PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING City of Plattsburgh Alkaline Treatment Project July 8, 2010

Jonathan P. Ruff, P.E. 41 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, NY City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, NY Cityofplattsburgh.com Cityofplattsburgh.com

Project Team John Donovan, CDM – Cambridge, MA John Donovan, CDM – Cambridge, MA Dan Durfee, CDM – Clifton Park, NY Dan Durfee, CDM – Clifton Park, NY Charlie Alix, MWH – Boston, MA Charlie Alix, MWH – Boston, MA Mary Beth Bianconi, Delaware Engineering Mary Beth Bianconi, Delaware Engineering Albany, NY

Compost Plant Owned by Clinton County Owned by Clinton County Paid for and Operated by City Paid for and Operated by City Project is in Environmental Justice Area Project is in Environmental Justice Area

Public Participation Developed PPP to Inform and Involve Developed PPP to Inform and Involve Notified Owners, Residents, Stakeholders Notified Owners, Residents, Stakeholders Establish Document Repositories Establish Document Repositories Conduct Meeting Conduct Meeting Report back to DEC Report back to DEC

Tonight’s Meeting Goals Inform and Involve Public and Stakeholders Inform and Involve Public and Stakeholders Hear and document comments and concerns Hear and document comments and concerns Answer questions Answer questions Speak, sheets in rear, s, letters

Submit Report to DEC Identifies comments and concerns. Identifies comments and concerns. Outlines the plan for addressing them. Outlines the plan for addressing them.

Why this need exists Why this need exists Decision making Decision making Permitting process Permitting process

Water Pollution Control Plant City users: residents, businesses, SUNY, GP, Pactiv City users: residents, businesses, SUNY, GP, Pactiv Town users plus future growth Town users plus future growth County Septage County Septage Other hauled wastes Other hauled wastes

WPCP Treatment Process Cleans wastewater by removing impurities before discharge to river/lake. Cleans wastewater by removing impurities before discharge to river/lake. Removed impurities become sludge or residuals. Removed impurities become sludge or residuals. Residuals must be properly disposed or treated for reuse. Residuals must be properly disposed or treated for reuse. Critical!!! Critical!!!

History 1986 – 2001: Composting 1986 – 2001: Composting 2002: Landfilling/Canadian Composting 2002: Landfilling/Canadian Composting 2003 – 2005: N-Viro Alkaline Treatment 2003 – 2005: N-Viro Alkaline Treatment 2005 – Present: Canadian Composting Franklin County, Coventry, VT 2005 – Present: Canadian Composting Franklin County, Coventry, VT Wherever we could Wherever we could

Last Few Years: Landfilling Got shut out of Canadian sites.

Landfilling Not reliable. Not reliable. Not sustainable. Not sustainable. Not “green”. Not “green”. More expensive More expensive

Landfilling is not reliable DEC could prohibit it. DEC could prohibit it. Landfills could refuse it. Landfills could refuse it.

Risks Violations Violations Fines Fines Environmental harm Environmental harm More expensive alternatives More expensive alternatives

Need a reliable and affordable alternative that we can control.

Composting Have permits Have permits Effective Effective Expensive to run Expensive to run Difficult to control odors Difficult to control odors Fires/Time – Substantial effort and expense to get running again Fires/Time – Substantial effort and expense to get running again

There’s a Better Way ALKALINE TREATMENT ALKALINE TREATMENT More reliable More reliable Less expensive Less expensive Easier to control odors Easier to control odors

Request to DEC Allow use of the less expensive more reliable Alkaline Treatment. Allow use of the less expensive more reliable Alkaline Treatment. 70% reduced rate of 40 tpd. 70% reduced rate of 40 tpd.

Multi Step Decision Making 1. Obtain Permits? 2. Buy Equipment? 3. Operate during emergencies? 4. Operate more often? We’re midway in Step 1.

Step 1 Permit Process 1. Perform Engineering 2. Make Initial Application 3. Go through Environmental Review and Public Comment 4. Address public/regulatory comments 5. Complete Permit Application 6. DEC Acts on Application

Multi Step Decision Making 1. Obtain Permits 1.Perform Engineering 2.Make Initial Application 3.Go through Environmental Review and Public Comment 4.Address public/regulatory comments 5.Complete Permit Application 6.DEC Acts on Application 2. Buy Equipment? 3. Operate during emergencies? 4. Operate more often?

What is Alkaline Treatment? Not composting – biological Not composting – biological Not incineration – combustion Not incineration – combustion It is a chemical process It is a chemical process

Residuals are combined with alkaline materials Lime Lime Lime Kiln Dust Lime Kiln Dust Cement Kiln Dust Cement Kiln Dust Wood Ash Wood Ash Coal Ash Coal Ash

Chemical Reaction Generates heat to destroy pathogens Generates heat to destroy pathogens Raises pH over 12 to stabilize Raises pH over 12 to stabilize Dries for easy handling Dries for easy handling

Why AT? Easy O&M Easy O&M Easier odor control Easier odor control Low capital cost Low capital cost Low operational cost Low operational cost Fast – 72 hours Fast – 72 hours Effective Effective Marketable product Marketable product

How are odors controlled? Source Control Source Control Containment Containment –Delivery, mixing, stockpiling, product storage all indoors Air Collected Air Collected Air Diluted with 440,000 cfm fan Air Diluted with 440,000 cfm fan Discharged up 117’ stack for dispersion Discharged up 117’ stack for dispersion Should be no off site odors Should be no off site odors

Can you guarantee no odors? Wish we could Wish we could We know there should be no off site odors We know there should be no off site odors We also know that things happen We also know that things happen If there are odors, it means something has gone wrong and we need to know about it right away. If there are odors, it means something has gone wrong and we need to know about it right away. 24 hour hotline and response plan 24 hour hotline and response plan

We will respond immediately We will respond immediately We will fix any problems We will fix any problems Otherwise, we will shut down the process Otherwise, we will shut down the process

How different from before? 70% less residuals 70% less residuals Compatible residuals (fresh, treated) Compatible residuals (fresh, treated) Odor control chemical added at WPCP Odor control chemical added at WPCP All processing and storage indoors All processing and storage indoors City control of operation City control of operation

What if run out of room for indoor product storage? SHUT DOWN OPERATION SHUT DOWN OPERATION

What is product used for? Making top soil Making top soil Adjusting soil pH Adjusting soil pH Improving soil Improving soil –Adds organic matter –Adds N, P, K

How do we know product is safe? Meets EPA and DEC Regulations for disinfection Meets EPA and DEC Regulations for disinfection Class A/EQ Material Class A/EQ Material Residuals tested on a regular basis Residuals tested on a regular basis Ingredients tested Ingredients tested –Prior to source approval –Periodically thereafter Rigorous product testing Rigorous product testing –Every day for weekly composite –Includes metals and pathogens

Financial Landfilling: $65/ton; $450,000/year Landfilling: $65/ton; $450,000/year If can’t landfill: If can’t landfill: –Fines for non-compliance? –$110 T&D = $715,000/yr ($265,000 more) AT: $30 - $55/ton AT: $30 - $55/ton Saves $100,000 to $250,000 /yr Saves $100,000 to $250,000 /yr

Q & A Please submit comments by August 9, 2010 Please submit comments by August 9, 2010