Board approves $3.53 million increase to Lincoln gun‑range cleanup; project to finish by fall

County General Services staff told the board on June 30 that remediation work at the former Lincoln gun‑range site (a county‑owned parcel formerly used for shooting ranges) uncovered additional contaminated soils and class‑1 wastes. Those discoveries increased treatment, transportation and disposal costs and extended the project schedule.

Paul Breckenridge, deputy director for General Services, said contractor Metals Treatment Technologies has completed roughly 85% of the base scope but that unforeseen conditions required multiple change orders for soil stabilization and additional disposal work. The county was notified in January 2026 that certain class‑1 soil sent to the Buttonwillow facility may be subject to a hazardous‑waste generation handling fee of about $62 per ton; staff estimated the administrative fee could total about $996,000 by project completion.

To close the budget gap, General Services proposed up to $2,205,000 in construction change‑order authority and $385,939 in additional consultant services, increasing total project costs by up to $3.53 million to a revised total not to exceed roughly $8.63 million. Staff said the increases can be covered through reallocations and will not affect the county general fund. The board approved the change orders and contract amendments and directed staff to continue negotiating potential fee reductions with the Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Breckenridge said staff expects remediation to resume within weeks and finish by early fall 2026.