Draft USVI ACI Demonstration March 2024.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

AIR CURTAIN INCINERATION

DEMONSTRATION

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

18 March 2024

1.0 GENERAL

The objective of this project is to conduct a demonstration utilizing an air curtain incinerator for the reduction of vegetative debris in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The project aims to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and environmental impact of using this technology for debris management in a disaster-prone island environment with limitations on final disposition.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The landfall of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on the USVI in 2017 caused significant destruction throughout the territory. The hurricanes ultimately generated 605,000 cubic yards (cy) of vegetative waste. The quantity generated far exceeded capacity of landfills on the islands St. Thomas or St. Croix. The USVI enacted a ban on incineration by any means in 2017 due to environmental, health, and political concerns. No state on the mainland would accept the vegetative debris for fear of the introduction of invasive species. A proposal was established and considered to ship vegetative debris to Guyana, but it was ultimately rejected. Eventually, the vegetative debris was reduced and either piled, placed in rows, disked, or furnished to the Department of Agriculture. In June of 2023, these piles began to spontaneously combust.

On (insert date), the USVI Governor, Albert Bryan Junior, contacted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(USACE) regarding his desire to revisit the topic of air curtain incineration as an alternative method to managing vegetative debris generated during disaster events. As a result, the South Atlantic Division, USACE is coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Virgin Islands Waste

Management Agency, and other stakeholders to conduct a demonstration to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing an air curtain incinerator as a future disaster-related vegetative debris reduction and management option.

3.0 PROJECT OBJECTIVES

A. Evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of employing an air curtain incinerator for vegetative debris reduction on the USVI.

B. Demonstrate the operational capabilities of the air curtain incinerator in managing vegetative debris generated by natural disasters.

C. Assess the environmental impacts, including emissions and air quality, associated with the incinerations process.

D. Determine the resource efficiency and ensure cost-effectiveness of utilizing the incinerator compared to traditional debris management methods and given the limitations and logistical constraints on the USVI.

4.0 TASKS

DRAFT

A. Site Assessment & Preparation

1. Conduct a pre-work site assessment of the proposed demonstration site to ensure suitability of incinerator installation to include any pre-work sampling or testing.

2. Obtain necessary permits and regulatory approvals for the demonstration project.

3. Verify if water service is available near demonstration area or if water trucks must e supplied for demonstration.

4. Prepare the site for installation, including clearing the site, stockpiling vegetation, and ensuring proper access for equipment. The site shall include the following parameters:

a. Adequate distance of 1000 ft (305 m) from an occupied dwelling or business

b. Adequate distance of 100 ft (31 m) of overhead utility lines

c. Available distance of 100 ft (31 m) for separation of debris pile and air curtain incinerator

d. Has minimum distance of 30 ft (9 m) wide for fire lane around air curtain incinerator

e. Adequate real estate for placement of debris piles away from power lines, 100 ft (31 m)

B. Incinerator Installation & Setup

1. Furnish an appropriate air curtain incinerator system designed for vegetative debris reduction at a rate of (minimum x rate of production/hour).

2. Install and setup the incinerator according to the manufacturer specifications and any local regulations.

3. Set up vegetative debris and ash stockpile and staging areas prior to moving to final disposal.

4. Conduct operational testing and ensure proper functionality of the incinerator system.

C. Demonstration Execution

1. Provide all necessary management, labor, and supervision to perform an air curtain incineration demonstration and monitoring in order to reduce a total of XX cubic yards of vegetative debris over the course of XX DAYS/HOURS.

2. Load the incinerator with collected vegetative debris and monitor the incineration process.

3. Record and analyze performance metrics to include fuel consumption, burn rates, reduction rates, and emission levels.

D. Oversight

1. Provide all necessary equipment and qualified personnel to load the incinerator, stockpile ash debris, and conduct ash sampling as required.

E. Monitoring

1. Provide all necessary equipment and personnel to conduct continuous monitoring of personal and community air quality during the demonstration.

2. Provide all necessary equipment and personnel required to ensure the demonstration is executed with regard to all safety requirements as outlined in the EM 385-1-1.

F. Disposal & Closeout

1. Adequately dispose of all reduced material at an approved facility or disposal site.

2. Upon completion of work, document conditions and conduct sampling to compare pre-work conditions if required.

3. Restore the demonstration site to pre-work condition.

G. Documentation & Reporting

1. Pre-Work Planning Submittals

a. Prepare and submit an Air Curtain Incineration Site Safety Plan that includes protective measures for workers and the public. The plan shall include an

Activity Hazard Analysis for each definable feature of work in accordance with the EM 385-1-1.

b. Prepare an Air Curtain Incineration Site Operations Plan specific to the location including staging areas, site ingress/egress, site management, organizational chart, traffic control plan, site security, baseline environmental testing and monitoring plan, site layout, and environmental mitigation plan.

2. Prepare a comprehensive site assessment report that includes video/photograph aerial and/or ground imagery, notation of important features (ex. structures, fences, culverts, etc.), required sampling, and any required air quality baseline testing.

3. Prepare comprehensive documentation of the demonstration project including procedures, observations, and findings.

4. Generate a final report summarizing the results of the demonstration to include evaluation of effectiveness of the incinerator in reducing vegetative debris volume and mitigating environmental impacts as well as comparing the cost-effectiveness of using the incinerator versus traditional and available debris management methods.

4.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this contract shall be XX days/months.