Title
Resolution to Approve an Environmental License Agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for Use of a Portion of Right-of-Way North of Southeast Area Park
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor maintains a closed landfill located at the southwest corner of Platt and Ellsworth Roads. A release from the Ann Arbor landfill (AALF) of the volatile organic compound vinyl chloride was discovered in 1992 in Southeast Area Park. The City of Ann Arbor has been actively recovering the affected groundwater and has been completing quarterly groundwater sampling to monitor the plume in accordance with an agreement with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
The City of Ann Arbor is finalizing an Offsite Remedial Action Plan (Offsite RAP) with MDEQ for final remediation requirements. As part of this process, MDEQ requires that certain parcels have a groundwater use restriction attached to the property.
The purpose of this Offsite RAP is to: 1) describe how the practical and technically feasible remedies presented in the Onsite Remedial Action Plan for the AALF (approved by the State in March, 1994) and subsequent documents address offsite groundwater impacts; 2) present a schedule to implement and maintain the remedies; and 3) explain how the remedies address relevant offsite exposure pathways. The Offsite RAP follows the MDEQ Remediation and Redevelopment Division's Suggested Format and Content for Remedial Action Plans and Plans for Interim Response Activities Designed to Meet Criteria (March, 2004). The Offsite RAP was prepared pursuant to the requirements of Section 20120a(1) of Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), 1994 Public Act (PA) 451, as amended. Potential exposure pathways are evaluated and compared to applicable criteria outlined in the MDEQ Remediation Division, Operational Memorandum No. 1: Part 201 Cleanup Criteria and Part 213 Risk-Based Screening Levels, dated March 25, 2011 (Part 201 Criteria) for residential groundwater impacts. The Offsite RAP demonstrates how Part 201 and Part 115, Rule 444 of the MDEQ's landfill rules are satisfied using multiple components including: 1) maintenance of the existing slurry wall around the majority of the exterior portions of Phases I and II; 2) maintenance of an active groundwater recovery system near the northern AALF property boundary; 3) continuation of groundwater monitoring; 4) recording of deed restrictions on affected offsite properties; 5) recording of a deed restriction on the landfill for Phase I; 6) maintenance of the landfill gas collection system; and 7) ongoing landfill cap inspections and maintenance.
As part of the Offsite RAP, the City is required to place a groundwater use restriction on two City properties (the AALF property and Southeast Area Park), and approve an environmental license agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for a section of MDOT right-of-way north of Southeast Area Park.
A groundwater use restriction implemented either by deed restriction or by license agreement imposing institutional controls is a common precautionary approach by MDEQ to insure that there is no human contact with potentially contaminated groundwater. As a practical matter, these restrictions do not impose a substantive change on the use of these properties because Ann Arbor City Code prohibits the installation and use of wells for drinking water purposes and requires parcels within the city to connect to the City's water supply. The I-94 highway is located within the MDOT right-of-way that is subject to the proposed license agreement.
Attached for your approval is the Environmental License Agreement with MDOT for use of a portion of MDOT right-of-way north of Southeast Area Park as a method for institutional control of environmental contamination.
Budget/Fiscal Impact
The work to implement this resolution will not have any budget/fiscal impacts.
Sustainability Framework
In addition to meeting the MDEQ requirements for the Offsite RAP, the work to implement this resolution furthers the Clean Air and Water goal of the City's Sustainability Framework.
Staff
Prepared by Matthew Naud, Environmental Coordinator
Reviewed by Craig A. Hupy, P.E., Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor maintains a closed landfill located at the southwest corner of Platt and Ellsworth Roads;
Whereas, A release from the landfill of the volatile organic compound vinyl chloride was discovered in 1992 in Southeast Area Park;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has been actively recovering the affected groundwater and has been completing quarterly groundwater sampling to monitor the plume in accordance with an agreement with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ);
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor is finalizing an Offsite Remedial Action Plan (Offsite RAP) with MDEQ for final remediation requirements;
Whereas, MDEQ requires that certain parcels have a groundwater use restriction attached to the property;
Whereas, A groundwater use restriction implemented by deed restriction or by institutional controls is a common precautionary approach by MDEQ to insure that there is no human contact with potentially contaminated groundwater; and
Whereas, The restriction implemented by the proposed environmental license agreement does not impose a substantive change on the use of the MDOT right-of-way;
RESOLVED, The Ann Arbor City Council approves the proposed environmental license agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for a portion of right-of-way north of Southeast Area as described in the attached agreement;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized and directed to execute the proposed environmental license agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized and directed to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.