoration and shall be submitted via email to RB2-401Reports@waterboards.ca.gov, and the Water Board staff responsible for 401 certifications in Contra Costa County.

The final monitoring report shall document the Project conditions at the end of five years and shall include a Final Project Completion Report and Notice of Termination that includes: (a) the

RM 450388 for this Project, (b) the date the Project construction activities were completed, and

(c) the date the Project monitoring indicated successful completion. The Final Project

Completion Report shall reference NOC_450388_MOTCO Marsh Restoration and be submitted via email to RB2-401Reports@Waterboards.ca.gov, and the Water Board staff responsible for 401 certifications in Contra Costa County.

mailto:RB2-401Reports@waterboards.ca.gov mailto:RB2-401Reports@Waterboards.ca.gov

All attachments/figures/appendices shall be submitted in .pdf format. Submittals to additional regulatory agencies such as USACE will be coordinated through Volpe TPOC. If there are project impacts that delay delivery of the deliverables for Volpe review, the Contractor shall let the Volpe TPOC know and an extension of the due date will be discussed. There are no extensions for regulatory submittals due on January 31 of each year.

4.0 SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall prepare a schedule for completing the above-described tasks in this SOW and shall include it with their technical proposal. Because the funding for this effort is incremental, the period of performance for this effort will be set at January 31, 2028. Each year, the optional item for that year will be exercised with current year funding with the expectation that the annual biological monitoring will be completed in July of each year and annual monitoring reports will be submitted to the respective agencies by January 31 of the following year, until all habitat restoration achieves successful completion.

Approximate work hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is to be no work on the weekends, Government holidays, or outside of set work hours unless approved and coordinated with the Volpe Center TPOC. In consideration of the FAA facilities locations and contract period of performance, schedule delays or impacts stemming from inclement or extreme weather will be evaluated as needed.

5.0 TRAVEL

Local contractor travel will be required in execution of contract tasks. All travel costs shall be built in and included in the pricing of line items for which travel may be required and in the total fixed price amount.

6.0 PROJECT COORDINATION AND SITE ACCESS

The Contractor shall coordinate all activities and access through the TPOC. Contact with facility personnel and the FAA shall be coordinated through the TPOC. Advance security clearence is required by U.S. Army for access to the site and shall be set up at least two weeks before a scheduled field work date. FAA or Volpe escort will be provided to the CCR OM property. The address for MOTCO Visitor Control Center is 686 Nichols Rd, Bay Point, CA 94565.

7.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION

1. MOTCO As-Built Report, dated 11/14/2023.

2. USFWS Biological Opinion

3. USACE 404 Provisional Notification

4. RWQCB Section 401 Water Quality Certification

5. Updated Regulatory Permit Application (Monitoring Plan)

8.0 TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT (POC)

The Volpe Center Technical POC for this effort will be:

Evan Starr

Environmental Protection Specialist

US DOT/ Volpe Center/V326

220 Binney St.

Cambridge, MA 02142

Tel: (617) 494-3974

Cell: (857) 259-7538

Email: evan.starr@dot.gov mailto:evan.starr@dot.gov