REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: HENRY L. THOMPSON, Director of Aviation
Airports Department
THROUGH: MARK W. DAVIS, Airports Planning Manager
Airports Department
BY: RICHARD L. MADRIGAL, Airports Projects Supervisor
Airports Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to environmental site investigations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (Council District 4):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301, Class 6 - Information Collection
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 35th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2021-178 to appropriate $362,800 for engineering, site investigation and testing to determine the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
3. Approve an agreement with BSK Associates of Fresno, California, to provide engineering, site investigation and testing to determine the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the amount of $362,776
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends Council, (i) Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301, Class 6 - Information Collection, (ii) Adopt the 35th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2021-178 appropriating $362,800 for environmental site investigations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), and (iii) authorize the Director of Aviation or designee to execute an agreement with BSK Associates of Fresno, California for engineering, site investigation and testing to determine the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances at FAT in the amount of $362,776.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) containing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) is the only firefighting foam approved for use at airports in the United States by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Studies have indicated that repeated use of PFAS containing AFFF have adversely impacted water supplies. Pursuant to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Water Code Section 13267, Order WQ 2019-0005-DWQ was issued to the Airport on March 20, 2019, requiring the Airport to develop a workplan for site investigations and testing to determine if PFAS is present at the Airport. BSK Associates has provided a proposal to implement the Workplan, which consists of sampling and testing at (13) potential PFAS release areas and preparing a report for submission to the SWRCB.
BACKGROUND
PFAS is a family of more than 3,000 man-made and mostly unregulated chemicals that have been produced since the mid-1900s. They are mobile, persistent, and bioaccumulative. They are resistant to degradation in the environment and when degradation occurs, it often results in the formation of other PFAS compounds. The PFAS compounds have very different physical and chemical properties. Currently, the key classes of concern are perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids such as the long-chain, more commonly known PFAS, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
PFAS are manufactured globally and have been used in the production of a wide range of industrial and household products. PFAS are found in many products such as dental floss, non-stick cookware, food packaging materials, non-stick products (e.g., Teflon™), waterproof and water repellant textiles, water repellant furniture, carpet, polishes, waxes, paints, cleaning products, medical garments, and AFFF used for firefighting. PFAS are used in the Aerospace, Automotive, Chemical, Electronics, Metal Coatings and Plating, and Textiles industries due to their friction-reducing characteristics. Potential firefighting sources of PFAS include airports and aviation facilities, military bases and training centers, petroleum refineries and terminals, and petrochemical production facilities. Non-industrial PFAS sources include Waste Disposal Facilities, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations, and Biosolids Application to Agriculture. Secondary sources of PFAS include waste streams such as landfills and wastewater treatment plants.
FAT Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles are equipped with AFFF for fire suppression. The Airport is required to store AFFF, the equipment on these vehicles must be tested, and ARFF personnel are mandated to undergo “real world” training exercises all of which historically may have released AFFF into the environment. The Airport is compelled to comply with an Order from the SWRCB to undergo an investigation to determine the PFAS levels at (13) identified potential AFFF release sites on the airfield. Similar orders have been issued to all other commercial service airports in California.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has determined that this project falls within the Categorical Exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class 6 - Information Collection, as it involves borings to collect soil samples, water sampling and testing.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
BSK Associates is a local business.
FISCAL IMPACT
The $362,800 requested in the 35th Amendment to AAR No. 2021-178 will provide the appropriation necessary to execute the BSK agreement. There is no impact to the General Fund from this action.
Attachments:
- 35th Amendment to the AAR No. 2021-178
- Consulting Agreement with BSK Associates
- Site Map