Agenda - 02-03-2009 - 6b - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Response to Questions from the BOCC on December 11 1) What are the possible impacts of the landfill gas transmission lines and other associated facilities on the proposed men's shelter at the former Duke Energy facility? Regarding possible impacts of the gas line and other associated facilities, UNC has indicated it will meet all environmental requirements as dictated by the State of North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality, and the Town of Chapel Hill noise ordinance. Based on the proposed area to be leased to the Town of Chapel Hill and the projected site for the landfill gas generator, the distance between the shelter and the generator will be as much as 400 to 500 feet. UNC has been in contact with Chris Moran, Executive Director of the Interfaith Council (IFC) and the IFC architectural consultant, Josh Gurlitz, to begin discussion of mutual compliance and compatibility issues. To date, no substantial problems have been identified for the planned relocation of the IFC Men's Shelter relative to the planned transmission lines or associated LFG facilities. 2) Why is there an ability to put landfill gas lines through the Greene Tract, but inability to put water and sewer lines through the Greene Tract? Orange County, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and the Orange Water and Sewer Authority are parties to a Water and Sewer Management, Planning and Boundary Agreement (the "Water and Sewer Agreement"). This Agreement, among other things, places limitations on extension of water and sewer service in certain areas of the County. The Greene Tract is located within an OWASA Primary Service Area as defined in the Water and Sewer Agreement. The Water and Sewer Agreement permits extension of water and sewer service through the Greene Tract. In fact, the Town of Chapel Hill's Rogers Road Small Area Plan Task Force recommendations anticipate these utilities will be made available to the jointly owned portion of the Greene Tract (no development of the County owned portion of the Greene Tract is now contemplated). 3) What are the potential uses for the new revenues to the County from UNC for landfill gas? The timeline of implementation for the project make it unlikely that any substantive revenue will be received from this project for perhaps 3-5 years. Moreover, significant additional expenditures from the enterprise fund are coming up and require funding, including: • landfill closure costs and new operations center debt service • costs of possible implementation of the Solid Waste Planning Work Group recommendations (expected in late spring 2009) • transfer station land acquisition and development costs (including potential new expenditures generated by the new transfer station community advisory group) • significantly increased operating costs associated with operating a remote waste transfer facility including hauling and disposal costs. In addition, recyclable material markets have recently experienced significant reductions in prices paid resulting in less revenue to offset operational expenses. It is therefore unlikely there will be surplus revenues to fund new ventures or obligations and more than likely the solid waste enterprise fund will be challenged to maintain financial integrity through its current landfill to transfer station transition period.