CC- Item IV.CC-A - Request For Twenty-Four Hour Day Drilling OperationsStaf epor
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL (Pe
FROM: NK G. TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGER
DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2000
RE: REQUEST FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOUR PER DAY DRILLING
OPERATIONS
Attached is a letter from CH2M Hill requesting permission to perform 24-hour drilling
operations to install two monitoring wells on Walnut Grove Avenue, adjacent to Willard
Elementary School and between Klingerman and Fern Avenues. 24-hour drilling operation
will expedite well installation activities, reduce construction costs, and minimize the
chances of improper well construction. The well installation activities at each site will last
about 2 to 3 weeks.
The well installation is associated with activities of the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility
Study in the South El Monte Operable Unit of the San Gabriel Valley Superfund Sites.
These activities are being implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). Data obtained from the testing and sampling of the wells will assist the EPA in
determining the extent of VOC groundwater contamination in the area and will help EPA
develop the final configuration of it's Proposed Plan to stop the spread of groundwater
contamination in the intermediate aquifer.
On October 22, 1996, the City Council granted permission to the Northwest El Monte
Community Task Force to perform 24-hour drilling operations to install monitoring wells on
Steele Street east of Rosemead Boulevard and on Brookline Avenue at Olney Street. I
have attached the staff report and minutes from that meeting for your information.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Rosemead City Council grant permission to CH2M Hill for 24-
hour drilling operations to install two monitoring wells on Walnut Grove Avenue.
Attachment
2000 rsmd/staff rpt/city
COUNCIL,. -.CC;tiD,
FEB 082000
ITEM No. to A ~
11.ffw92-.MH1LL
January 31, 2000
1521881I.05
Rosemead City Council via
Brad Johnson, Director
Planning Department
City of Rosemead
8838 East Valley Blvd.
Rosemead, CA 91770
Dear Mr. Johnson:
CH2M HILL
3 Hutton Centre Drive
Suite 200
Santa Ana, CA
92707
Tel 714.429.2000
Fax 714.429.2050
Proud Sponsor of
National Engineers Week 2000
Subject: U.S. EPA Well Installation Activities in the City of Rosemead and Request for 24
hour Work Approval
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a description of well installation
activities associated with Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study activities in the
South El Monte Operable Unit (OU) of the San Gabriel Valley Superfund Sites and to
request approval for 24-hour well drilling and construction.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to install two multi-
port monitoring wells on Walnut Grove Avenue in the City of Rosemead near the
Willard Elementary School (designated well SEMW08) and the Jess Gonzalez Sports
Complex (designated well SEMW07). The location of the wells is tentatively planned
for the southbotmd lane closest to the curb (e.g., parking lane) on Walnut Grove
Avenue (please see the attached Figure 1 for well locations). EPA is implementing
these activities under the authority of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfuund
Amendments and Reauthorization Action of 1986 (SARA). Data obtained from testing
and sampling of these wells will assist EPA in determining the extent of VOC
groundwater contamination in the area and will help EPA develop the final
configuration of it's Proposed Plan to stop the spread of groundwater contamination
in the intermediate depth aquifer. EPA's Proposed Plan for the South El Monte OU
was presented to the public on October 27, 1999.
Rosemead City Council
Page 2
January 31, 2000
CH2M HILL will conduct the well installation activities at the direction, and on behalf
of, the U.S. EPA. These activities will be similar to well installation activities
performed by EPA in 1997,1998 and 1999, during which time we installed 10 multi-
port monitoring wells. Four of these wells were installed in streets within the cities of
El Monte, South El Monte, and Pico Rivera, one within the South El Monte corporate
yard, and one within a public park in Pico Rivera. In addition, installation of wells
SEMW07 and SEMW08 will be similar to previous well installation activities
conducted in the City of Rosemead by the Northwest El Monte Community Task Force
and the South El Monte Participants.
Well installation activities at each site will consist of the following activities and would
last for 2 to 3 weeks:
1. Mobilization of drilling rig and related equipment (e.g., bins and tanks to contain
wastes), including underground utility clearance, erection of temporary vehicular
or foot traffic control measures, and erection of noise mitigation measures (1-2
days)
2. Drilling of a borehole, geophysical logging (2-3 days)
3. Well construction, installation of well casing and screens (1-2 days)
4. Development (removal of water and fine sediment from the well casing and
aquifer) and demobilization of the drilling and development rigs (7-9 days)
5. Completion of well of the wellhead to prevent access and damage to the well and
restoration of the site (2-3 days)
6. Sampling of groundwater approximately 2 and 6 weeks later (1 day each)
Typical equipment layout for a monitoring well installation site is shown on Figure 2.
To expedite well installation activities, reduce construction costs, and minimize the
chances of improper well construction, we respectfully request permission to conduct
continuous 24-hour drilling and well constriction (activities 2 and 3 above)- We
request permission to be on-site, Monday-Sunday, 24 hours per day during drilling
through initial well development of the monitoring wells.
Due to nighttime activities and safety considerations, artificial lighting will be
required. In addition, noise is a byproduct of the use of equipment associated with
well installation activities. EPA is committed to making every effort to provide
effective noise mitigation measures at the well sites to prevent adverse impacts on
adjacent residences. The noise mitigation measures described below have been
utilized by EPA and proven successful at recently installed multiport monitoring wells
in nearby cities.
Rosemead City Council
Page 3
January 31, 2000
In order to minimize noise levels to nearby residences during extended hours drilling
operations, CH2M HILL's subcontractor will be required to utilize the following noise
mitigation measures to assure continuous compliance with the provisions of the City of
Rosemead Noise Control Ordinance (Chapter III, § 4300 et. seq. (Exterior Noise Standards §
4306)] applicable to single-, double-, or multiple-family residential occupancies.
Noise Mitigation Measures:
L Diesel engine acoustical enclosures shall be employed around all drill rigs,
compressors, and pumps
2. High-performance mufflers shall be used on all diesel engines in regular use at the
site
3. Barrier walls consisting of minimum 16-foot-tall fiberglass-filled acoustical curtains
shall be constructed around the work area
4. The use of air impact wrenches or similar equipment shall conform to all noise
abatement requirements
5. If, at any time during the drilling or well installation operation, the noise levels are
exceeded, immediate corrective action shall be taken by modifying well drilling
equipment, providing additional noise abatement equipment, or changing
operating procedures as necessary.
We also plan to maintain traffic circulation around the work area in the event that the
work area encroaches on vehicular traffic lanes. To maintain traffic circulation within
City streets, on-street parking will be restricted during drilling, for a distance of about
500 feet along one side of the street where we plan to drill each well. Traffic control
devices will be erected according to current Work Area Traffic Control Handbook
(WATCH) manual guidelines.
EPA will also provide a English- and Spanish-language fact sheet/ flyer in the event of
public inquiries during well installation activities. And, we will speak directly with
some of the residents in the area of each well prior to our activities.
We would like to begin well installation activities, starting with well SEMW07, in mid-
March 2000. Completion of both wells would take from 4 to 6 weeks. We are
presently requesting offers from drilling subcontractors to perform the well
installation activities under our supervision, and will notify the City of our selection,
prior to beginning work.
The U.S. EPA appreciates the Rosemead City Council's assistance in considering this
request. Obtaining your City Council's approval will go a long way toward assuring
Rosemead City Council
Page 4
January 31, 2000
the success of EPA's Proposed Plan to address groundwater contamination in the
South El Monte OU of the San Gabriel Valley.
You may call me at 714/429-2020, ext. 2274 if you have questions regarding the
information in this letter. Alternatively, you may contact Bella Dizon/U.S. EPA
Region IX at 415/744-2155. Thank you in advance for your attention to this important
project for the U.S. EPA.
Sincerely,
CH2M HILL
ql4t-tj U~~
Robert Collar, R.G., C.HG.
Site Manager
Enclosures
c: Bella Dizon/U.S. EPA Region IX
File
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FIGURE 2. Typical Multiport Well Site Layout
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TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
FROM: FRANK G. TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGER
DATE: OCTOBER 15, 1996
RE: REQUEST FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOUR PER DAY DRILLING
OPERATIONS
Attached for your consideration is a request from the Northwest El Monte Community Task
Force (NEMCTF) to allow twenty-four hour per day drilling operations to install two
monitoring wells within the City of Rosemead. The monitoring wells are mandated by the
United States Environmental Agency.
Staff has met with representatives of NEMCTF regarding the well installations. As a result
of the meetings, an encroachment permit has been issued to allow for the installation and
operation of four wells within the City. The permit does not allow for twenty-four hour
drilling operations.
Two of the wells, located on Steele Street east of Rosemead Boulevard and on Brookline
Avenue at Olney Street, are approximately 400 feet deep__It is beneficial to NEMCTF to
be able to drill and establish these wells in as short of time frame as possible. Therefore,
NEMCTF has requested they be allowed to perform their operations on a twenty-four hour
per day basis.
The attached memorandum from NEMCTF's engineering consultant, dated October 17,
1996, lists three area sites where they have recently completed similar monitoring wells.
It also gives the decibel measurements taken at the site in the City of El Monte. Section
4306 of the City's noise ordinance (attached) shows the allowable exterior noise level in
COUNCIL AGENDA
0 C T 2 21996
ITEM No. =V'- GG -'~r
staf lepor
October 15, 1996
Page 2
residential areas between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is 45 decibels. Since the decibel
measurements do not meet the City's noise requirements, additional mitigation measures
will be incorporated at the sites within the City.
A community meeting was held on Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rosemead
Community Center to inform the area residents of the proposed well installation. The
attached letter was distributed to the residents to invite them to attend and answer any
questions they may have. The meeting was attended by only one resident. In addition,
the area residents were informed that the issue of twenty-four hour per day drilling was
going to be considered by the City Council on October 22, 1996 (see attached).
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the request from NEMCTF to allow
twenty-four hour per day drilling operations subject to the noise mitigation procedures
described in their request dated October 10, 1996.
FGT:fw
rptcty\nemctf.24
NEMCTF
Northwest El Monte Community Task Force, P.O. Box 4667, El Monte, CA 91731-4667
October 10, 1996
Rosemead City Counsel via.
Mr. Fred. Wickman, Director
Public Works and City Engineer
City of Rosemead
8838 E. Valley Blvd.,
Rosemead, CA 91770
Re: Northwest El Monte Community Task Force request that the Rosemead City Counsel
grant approval for a twenty-four hour per day drilling operation during the
installation of two USEPA mandated multiport monitoring wells to be located within
the boundaries of the City of Rosemead
Dear Mr. Wickman:
The purpose of this letter is to request that your office place this request from the Northwest El
Monte Communiry Task Force [NEMCTF] on the Rosemead City Counsel Agenda scheduled for
October 22, 1996 for Rosemead City Counsel consideration.
The following companies that comprise the NEMCTF and CDM are all signatories to an October
2, 1996 City of "Rosemead Temporary Off-Site Groundwater Monitoring Well Public Right-Of-
Way Encroachment Permit - El Monte Operable Unit. Northwest El Monte Community Task
Force and Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc. (hereinafter referenced as Rosemead Temporary Public
Right-Of Way Encroachment Peimit): -
i Bali Glass Container Corp.
• Brown Jordan Co.
• Clayton Industries
• Sabin
• NavCom Defense Electronics
• Precision Coil Spring
• Sparling Instruments
• Fairchild/VSI
• Beagle Mfg. Co. Inc.
• Chadwick-Helmuth Co.
• EG&G Birtcher Inc.
• Hermetic Seal Corp.
• Plato Products
• Safety-Kleen
• Trail Chemical Corp.
The AEMCTF hereby requests that the Rosemead City Counsel grant the NF_MCTF and its
specified contractors approval to conduct drilling and well installation operations at two multiport
monitoring well drill sites described in the Rosemead Temporary Public Right-Of--Way
Encroachment Pennit on a twenty-four (24 hour) per day basis.
An Administrative Consent Order [AOC1 executed between USEPA and the NEMCTF member
companies [U.S. EPA Docket No. 95-13] requires that the NEMCTF conduct an Interim
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study to advance the characterization of the El Monte
Operable Unit, San Gabriel Basin Super fund Site. Installation of the multiport monitoring wells
is an essential element of this important work.
As you know, the executed Rosemead Temporary Off-Site Encroachment Permit does not
expressly grant the NEMCTF and its contractors 24 hr./day drilling authorization. In support
of the NEMCTF request to conduct "critical" drilling operations 24 hrs./day, sound mitigation
facilities will be constructed at the two respective drill locations.
This 24 hr./day drilling request is in concert with and will be in addition to the authority granted
to the NEMCTF and its contractors by the above referenced Rosemead Temporary Public Right-
Of-Way Encroachment Permit issued to the NEMCTF on October 2, 1996. The member
companies comprising the NT-MCTF very much appr-~datc your assistance in obtaining approval
from the Rosemead City Counsel at their scheduled October 22, 1996 Counsel meeting to
conduct the drilling operations consistent with the noise mitigation protocols described herein
for installation of the two multiport wells respectively designated as MW 2-6 to be located on
Steele St. at Rosemead Blvd. and MW 2-8 to be located on Brookline Ave at the intersection
with Olney Street.
There are several important benefits to be derived from 24-hour per day drilling operations for
installation of multiport wells. The time to complete the respective well installations can be
reduced from an estimated thirty (30) days to ten (10) days. The risk of well failure due to
borehole instability resulting from sloughing clays, sands and gravel is decreased with shorter
duration drilling operations. Given the mitigating measures to be deployed at the extended hours
drilling sites, the logistics, staging, and mobilization procedures to effect well completion are
very likely to be less intrusive to adjacent occupancies.
The NEMCTF is committed to making every effort to provide effective noise mitigation facilities
at the respective drill sites to prevent adverse impacts on adjacent residences. The noise
mitigation measures describes below have been utilized by the NEMCTF contractors and proven
successful at recently installed multiport monitoring well drill sites in nearby cities.
The follov.,ing information provi td ti•, the NEAICTF's contractor, Came DreccPr ;4r McKee-.
[CDM], is submitted for your consideration in support of this NEMCTF request that the
Rosemead City Counsel allow drilling of the two iultiport wells on a twenty-four (24) hour per
day basis:
In order to minimize noise levels to nearby occupancies during extended hours drilling
operations, the drilling subcontractor [Beylik Drilling] will be required to utilize the following
noise mitigation procedures to assure continuous compliance with the provisions of the City of
Rosemead Noise Confrol Ordinance /Chapter 111, § 4300 et. seq. (Exterior Noise Standards
4306)1 applicable to single, double or multiple family residential occupancies.
2
Noise Mitigation Procedures:
1) Diesel engine acoustical enclosures shall be employed around all drill rigs, compressors,
and pumps;
2) High performance mufflers shall be used on all diesel engines in regular use at the site;
3) Barrier walls consisting of 16-foot tall fiberglass-filled acoustical curtains shall be
constructed around the work area;
4) The use of air impact wrenches or similar equipment shall conform to all noise abatement
requirements;
5) If, at any time during the drilling or well installation operation, the noise levels are
exceeded, immediate corrective action shadl be taken by modifying well d::L'ing
equipment, providing additional noise abatement equipment, or changing operating
procedures as necessary.
The NEMCTF appreciates the Rosemead City Counsel's assistance in considering this request.
Obtaining your City Counsel's approval will go a long way toward assuring the success of this
essential element of this environmental interim remedial investigation designed to address
groundwater contamination in the El Monte Operable Unit of the San Gabriel Basin.
The NEMCTF member companies thank you, staff of the Rosemead City Manager's Office and
City Attorney, for your respective efforts to date and vital assistance, and the Rosemead City
Counsel members for their consideration of this request in furtherance of moving this mutually
important environmental management project forward.
Sincerely,
Daniel Bergman
NEMCTF Project Coordinator
cc: Kenneth F. Russo, NEMCTF Chair
Ms. Bella Dizon, USEPA Project Manager
Mr. Jon Bishop, LARWQCB
Mr. James Goodrich, Executive Director SGBWQA
Ms. Sharon Wallin, R.G., CDM Project Manager
Ms. Phyllis Neilson, NEMCTF Secretary
3
Qc 1. 17. 1996 10:36t14
CDM Camp Dresser & McKee Inc.
MEMORANDUM
To: Fred Wickman - City of Rosemead Engineer
From: Sharon Wallin
Subject: Sound Mitigation Measures
El Monte Operable Unit Interim R!/FS
CDM Project Number 8208-14138-110. W 1.ACCS
CDM File No. 8208-110-5.2.6
Date: October 17, 1996
No. 2972 P.
The following information regarding sound mitigation measures to be employed at the
proposed MW2-6 and MW2-8 drilling sites is provided per your October 16,1996 request:
Recent Well Drilling and Installation Sites
The drilling subcontractor (Beylik Drilling, Inc.) recently installed soundproofing at two
residential areas in Baldwin Park and one in El Monte. During well drilling and installation
activities at all three locations, no complaints were received. The drill sites were located at or
adjacent to the following properties:
■ Kenmore Elementary School
3823 Kenmore Avenue
Baldwin Park, CA
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
3848 Stewart Avenue
Baldwin Park, CA
■ California-American Water Company
3807 Gibson Road
El Monte, CA
Sound Mea-,urements and Mitigation Measures
In order to design the appropriate sound mitigation measures to assure compliance with the
City of Rosemead Noise Control Ordinance (Chapter III, Section 4306), sound measurements
were collected at the California-American Water Company location. The following decibel
measurements were noted during drilling;
1:lpr21uv\52-06.110\C--rrr3\ 1017%e.mea
Oc I. 17. 1996' 10:36AM
CDM Cjmp Dresser & McKee Inc.
Memorandum to Mr. Fred Wickman
October 17, 1996
Page 2
No. 2972 P. 3/5
64 decibels, in an alleyway approximately 20 feet west of the drill site
67 decibels, on a sidewalk approximately 35 feet south of the drill site
61 decibels, on a sidewalk across the street and approximately 35 feet east of
the drill site
At the time the measurements were taken, sound mitigation measures consisted of the
installation of a single curtain of acoustic panels around the drill site, and the use of standard
equipment mufflers and sound enclosures around the drill rig engine. Based on these
readings, additional sound mitigation measures which will be employed during drilling and
well installation in the City of Rosemead consist of the following:
Installation of a second layer of acoutic paneling around the drill sites. The
second acoustic panel will be placed parallel to the first panel, doubling the
thickness of the acoustic paneling surrounding the sites.
Acoustic panels will be placed around the drill rig and other equipment
engines.
Similar sound mitigation measures were used successfully at the Kenmore Elementary
School and Saint John the Baptist drilling sites. If you require any additional information,
please do not hesitate to call.
cc: Ken Russo, NEMCTF Chairperson
Dan Bercrman, NTEMCTF Project Coordinator
Phyllis Neilson, hTEMCTF Secretary
Dave Chamberlin, CUM
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Section 4306. Exterior Noise Standards
(a) The following noise standards, unless otherwise
specifically indicated, shall apply to all receptor properties
within a designated noise zones:
Noise Zone
1
zx
Izx
Type of Land Use
(Receptor Property)
Time Interval
Allowable
Exterior Noise
Level lr"i
.Single, double or multi- 10:00 p.m.77:00 a.m. j d5
ple family residential 7:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m. 60 dB
Comirercial
Industrial or
Manufacturing
10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m
Anytimz
(b) A person shall not in any location-.o `.the City
of Rosemead create any notse,• or allow the creation of any
noise on property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise con-
t=olled, by such person (hereipafter. "Noise Source") , which
causes the noise level when measured on any property (here-
inafter "Receptor Property") , to exceed:
(1) The applicable noise standard for a cumulative
period of more than thirty minutes in any hour; or
•(2) The applicable noise standard plus 5 dBA for a
cumulative period of more than fifteen minutes in any hour; or
(3) The applicable noise standard plus 10 dBA for a
cu-mslative period of more than five minutes in any hour; or
'(4) - The applicable noise standard plus 15 dBA for a
cumulative period of more than one minute in any hour; or
o^ time .
(5) The noise standard plus 20 dBA for any period
60 dB
65 do
7 0 dB
-133-
d- BA
145
Physical]?, Painful
140
Sonic Boom
Extremely Loud
135
130
125
Jet Takeoff at 200'
Discomforting
120
Oxygen Torch
115
Discotheque
110
Motorcycle at 15' (Unmuffled)
105
Power Mower at 3'
Very Loud
100
Newspaper Press
95
Freight Train at 50'
90
Food Blender
85
Electric Mixer, Alarm Clock
s0
Heavy Truck at 50'
75
Busy Street Traffic at 50'
70
Average Traffic at 100', Vacuum Cleaner at 10'
Loud
65
Electric Typewriter at 10'
60
Dishwasher at 10', Air Conditioning Unit at 15'
55
Normal Conversation at 5'
50
Typical Daytime Suburban Background
45
Refrigerator at 10'
40
Bird Calls
35
Library
30
Quiet
25
20
Motion Picture Studio
15
=
10 _
Leaves Rustling
5
Threshold of Hearing
0
San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority
861 Village Oaks Drive, Suite 105, Covina, California 91724 • (818) 859-7777 • Fax (818) 859-7788
http://www.wqa.com/sg-vw/wqa
August 8, 1996
Dear Neighbor:
You are invited to participate in a community meeting to be held on Thursday, August 15 at
6:30 pm at the Rosemead Community Center (Room 6) located at 3938 Muscatel Avenue.
The purpose of the meeting is to inform you of upcoming work to be performed in the street
at four locations in Rosemead, and to answer any questions you may have regarding the
project and measures which will be taken to control noise, dust, traffic, etc. The project
consists of the drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring wells at the four locations
shown on the attached map and noted below:
Work
Drill Site No. a i
H tt's
Work Activity and Duration
MW2-1 south side of Lower Azusa
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
well drilling/installation - 3 days
Road, approx. 100 to 200
(100' shallow well)
feet east of Rosemead Blvd.
MW2-2 east side of Hart Avenue,
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
well drilling/installation - 3 days
approx. 50 feet south of
(100' shallow well)
Marshall St.
MW2-6 on Steele Street, approx.
24 hours/day
well drilling/installation - 10 days
150 feet east of Rosemead
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
well development/ testing - 5 days
Blvd.
-(400' deep well)
MW2-8 on Brookline Ave.,
24 hours/day
well drilling/ installation - 10 days
between Olney St. and
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
well development/ testing - 5 days
the San Bernardino Fwy.
(400' deep well)
The work is being performed by the Northwest El Monte Community Task Force (Task
Force), under an agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Abencv
(USEPA). The project is part of a plan to investigate and clean up, if necessary, ground:ater
contamination within the El Monte Operable Unit (EMOU) portion of the San Gabriel Malley
Superfund site. This plan will help serve the present and future needs of the community by
providing information that will be used to characterize the extent of groundwater
contamination within the EN40U and develop an appropriate remediation plan. These
activities will continue to assure that the water you drink is a high quality and healthful.
C f
August 8, 1996
Page 2
The work will be supervised by Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. (CDM), an environmental
consulting firm located in Irvine, California. CDM and the drilling contractor have recently
completed similar projects in the Baldwin Park, Irwindale, and City of Industry areas.
All engines (drilling rig, generator, compressor, etc.) will be equipped with properly functioning
mufflers. For work performed on a 24-hours/day basis in residential areas, the drilling contractor
will be required to install soundproofing (approximate 16-foot tall acoustic panels) around the
work area. The use of air wrenches will not be allowed during the night. Soil cuttings removed
from the boring will be contained at the site in covered roll-off bins, with drilling fluids
contained in portable tanks. Traffic cones will be used to control the flow of traffic around the
work area.
An engineer's representative will be on site at all times when work is being performed, in order
to address any complaints and implement appropriate remedies. Please feel free to contact the
on-site representative any time work is being performed. However, for personal safety reasons,
do not enter the hard hat area. In the event that the on-site representative is not able to answer
your questions or address your concerns, please feel free to contract the CDM project manager,
Ms. Sharon Wallin, at (714) 752-5452 during normal business hours. You may also contact the
Assistant Manager for the City of Rosemead, Mr. Don Wagner, at (818) 288-6671.
CDM anticipates that drilling will begin during the month of October, 1996, at one of the deep
well locations (either MW2-6 or MW2-8). After the deep wells are installed and water quality
samples collected and submitted for laboratory analysis, the two shallow wells will be installed.
Assuming deep well drilling and installation activities are performed on a 24-hour/day basis, the
entire project should take approximately four weeks to complete.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience regarding this_ important project. The Task Force
and CDM will make every effort to complete the project in a timely manner, with minimal
inconvenience to you and the community.
Sincerely,
SAN GABRIEL BASIN
WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY
Mr. Kirby Brill, P.E.
Assistant Executive Director
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Qc t. 17. 1996 i 0::6;11
October 18, 1996
Dear Neighbor:
No. ?972 F. " r
You are invited to attend the next meeting of the Rosemead City Council to be held at City Hall,
8838 East Valley Boulevard, on Tuesday, October 22 at 8:DO pm, The City Council has been
requested by the Northwest El Monte Community Task Force (Task Force) to allow
groundwater monitoring well drilling, installation, and development at the following locations
during the work hours noted below:
Work
Well No. Logation Hours
MW2-6 on Steele Street, approx. 24 hours/day
80 feet east of Rosemead 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Blvd.
MW2-8 on Brookline Ave., 24 hours/day
between Olney St, and 7 a.rr to 6 p.m
the San Bernardino Fwy.
Work Activity and Duration
well drilling/installation - 6 to 10 days
well development - 5 days
well drilling/installation - 6 to 10 days
well development - S days
If you have any questions or concerns regarding allowing the work to be performed during the
hours noted above, please feel free to attend the meeting to express those concerns.
As detailed in correspondence distributed to you on August-9,-the work described above is
being performed by the Task Force under an agreement with the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA). The project is part of a plan to investigate and clean up, if
necessary, groundwater contamination within the El Monte Operable Unit (EMOU) portion of
the San Gabriel Valley Superfund site. This plan will help serve the present and future needs of
the community by providing information that will be used to characterize the extent of
groundwater contamination within the EMOU and develop an appropriate remediation plan.
These activities will continue to assure that the water you drink is of high quality and healthful.
The work will be supervised by Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. (CDM), an environmental
consulting firm located in Irvine, California. CDM and the drilling contractor have recently
completed similar projects in the Baldwin Park, City of Industry, and Irwindale areas. All
engines (drilling rig, generator, compressor, etc.) will be equipped with properly functioning
mufflers. For work performed on a 24-hour per day basis in residential areas, the drilling
contractor will be required to install soundproofing (approximate 16-foot tall acoustic panels)
around the work area and equipment engines. The use of air wrenches will not be allowed
during the night. At all times work is proceeding on the installation of these wells, these sound
mitigation measures will assure compliance with the City of Rosemead Noise Control
Ordinance.
Oct. 17. 1996 10
: 3o.tih~
• lac 2?72
October 18,1996
Page 2
CDM personnel will be on site at all times when work is being performed, in order to answer
questions and respond to your concerns. If you need any additional information, please feel free
to contact the CDM project manager, Ms. Sharon Wallin, at (714) 752-5452 during normal
business hours. You may also contact the Assistant Manager for the City of Rosemead, Mr. Don
Wagner, at (818) 288-6671.
CDM currently anticipates that well drilling will begin at location MW2-6 by mid .November
(approximately November 12), with well development activities at that location completed
before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience regarding this important project. The Task Force
and CDM will make every effort to complete the project in a timely manner, with minimal
inconvenience to you and the community.
Sincerely,
Main San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority
Mr. Kirby Brill
Assistant Executive Director
CC-G REQUEST FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOUR PER DAY DRILLING OPERATIONS
VERBATIM DIALOGUE FOLLOWS:
COUNCILMEMBER GARY TAYLOR: Madam Mayor. I don't know who pulled it off, but...
MAYOR MARGARET CLARK: Juan wants to speak on this.
TAYLOR: Okay. 1 had a couple of questions on this particular item. I believe they stated that
they estimate ten days to do these particular wells.
CLARK: It was for 24-hours, I believe.
TAYLOR: 24-hours, I'm really reluctant ...I know it's for their convenience to do it. But even
if the decibel level is not so much, maybe the loudness of the noise, but all night long to hear
the equipment, even if it's down at the lower decibel level. I'm concerned about, I'm just
concerned that the residents immediately next to this ...what are we going to be doing to
them?
COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT BRUESCH: Madam Mayor. Actually the decibel level is that of
running a refrigerator at 20'. If I'm not mistaken, at least the Brookline Avenue one is going
to be within half a block of the freeway and the freeway's noise at that point is way higher
than what is going to be from the diesel engines. The one on Valley Boulevard is...south of
Valley Boulevard, the street sound most of the time is way above 60 decibels. To me, if
they're willing to go and double wall those things and make that effort to making the sound
less and due to the fact that it would almost triple the time of constructing these wells, I can't
see if we have any choice.
CLARK: Juan, did you want to speak on this?
JUAN NUNEZ: Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar, and I don't live in the area in case one of the
members wants to ask me where I live. I just wonder, I also have a problem, as ecb
it's like a refrigerator running. But, you know on continuous 24-hour, that probably gets on
your nerves. Also, I don't know if there's any vibration on that for the people that are living
close to the drilling area. Those are some things that you, the Council people should probably
take into consideration. It's true that if they work 24-hours they can finish it faster in 10
days. The other way it might take them 15 days or a month. But, they could probably start
working at 7 o'clock in the morning and probably until 7 o'clock in the evening or 8 o'clock
in the evening to give them 12, 13 hours operation time. That would be a concern, like I say,
a lot of people may not be here speaking about it because maybe they figure that government
wants to do it and it's going to be done.
BRUESCH: Madam Mayor. One of the critical issues is not the time, the extra time it would
take. It's the caving in of the walls of the well. The walls of the well, according to the report
I've read here are the thing that is really worrisome to them, that if they should ...they really
don't know what type of soil is down there, and if they should let it go overnight, the walls
of the well could collapse if it's shale or sand. And, it could ruin their equipment and also just
add extra time. In other words, they would almost have to start at ground zero again - start
all over again. That's what they're worried about.
NUNEZ: I did read the report, but are they encasing the well as they're going down.
BRUESCH: I don't know. All I'm responding to from what they said here and they repeated
about 5 times in this report that the main reason they do not like to stop in the middle of a
drilling session is because they're worried that the walls would collapse.
NUNEZ: As I say, what would collapse probably, if it was just a hole in the ground, no
shoring or anything like that, but if it's encased, there's a casing going down, I cannot see any
reason for that caving in since the casing is holding up the dirt, whatever is going to cave in.
BRUESCH: Maybe staff can answer ...how big a hole are we talking about?
CC 10-22-96
Page 3
FRANK TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGER: Sharon Wallin is in the back. Sharon can you come up to
the microphone, please. Sharon Wallin is with Camp Dresser & McKee Incorporated. About
how big a hole are we talking about.
SHARON WALLIN: The hole is a 12' diameter hole and it is not encased. What holds up the
hole from collapsing is drilling mud that is inside the hole so it's a fluid. And, typically, when
we do these, we do drill them 24 hours-a-day because when you close down for the night,
the only thing that is holding that hole from collapsing is this fluid inside the hole. So, in the
morning when you go back in again, certain parts of it or all of it could collapse overnight.
From our point of view, we are going to be putting up soundproofing and doing all these
mitigating measures to keep noises, like he says, kind of like equivalent to a refrigerator hum
in the distance. There's a lot of inconvenience to having a street ...to have to have equipment
in the street for 30 days versus 10 days.
BRUESCH: Have you done one of these jobs in a residential area?
WALLIN: We just did one in the City of El Monte and we drilled a certain part of that for 24-
hours a day. However, because of the size of the site, we had soundproofing up. The site
was physically too small to get all of our equipment in that we needed at night, so that we
could not drill that one night.
BRUESCH: What about the one in Baldwin Park that you mentioned.
WALLIN: We also finished another one in El Monte that was in an industrial area so we didn't
have to put up soundproofing.
BRUESCH: My next question is, did you have complaints from the residents about the noise
level?
WALLIN: We did two... getting back to your first question. We did two wells in Baldwin Park
by an elementary school and one by a Catholic church and we did not have any complaints
from anybody about the noise.
TRIPEPI: And, those were 24-hours
WALLIN: Yes.
TAYLOR: How deep were those?
WALLIN: They were much deeper - they were probably 1000 feet. It took a significantly
longer period of time to put those wells in than these wells.
TAYLOR: How deep were they in El Monte?
WALLIN: Now we're talking about the El Monte wells, about 400' deep. The Baldwin Park
wells by the elementary school and by the church were about 1000 to 1200'.
TAYLOR: They were 400' deep in El Monte.
WALLIN: Correct.
TAYLOR: Did you have any complaints in El Monte?
WALLIN: We did not.
COUNCILMEMBER JOE VASQUEZ: Madam Mayor. How high were the decibels 60 in El
Monte.
WALLIN: We took measurements in the El Monte site and residential area with just the first
layer of soundproofing up and decibels were in the mid 60's. After we got those readings,
we realized that to do this in Rosemead, in a residential area at night, we would then have to
put up a double wall of blankets - these are the acoustical panels that deaden the noise and
CC 10-22-96
Page 4
also they are going to be building acoustical panel enclosures around their engines.
TAYLOR: You said in El Monte that you did not drill 24-hours a day.
WALLIN: On one site we did not, the second site we did. The second site was in an
industrial area.
TAYLOR: What was the purpose for not drilling 24-hours.
WALLIN: On the residential site?
TAYLOR: Right.
WALLIN: The site was a lot, 50' by 75'. We physically could not get soundproofing built up
around the equipment and...
TAYLOR: 50' by 75'...
WALLIN: About 75' or smaller.
TAYLOR: Are you blocking the entire street off then because they're only 36' wide in
Rosemead.
WALLIN: This was a lot. It was a lot where there was a water well.
TAYLOR: How are you going to block off the street then? How much area do you take for
the drilling rig?
WALLIN: We need a minimum of about 25'.
TAYLOR: And, how long?
WALLIN: 100', something like that.
TAYLOR: And, what were your hours of drilling on that lot?
WALLIN: Again, this lot was the one where we put soundproofing around it. We intended
to go at night, but we could not. We drilled probably from about 7:00 a.m. until about 8 or
9.
TAYLOR: That sounds very practical from my standpoint. That well was also 400' deep?
WALLIN: Right.
BRUESCH: Madam Mayor. Why were these particular points of drilling chosen?
WALLIN: EPA and the Regional Water Quality Control Board had put together these
things they call plume maps. It shows the groundwater contamination in the El Monte area
and the City of Rosemead area and the wells. The first two wells we did in El Monte, the
locations were defined by EPA. They said they want wells kind of in the interior of the
groundwater contamination area. The wells that are going in the City of Rosemead are kind
of exterior wells to find the fringes of the plume - the groundwater contamination.
CLARK: Would you like to come forward. Do you have something.
NUNEZ: I'd like to ask a question again. The vibration, is there any vibration?
WALLIN: No noticeable vibration.
NUNEZ: Once you said that, the people in the area will not be able to say it's too much noise.
You won't be able to stop.
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WALLIN: I was at the other locations and I was standing right next to it, I didn't notice it.
NUNEZ: Did you have a crew at night there.
WALLIN: I was there at four in the morning several times.
NUNEZ: But, what I mean, working, not somebody that is sleeping at their home and getting
that call.
WALLIN: Again, we did this at by an elementary school and by a catholic church in Baldwin
Park, a much deeper well. Again, we were as close.
CLARK: Juan, let's let this gentleman speak.
ROBERT BOYER: My name is Robert Boyer and I live at 3502 N. Brookline. This well on
Brookline is right in front of my house. And I was wondering how I was going to get in and
out of my driveway. How much dirt and sediment and whatever is going to be traipsed up
and down my driveways and onto my house possibly. And, also, am I going to be able to
sleep at night with this drilling going on 24-hours.
CLARK: Sharon, would you like to answer that.
WALLIN: The question was, the location on Brookline is...we probably have to close the
entirety of the street between the freeway and Olney Street because when they put up their
soundproofing, they have to allow themselves room inside to work. We are going to have
conversations with the people who live in those properties and just see what kind of
combinations we can make in terms of...I've looked at the parking on the street and it does
look like we'll have to block up three whole driveways. Again, pardon me...
BOYER: At least three.
WALLIN: Yes. At least three. Again, I was just going to have individual conversations with
the people to see one-on-one what we can do to accommodate you for that period of time.
One of my things was, if you need to move groceries to your car, I can have one of the drillers
help you do that. I recognize it's an inconvenience, but there's absolutely no where in that
area, any place else where we can put these wells.
BRUESCH: Excuse me. I'm just looking at the map and knowing that area, this one MW 2-2.
If that was moved a block west, it would be on the parking lot of the shopping center. It
wouldn't impact residents at all.
WALLIN: It is my understanding that on the agenda tonight we're talking about 2-6 and 2-8
and those are the deep wells where we'll be drilling 24-hours a day. 2-1 and 2-2, we're only
talking daylight hours and at that location across the street from the shopping mall, the street
is plenty wide to accommodate a small drilling at the curb.
BRUESCH: Okay. Isn't there ...I know that north of there along Temple City Boulevard there
are a couple of vacant lots. Is that too far north. It's only two blocks.
WALLIN: The area is quite small and the EPA has pretty much locked us into a lot of these
locations. I searched Temple City Boulevard trying to look on that street to see if we could
use this location, the one that's on Brookline and Olney, and the street is just too busy with
highway traffic.
BRUESCH: There is an empty lot by Valley.
WALLIN: Offhand, I'm not familiar with the empty lot. I know that we've scouted the area
and we've searched the area. A lot of times empty lots are owned by someone and if they're
empty sometimes they have environmental problems, and I don't know if that's the case here.
But, usually, we cannot put a well on a lot that has environmental problems. And then, there
is also the access, private property access issues.
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BRUESCH: Again, the one by Valley Boulevard, if you went down east on Valley just about
half a mile there's an empty lot.
CLARK: But, the one on Valley is not 24-hour and that's because of the depth of the well.
BRUESCH: So, the only one that is going to impact the homeowners is Brookline.
WALLIN: The one on Brookline and Olney, and the one on Rosemead and Valley.
TAYLOR: Rosemead and Steele Street.
WALLIN: I'm sorry ...yes, south of Valley.
CLARK: Are you residents from Steele or Brookline, both of you from Brookline?
AUDIENCE: Olney and Brookline.
CLARK: Okay. So, you're both the same well.
TAYLOR: What about the comment you made, the EPA directed you where to drill them in
El Monte?
WALLIN: Pretty much all the locations that we have picked, EPA picks them on a map based
on where the plume is. We then go out and scout around for a couple a block radius and try
to see if there are some other sites to drill on.
TAYLOR: What about the vacant industrial lots two blocks east of Baldwin in the same direct
line of the freeway wall.
WALLIN: We have just put in a well east of Baldwin.
TAYLOR: Where was that at.
WALLIN: That was this Cal-Am Water Company location.
TAYLOR: I'm not familiar with where they are located.
WALLIN: Valley and Gibson.
TAYLOR: Okay. Well, this down at the end of Gibson right next to the freeway.
WALLIN: That's too far to the east. We need to be a little further to the west because the
plume is moving in a southwest direction.
TAYLOR: These are going to monitoring wells?
WALLIN: That's correct.
TAYLOR: So, there will be permanent piping placed into them.
WALLIN: There is a permanent 4" diameter steel casing, that is flush mounted so that cars
won't be running over it. It looks like a manhole cover and then there's going to be 400' long
section of casing, stainless steel casing that extends below the ground.
CLARK: So, once the well is in there is no impact on the residents at all.
WALLIN: Once the well is in there is no impact whatsoever. Three times a year, four times
a year, for the first year we'll go out and sample it and it'll take a day to do that.
TAYLOR: Do you do the sampling for them.
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Page 7
WALLIN: Yes, we do. We take the samples and turn them into a laboratory and we give all
the results to the EPA and a report. From these results, EPA figures out where the
contamination is and how to clean it up.
TAYLOR: What is the best procedure to work it out with the residents. I noticed you had a
meeting and only one person showed up.
WALLIN: That's correct, and I've had several conversations with her since then.
TAYLOR: What about the other residents. Because they didn't show up I don't think they
really understand the magnitude that is going to happen to them. We go through that when
we do have our public hearings and such, they don't understand until it happens.
WALLIN: Right. Well, in any case, when we're there, we have someone on site at all times
and if there is any problem with anything, people feel free to come up to us.
TAYLOR: There is something else that has crossed my mind. On the end of Brookline, the
concrete walls, they don't absorb all the sound and I don't recall... Mr. Boyer, on the end of
the street down there, is the ivy covering that brick, it's exposed concrete.
BOYER: No. The tall one, they tore a lot of it off.
TAYLOR: And that's what, about 30 to 35' high. So, you have the potential of that sound
ricocheting, echoing back off of that wall.
WALLIN: We'll have soundproofing up around the work area.
TAYLOR: And, that's what, 16' tall.
WALLIN: It's about 16' tall.
TAYLOR: And that wall is 35' tall. Any drilling noise is going to tend to ricochet back to the
homes.
WALLIN: Again, I'm not an acoustical person, but I would think we would have that sound
decibel meter out there and we can take readings.
TAYLOR: What happens if the noise is...a what decibel-, what's the cutoff level.
WALLIN: Like I said, I think I would leave that up to the individual property owners. If
something is too noisy, we'll fix it.
CLARK: I'd like to interject here. If we approve this and then there is a problem, can we
modify our position. In other words, if it's just not going to work, we can say one night and
that's it, or stop it - 7 or 9 o'clock at night or whatever.
WALLIN: Yes. If it doesn't work and people are mad...
CLARK: We're not signing our lives away by saying this is forever, this is it.
WALLIN: We want to get the wells in and get them out of the way and get them sampled
before the holiday kicks in and then we've got the street closed and we're well into
Thanksgiving.
CLARK: Things being equal, I would think that unless it didn't work right, as a resident, I
would rather get them out of there in 10 days rather than 30 days. Just the whole
inconvenience of the whole thing. If, as you say, we can mitigate the sound.
TAYLOR: I think we are in agreement to get it done as quick as we can. But, the flip side
of the coin is the unknown circumstances.
CC 10-22-96
Page 8
CLARK: Well, that's what I'm saying. If we have this caveat that if it's not working out we
can jump in there and say...
TAYLOR: That's fine. Mr. Kress, do you interpret it that way?
ROBERT KRESS, CITY ATTORNEY: Yes, when you're ready for a motion, I suggest that if
it would be the will of the Council to approve this, let the directive be to staff to work with
the engineering firm to make all the necessary mitigations as promised and that staff be
empowered to withdraw the approval of the 24-hour operations if the City's ordinance is not
observed by the mitigation measures.
TAYLOR: That sounds reasonable.
BRUESCH: Madam Mayor. I just want to be absolutely sure that the access to the residents
property will not be obstructed or at least if it is, it will not keep them from any access to
their homes. Is there going to be an instance where there be whatever cuttings, whatever
it is, or something in front of the persons home that they will have no access to their own
driveway.
WALLIN: What we intend to do with the soil cuttings is keep them in bins, you know, the
bins you typically see in front of a construction site, in covered roll-off bins. And, because
that site on Brookline is so small, we're planning on putting some of the bins on the Olney
Street.
BRUESCH: My question is, again, is there going to be a time during the construction, the 10
day construction time, when access to any property going to be totally no access.
WALLIN: The one Brookline is tight, I don't really know the answer to that. It depends on
once we go there and put up the soundproofing and see how much room we have. There's
two driveways on the east side of Brookline and there's one driveway on the west side.
BRUESCH: If there is no access, how long would that last - ten days?
WALLIN: No, probably five or six.
BRUESCH: Five or six.
WALLIN: It would be the short period because when we're drilling and reaming and putting
in the well, it should take about six days, that's without having any problems.
TAYLOR: Madam Mayor. On Steele Street, how much of an area of the street are you going
to block off?
WALLIN: The driller right now is instructed to prepare a traffic plan and that's part of their
access route with the City and they are in the process of doing that.
TAYLOR: Are you going to block the entire street off or half of it.
WALLIN: It seems to me, actually, it would be safer to block off the whole street because
at the end of Steele where it intersects with Rosemead, we probably allow one lane, then that
would kind of set up a dangerous situation, the cars trying to get by. There is an exit down
on Hart Street, Hart Street is to the east, I believe.
TAYLOR: So, in realistic terms, you're going to maybe block off four driveways each side of
Steele Street.
WALLIN: The only driveways on Steele Street that would be blocked are the Sanwa Bank
driveway on the south side. We wouldn't block the employee parking lot. We would end
right there.
TAYLOR: Okay. So, you're not going to be blocking any of the residents, it's all going to be
from the parking lot to Rosemead.
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Page 9
WALLIN: That's correct.
TAYLOR: That's feasible.
CLARK: Okay. Did you want to speak again, Juan?
BOYER: (from the audience) At the end of Brookline where they are going to be drilling there,
I don't know how much water there is going to be in the drilling or on the street.
WALLIN: Since it's environmental drilling, we contain everything on site in either bins for the
soil or tanks for the water.
BOYER: There's no drains at the end of that street at all. If it starts raining, that water is
going to back up clear to your well.
WALLIN: We would be fined big time if we discharged anything to the ground.
BOYER: There's three cars in my household, there's three next door, and I think there's two
across the street - that's eight cars. Are we supposed to just park on the street?
WALLIN: I'm sorry, I wasn't really quite prepared. I was going to have conversations with
you folks during the week. The bottom line is I think at that location we're just going to have
to block some of those driveways.
BRUESCH: Madam Mayor. We're going to have to do something with the street sweeping
down there.
TRIPEPI: We always do, Bob. That's not a problem, that's the least of our worries.
WALLIN: The drillers clean the streets when they are done. That's our responsibility. Like
I said, if we can only block half or two-thirds of the street, that would be great, but I just
don't know until we start putting up the soundproofing and see what's going to happen.
TAYLOR: Okay. Worst scenario - you block the whole street off, what are you going to do
with those eight cars?
WALLIN: Whatever they want to me do. The cars will probably have to park on the street.
But, but if they need groceries carried back and forth...
AUDIENCE: It won't be safe parking on the street.
WALLIN: We're going to be there 24-hours a day. If you want us to look at the cars...
BOYER: Are you going to protect our cars?
AUDIENCE: Are you going to protect vehicles?
TAYLOR: I live three blocks from them and I've had three vehicles stolen from the street right
in front of my house.
WALLIN: Like I said, we're there 24-hours a day and we have our own cars there and I'm not
going to be there with a shot-gun guarding cars, but we are there.
BRUESCH: Madam Mayor. Could I ask for hourly patrols during that time by our Sheriffs, so
that they go by that area.
CLARK: Or would it better to provide for the cars to be parked in a secure area.
TRIPEPI: How about a security guard.
CLARK: Could we ask you to hire a security guard for that period?
CC 10-22-96
Page 10
WALLIN: I would have to talk to my client about that. I don't think they would object to that.
I can't speak for them though - the group of businesses that are putting in these wells.
BRUESCH: That would alleviate a problem.
JONNIE MATSDORF: Just for a point of the noise, I don't know if it's your outfit that did it,
but across the street from the California Christian Home at the San Gabriel Water Company,
they drilled a well, probably a weekish, 24-hours a day. It was soundproofed. You can hear
a slight droning off in the distance, that was about it. It was absolutely , and we
live a block away. It also butts up to a wash, I would imagine it would resonate through the
wash, there was none, nothing uncomfortable, nothing more than a car going by.
TAYLOR: Madam Mayor. The client has to decide on the security. How do we cover that
issue. We defer this or approve this, or...
WALLIN: EPA has given us a pretty strict schedule. It looks like we would like to start drilling
something around the middle of November. That way at that first location, the one on Steele
Street, we can be in and out before the Thanksgiving holiday hits.
TAYLOR: I think it's reasonable that some security must be provided where necessary.
TRIPEPI: Mr. Taylor. Staff would suggest if you grant the permit tonight, subject to the
decibel readings of the City ordinance, that you also include, it's subject to the company
providing security for those vehicles, at least at night time hours.
WALLIN: It sounds very reasonable to me. I don't see where they would balk against that.
TRIPEPI: Would the neighbors feel better about that, if they hired a security service to watch
the cars, say from 8 o'clock at night until 6 o'clock in the morning. Is that reasonable.
BOYER: I'd like them to stop drilling about 9 o'clock.
TRIPEPI: How about if it's a problem, if it's a problem as they drill, then we'll certainly talk
to the folks and I think they've agreed that they would take a look at that. Is that fair.
CLARK: In the staff report, I believe we've had phone numbers that they can call. They have
your phone number during the day, but what do we do at night?
WALLIN: There is someone at the site constantly.
CLARK: Okay. So you're to feel free to go out and talk to the workers because they are
instructed that they will take your complaints and work on them, and then we can get in
touch with our City staff here and handle the problems. So, please feel free.
TRIPEPI: Mr. Taylor. We would suggest then that security service be from 8:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m.
AUDIENCE: We don't have to worry about getting tickets on our cars.
TRIPEPI: No, that will be taken care of.
TAYLOR: If you get one, Loretta, just bring it up here, to the meeting. No, you shouldn't
have any problem with that.
NUNEZ: You say you are going to encase the well after it's drilled, the casing cannot be
installed as you're drilling.
WALLIN: No, no. You drill the wall and you complete it and then you design the well and
then you install the casing. You can't do it while your ...that's the old way.
NUNEZ: The old-fashioned would be better, then you would have no caving.
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WALLIN: To do it the old way, we'd be there for two months.
TAYLOR: How is it that you drill the 12' hole 400' deep, pull that drill rig out and then drop
in 400' of 4' pipe.
WALLIN: How is it what?
TAYLOR: How is that done?
WALLIN: It's kind of a two-step process. First we drill a pilot hole, like a 6" diameter hole
and then we throw those tools down there that sense where sand and gravel is and clay is.
Based on that we pick permeable zones to put the perforations for the well. The
contamination is going to be in the most permeable zones. And then they ream the hole to
12" diameter, pull their drill bit out...
TAYLOR: 400' deep, they pull the drill bit out.
WALLIN: That's correct. It's in 20 foot segments and there's a bit at the end of it. They pull
that out as fast as they can and they start installing their steel casing, which is welded
together. It takes about a day to install it. It takes about two days to drill it and this is based
on the experience we had in El Monte. Two days to ream it, two days to install the casing.
An then the 24-hour part is over.
TAYLOR: In El Monte, though, what were your hours of drilling?
WALLIN: On the second location, we drilled around the clock, 24-hours a day.
TAYLOR: What was the first location in the residential area?
WALLIN: Again, we drilled from like 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., something like that, and it took
us three weeks.
CLARK: The one by the Baptist church, the Catholic church...
WALLIN: The one at the Catholic church and the one at the elementary school, they drilled
round the clock 24-hours.
CLARK: That area is, that is the church where East Valley's organization is very active in.
And, I can assure you that if that had been problems, they would have heard about it.
WALLIN: It was a very similar situation, it was very sensitive to noise and inconvenience.
It was done and there was absolutely no complaints about it.
BRUESCH: Madam Mayor. I would like to move the approval of the recommendation with
the addition of the requirement for the security guard.
CLARK: Do I hear a second?
VASQUEZ: Second.
COUNCILMEMBER JAY IMPERIAL: I keep thinking about possible damage when this happens
to somebody's property. What's going to happen in a case like that? If there is some
damage, will it be fixed? I keep going back to the co-generation plant and how when they
buried that shaft, it caused a lot of damage. My question is if this is done, will they be
responsible for any damages that might happen to that property, whether it be surface or
subsurface.
WALLIN: I don't know about what you talking about, but that shaft, I assume that is
something very large. This is a 12" diameter hole. Standing right next to it you don't feel any
vibrations to it.
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IMPERIAL: I'm not talking about vibrations. I'm talking possible change of the soil to where
it might create a problem, maybe a foundation problem.
WALLIN: What the drilling method, and it's a standard drilling method, again, we drill 20'
from a home. Similar soils in El Monte and we haven't had any problems. This drilling mud
that you put in the liquid in the water coats the inside of the holes, it keep fluids from
travelling this way and it keeps the sand and gravel from coming in.
IMPERIAL: Going back to my original question. If there is some damage that is created
because of this, will these people be reimbursed for the damages.
WALLIN: We have certificates of insurance that we filed with the City. The driller is fully
insured, CDM has provided insurance.
IMPERIAL: So that means that if there is some damage that is credited to your job there,
these people will be reimbursed.
WALLIN: Drillers are responsible for whatever they do. We're responsible for whatever we
do.
IMPERIAL: Let that record show that, Madam Mayor.
TAYLOR: How did you handle the situation in El Monte when you were drilling your 12" hole
with the driller's mud and preventing the slouching of the surrounding soils, and shutting it
down for the night hours, you drilling that 400' deep.
WALLIN: We experienced some, it's called sloughing, which it generally falls in. We didn't
experience any collapse. It's always kind of a...who knows when it's going to happen. We
didn't lose the bore hole, which is good - and we were able to complete the wells.
TAYLOR: Right. The actual drilling time that you had there in El Monte was how long?
WALLIN: I was on vacation when it happened. I think it took us two or three times longer
to drill.
TAYLOR: You're not sure then.
WALLIN: I would say the actual drilling time - a week.
TAYLOR: It sounds reasonable for 400' there. All right. Thank you.
CLARK: We have a motion and a second to approve with a caveat of the security guard and
also, I believe that includes that ...with the option of withdrawal of approval if the noise
exceeds the decibels that is allowed, as our Attorney said.
IMPERIAL: Can we include, Madam Mayor, any subsurface damage that might be created
because of this.
KRESS: They are required as part of this permit process to submit insurance and they have,
in fact, submitted that. There is coverage in the event of any damage, so I don't think it's
really necessary for the Council to make that part of the motion.
CLARK: All right. We have a motion and a second. Please vote.
VOTE TAKEN FROM VOTING SLIP:
Yes: Vasquez, Clark, Bruesch, Imperial
No: Taylor
Absent: None
Abstain: None
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