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Borough begins budget planning after EPA flags broken wastewater outfall; legal agreement expected
Summary
Borough staff told the assembly the Pump Station 4 force main and wastewater plant outflow in Frederick Sound is damaged; the EPA will work with the borough on a legal agreement allowing operation without penalties while repairs proceed, and repair costs are still unknown.
The Petersburg Borough reported Aug. 4 that damage to a wastewater outfall and related infrastructure requires repairs and that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will work with the borough on a legal agreement to avoid penalties while repairs are completed.
Manager Eastberg and public works staff reported that work on Pump Station 4 and the force main is ongoing. The project engineer, PND, approved a repair plan for a buckled cofferdam and the contractor Rock and Roll (cited in staff comments) will perform repairs. Rock and Roll has submitted a claim for delay-related costs tied to the discovery of an eagle nest near the work area; borough staff and PND are evaluating that claim.
Public works met with an EPA representative to discuss a broken wastewater plant outflow line in Frederick Sound. The borough’s current outflow does not meet the EPA’s discharge requirements until repairs are finished and the outfall operates as originally designed.
Manager Eastberg told the assembly that the EPA “is going to work with the borough to put together a legal agreement allowing the borough to operate without penalties while repairs are undertaken.” Borough attorney Sarah Heidemann has been briefed and will work with the EPA on that proposed agreement. The cost for repairs is not yet known; staff said they are beginning to develop a project budget now that the scope is better defined.
Staff also reported continuing work on the Pump Station 4 site, including de-energizing overhead distribution for safety, moving some overhead lines underground at customer request, and coordination among utility and contractor teams.
No contract award or appropriation for the outfall repairs was presented to the assembly at this meeting; staff said they will return with a budget and recommended next steps once cost estimates are available.
