Ordinance No. 20326 - Laserfiche WebLink

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FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE METRO PLAN AND STATEWIDE GOALS AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES Applicant: City of Springfield on behalf of the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC). Nature of the Application: The applicant proposes to amend the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan and the Public Facilities and Services Plan (PFSP)1 to (1) more adequately reflect the impact that new discharge permit restrictions will have had on the capacity of the regional wastewater treatment system, (2) to clarify the relationship between the PFSP project list and locally adopted capital improvement plans, and (3) to modify (streamline) the administrative and legislative processes that govern the implementation and amendment of the PFSP projects list. Background: MWMC's regional wastewater treatment facilities were designed and constructed in the late 1970's with a 20-year life expectancy. Slower than expected population growth in the 1980% extended this life expectancy. In 1996-97 MWMC developed a Master Plan to evaluate the performance of its facilities, to ascertain areas of constraints within the existing permit conditions, to identify short-term improvements (e.g., how to address seismic hazards), and to address other major issues that needed to be studied further. In May of 2002 the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) imposed new and more stringent discharge permit standards on the regional wastewater treatment facilities, particularly in regard to the treatment of ammonia and thermal loading. As MWMC staff began to evaluate design needs for its wastewater facilities, it became apparent to them that the existing facilities could not meet the demands imposed by the new discharge permit restrictions. Recognizing that a thorough assessment of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal/reuse needs for the next 20 years was essential, the MWMC began work on the 2004 Wastewater Facilities Plan, a comprehensive facilities plan update. The objectives of the 2004 Wastewater Facilities Plan are twofold. First, it is intended to provide for adequate community growth capacity through 2025, considering policies in the Metro Plan and current planning assessments for population and development. Second, the 2004 Wastewater Facilities Plan is intended to protect community health and safety by addressing sanitary sewer overflows, river safety, permit compliance and the cost-effective use of existing facilities and the efficient design of new facilities. The 2004 wastewater Facilities Plan recognizes and addresses the fact that the regional wastewater system for the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area does not have the capacity to i See appendices A & B, respectively. Exhibit 1 - 1