SOW_LandfillsInspection.pdf

SCOPE OF WORK

Landfill Inspections and Evaluations

Navajo Region-Branch of Environmental Management (BEM)

The Engineer Inspection and Evaluation of Landfill covers for 33 Bureau of Indian Affairs owned Landfills located on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, New Mexico & Utah and an Engineer Evaluation Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for Repair/Closure of Landfills is requested.

Introduction: The BIA formally operated approximately 55 solid waste landfills at various locations throughout the Navajo Indian Reservation to dispose of solid waste generated by BIA agencies and schools. From 1991 to 2009, twenty-two (22) of the 55 landfills were closed.

The BIA operated their landfills by excavating trenches and then waste was collected and deposited in the trenches (cells). There was no solid waste collection system in place for the local communities, so BIA permitted community residents to deposit household waste into the cells.

A visual survey conducted in 1991, found that the waste included both school waste (books, papers, boxes, institutional-sized food cans, kitchen food waste) and residential waste (household appliances, old clothes, furniture, food waste and other miscellaneous house hold items).

History: In 1991, USEPA announced that it would be promulgating new regulations for the operation of landfills. Subsequently, Navajo Regional Office sent a notice to all BIA agencies and schools alerting them of proposed changes to the existing Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR 241). These new regulations would substantially change the regulation and existing landfills would no longer continue operations without upgrades. The new 40 CFR 258 regulations provided definitions for the type of solid waste that could be deposited, daily cover requirements, groundwater monitoring and final cover design changes for compliance landfills. It also allowed the landfill operators to close their sites as an alternative compliance method. BIA chose to close most of its landfills. Today, BIA continues to monitor 33 landfills for compliance, cover integrity and to assure that these sites remain closed with no solid waste occurring at each location.

In 1997, the 40 CFR 258 regulations were enacted which included regulations for final closure and cover for landfills or to construct and install the new regulatory requirements. BIA closed its existing landfills by installing a 40 CFR 241 cover. Unfortunately, there were a few isolated locations where residents did not have access to an alternative waste disposal system, so the BIA landfills remained open until an alternative disposal system was developed. When the alternative systems were developed, BIA then closed additional landfills in accordance to 40 CFR 258.60(a) requirements. The USEPA then issued the Draft Site Specific Flexibility Guidance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills for Indian Country (using alternative covers such as capillary barrier or evaporation transpiration (ET)). BIA then closed few more landfills using the flexibility guidelines.

Work: The Bureau of Indian Affairs requires the services of a contractor with documented experience for solid waste landfill operations and closure with demonstrated work on Indian Reservations applying both USEPA and Tribal Environmental Protection Agency Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) compliance regulations. The contractor must have conducted inspections and evaluated of landfill covers to include the mandatory 30-year monitoring requirements of both 40 CFR 241 and 40 CFR 258. The contractor shall independently travel to each of the 33 locations and inspect each landfill to determine the integrity of the final cover. The contractor will photograph the site, GPS the landfill boundaries, identify the number of cells at each location and test the existing cover for verification of the final cover depth by hand auger or other acceptable means of measuring the landfill cover depth to assure the cover meets the regulatory standards.

The investigation shall be designed to collect and provide the necessary information and field data to enable the contractor to develop cost estimates to return the site into compliance with applicable regulatory closure standard. This may include, but not limited to, repair or replacement of the existing cover, construction of drainage and erosion control measures and any removal debris caused by illegal dumping.

The 33 sites include four (4) sites that are open (Black Mesa, Old Shonto, New Shonto and Rock Point). The 28 remaining sites have been closed or have an administrative cover or were covered using the 40 CFR 241 standards (prior to October 9, 1997) or 258.60(a) cover. Attached is a spread sheet which identified the names and type of cover on the landfills to be inspected.

Task 1: Pre Submittals A. Contractor shall provide a work plan and work schedule for the conduct of the engineering evaluations/inspections.

B. The Contractor shall prepare and submit to BIA; Health and Safety Plan (HASP) in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120 for the protection of workers and the public. The HASP is to be developed under the aegis of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Response regulations based on the potential for unknown hazardous waste deposited at or near the site. It shall also include the safety procedures to address the presence of venomous reptiles and insects known to inhabit these remote locations. Workers must have certification in HazWOPER to provide additional assurance for worker protection.

C A letter prepared for signature of BIA to the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA), Resource Conservation and Recovery act (RCRA) Enforcement Division notifying the program of the upcoming inspections/evaluations shall be prepared by the contactor for BIA signature.

Task 2: Mobilization A. The Contractor shall mobilize to the Navajo Regional Office to view the existing landfill files and review the existing maps. Most of the files have UTM location coordinates but have not been field checked for accuracy. A directory for each of the school locations and the Agency Facility Manager contact will be provided to the contractor at this time.

B. The Contactor shall contact each of the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) School Principals and Agency BIE Facility Managers to coordinate a site visit to each landfill location. There are multiple sites at Many Farms High School (2); Wingate Elementary School (3), Shonto Boarding School (2), and Navajo Mountain (2). A telephone directory shall be provided for the use of the successful contractor.

Task 3: Landfill Categories

A. There are four (4) open landfills that receive waste and are not closed. The four (4) sites (Black Mesa, Old Shonto, New Shonto, Rock Point School landfills). These landfills are included in evaluation and inspection as the open landfills in order to characterize and quantify waste and to identify an existing boundary. The contractor shall to design a closure plan by a Professional Engineer in accordance with 40 CFR 258 with closure cost estimates.

B. Landfills Closed with 40 CFR 241 Standard Covers; Closed Before October 9, 1997

1. The contractor will conduct a geophysical/mechanical study (hand auger, direct push drill, geo-probe or other BIA approved method) to verify the depth of existing cover meets the 40 CFR 241 closure standards;

2. The contractor shall prepare a drawing and table to document the findings and identify where the testing was conducted

3. The contractor will provide GPS coordinates in tabular format to locate the landfill corners and center of each site. The landfill boundaries will also be plotted on a USGS Topographic map. The map shall include the quadrant name and scale.

4. The contractor shall take pictures to document the existing condition of the landfill.

5. A north arrow will be imposed on the picture for reference and a written footnote included on each photo to explain the key points of the picture.

6. A written report shall be prepared to include all the findings, GPS coordinates, maps and a drawing and photographs and the list of contacts

C. Closed after October 9, 1997; Cover Design Using 40 CFR 258.60(a) Standard

1. The contractor will conduct a geophysical study or mechanical study to verify the depth of cover to assure it meets the 40 CFR 258.60(a) closure standards,

2. The contractor shall prepare a drawing and table to document the findings and identify where the testing was conducted

3. The contractor will provide GPS coordinates to locate the landfill and the corners of each site and locate the landfill on a USGS Topographic map. The map shall include the quadrant name and scale,

4. The contractor shall take pictures to document the existing condition of the landfill.

5. A north arrow will be imposed on the picture for reference and a written footnote included on each photo to explain the key points of the picture.

6. A written report shall be prepared to include all the findings, GPS coordinates, maps and a drawing and photographs and the list of contacts

D. Closed using the Draft Site Specific Flexibility Guidance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills for Indian Country provided by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (using alternative covers such as capillary barrier or evaporation transpiration (ET)

1. The contractor will conduct geophysical studies or mechanical studies to validate the final cover requirements,

2. The contractor shall prepare a drawing and table to document the findings and identify where the testing was conducted,

3. The contractor will provide GPS coordinates to locate the landfill and the corners of each site and locate the landfill on a USGS Topographic map. The map shall include the quadrant name and scale,

4. The contractor shall take pictures to document the existing condition of the landfill and,

5. A north arrow will be imposed on the picture for reference and a written footnote included on each photo to explain the key points of the picture.

6. A written report shall be prepared to include all the findings, GPS coordinates, maps and a drawing and photographs and the list of contacts

Task 4: Engineering Evaluation Cost Analysis Report A. The Contractor shall prepare an Engineer Evaluation and Cost Analysis. ECA to provide a cost estimate

1. To repair any existing caps which require work and appropriate compaction of waste.

2. Close any open landfills

a. By recycling materials

b. Screening waste to remove dirt from the solid waste (from daily cover applications)

c. Clean closure action

3. The EECA format shall be as follows:

a. Executive summary

b. Site Characterization

1. Site characterization

2. Site Description and background

3. Previous closure actions

4. Source, nature and extent of solid waste area

c. Identification of closure action objectives

1. Statutory requirements/limits of closure/removal actions

2. Determination of final closure scope

3. Planned closure/removal activities

d. Identification and analyses of closure/removal action alternatives

1. Effectiveness

2. Implement ability

3. Cost

e. Comparative analysis of closure/removal action alternatives

f. Recommended closure/removal action alternative

Task 5: Final Report, Copies, Data Management A. All reports are the property of the US Government, Bureau of Indian Affairs

1. Any reports generated by the contractor shall be initially submitted as a draft for approval/concurrence by the COR/Deputy. Two copies and one electronic copy will be provided.

2. Contractor shall submit a bi-weekly report of progress and expenditures to the

COR.

3. Final reports will be due within two weeks of the return of a draft. Five hard copies; one read only copy and one original electronic file copy capable of editing shall be provided in MSOffice software. The original file copy is the property of the US Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Region and shall not be copyrighted or distributed by the contractor without the permission of the BIA, NRO, DECSM.

4. If reports are lost, the contractor shall reissue copies at his/her expense.

5. All final reports shall be signed by a Engineer.

6. All correspondence shall be protected and secured. It shall not be made available to the public or any other agency without the permission of the BIA.

Acceptance Requirements: The COR, in consultation with the Division of Environmental, Cultural and Safety Management (DECSM) and possibly representatives of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA), will determine the acceptability of work performed. If, and when, any agent of the Navajo Nation, or any other Native American government, communicates with the contractor, DECSM shall be immediately informed.

Special Conditions: Full documentation shall be maintained for all field testing, results and project completions. During field situations, the contractor shall maintain a daily log and record all events relevant to a task order. Any additional sub-contractors shall do likewise. The logs will be signed and closed daily. The logs shall become the property of BIA. A copy of all bills, receipts and time sheets shall be maintained, in case there is ever a possible claim for cost recovery.

The Period of Performance shall be 120 days from notice to proceed.