memorandum
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to: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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from: |
J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director |
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Gene Poveromo, Development Coordinator |
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subject: |
Public Forum: Orange Water and Sewer Authority – Odor Elimination Progress Report (PIN 9798213071) |
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date: |
December 4, 2006 |
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The purpose of tonight’s Public Forum is to receive a report from the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) on its progress on eliminating off-site odors at the Old Mason Farm Road Wastewater Treatment Plant. We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution directing Orange Water and Sewer Authority to continue working towards eliminating off-site odors from the Mason Farm Road wastewater treatment facility.
In 2004, the Council approved a Special Use Permit Modification for an expansion to the OWASA wastewater treatment facility on Old Mason Farm Road (Attachment 3). The 2004 Special Use Permit Modification included a stipulation that the Council conduct a Public Forum, for OWASA to report on eliminating off-site odors from the facility. According to the stipulation, if the Council finds that the goal of off-site odor elimination has not been attained, then, “the Council shall direct OWASA to perform such additional work OWASA determines is necessary to eliminate off-site odor and the Council shall establish such reporting requirements as it deems reasonable.”
During a November 14, 2005 Public Forum, the Council adopted a resolution requiring OWASA to participate in a second forum in the fall of 2006 and provide quarterly reports to Council on the status of eliminating off-site odors from the Old Mason Farm Plant (Attachment 2).
OWASA returns this evening with an Odor Elimination Program Report, dated November 22, 2006 (Attachment 1). The report details the status of odor elimination improvements and provides a proposed monitoring and evaluation process. OWASA anticipates that construction improvements intended to eliminate off-site odor, will be completed during the summer of 2007. OWASA has agreed, in accordance with stipulation five in the approved Special Use Permit Modification, to perform such work as may be necessary to eliminate off-site odor to the satisfaction of the Council. OWASA will continue to provide the Council with follow up reports on the status of off-site odor elimination as part of the OWASA’s quarterly reports.
We believe that OWASA has demonstrated its commitment to a monitoring and evaluation program with community involvement. Approximately 775 residents within a 4,000-foot radius of the Mason Farm Plant were notified by OWASA of the Public Forum being held this evening. We believe that OWASA’s actions are in compliance with the terms of the Council-approved Special Use Permit Modification, dated March 1, 2004, for the Orange Water and Sewer Authority’s Mason Farm Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements.
We recommend that the Council make a finding that OWASA has stated that they have not yet achieved off-site odor elimination but has proposed a program for doing so, while keeping the Council and public informed of their progress. We further recommend that OWASA continue reporting on the status of off-site odor elimination in its quarterly reports to Council.
Adoption of the attached Resolution would make a finding that OWASA has not yet attained the stated goal of eliminating off-site odor but is proceeding toward that goal and will continue to make quarterly reports to Council on future progress. The next quarterly report is expected on February 12, 2007.