: Abbotsford rr ">1/]\1ission Water & Sewer Services

REPORT

To: Abbotsford/Mission Water & Sewer Commission (WSC)

From: Tony Seibert, Project Engineer

Date: April 27, 2011

Subject: JAMES Outfall Pipe - Summary of Hazard Warnings

File: 5330-70

Report No.: WSC 58-2011

UTILITY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (UMC) RECOMMENDATION

THAT Report No. WSC 58-2011, dated April 27, 2011, from Tony Seibert, Project Engineer, regarding the JAMES Outfall Pipe - Summary of Hazard Warnings, be received.

BACKGROUND

At the April 14, 2011 Abbotsford Mission Water and Sewer Commission (WSC) meeting there was concern about the exposed outfall pipe and the potential risks and hazards to the general public. Direction was given to ensure that notification of the hazard is issued to inform as many people as possible. As a result staff has taken steps to provide information to the targeted organizations, relevant groups and the general public. This report summarizes the notifications provided regarding the exposed outfall pipe and concrete anchor blocks.

DISCUSSION

Notification of the outfall hazard has been provided to the following groups and organizations:

1. The Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Services (ph. 604-666-6011) On December 22, 2010 an information package was sent to them by email for their information and review. See the attached copy of December 22, 2010 email (Appendix A). From initial discussions, the Coast Guard indicated that the need to issue a NOTSHIP "Notice to Shipping" was not likely required due to the fact that the exposed outfall was located outside the main (deep) channel.

2. Transport Canada Regular updates to Transport Canada have been provided throughout the project. See the latest email update of April 12, 2011, and their response attached (Appendix B).

3. Boaters

a. Two hazard marker buoys were installed by Phoenix Marine on December 22, 2010 to mark the limits of exposed outfall pipe section in the South channel.

WSC Report No. 58-2011 Page 2 of 2

b. An additional 9 hazard marker buoys were installed by Phoenix Marine on Friday April 15, 2011, to better mark each of the exposed anchor blocks and outfall pipe. A total of 11 hazard marker buoys are now in place. See the attached photo of completed installation (Appendix C).

c. On April 20, 2011 six laminated 11 "x17" hazard warning signs were provided to Shelly Clarkson , Member of Mission Harbour Authority for posting at boat launches and government docks, in close proximity to the Matsqui Island. See attached copy of hazard warning sign (Appendix D). The Mission Harbour Authority also posted a marine alert on Channel 16 radio recording, advising of the hazard and its' GPS coordinates.

4. Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) On April 21, 2011 an electronic copy of the hazard warning sign was provided to Tareq Islam, Director of Engineering at the FVRD.

5. General Public Notification in the local paper is planned for the Saturday issue on the City information page. The first notice planned to be issued April 30, 2011, and the same notification will be re-issued once per month until the outfall cover is re-instated.

FINANCIAL PLAN IMPLICATION

Costs for the supply and installation of hazard marker buoys are included in a previous WSC report (WSC 47-2011).

COMMUNICATION PLAN

None.

SUMMARY

Under the direction of the WSC, efforts are being made to inform the general public, boating community and targeted organizations on the Fraser River of the exposed outfall pipe and concrete ancho locks. These include advertisements in the local paper, notifications to Transport ad the Coast Guard, FVRD, and the Mission Harbour Authority.

Jim Gor. on, P. Eng. Gener. I Manager, Engineering and Regional Utilities

Appendix A

Tony Seibert

From: Tony Seibert

Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 20103:33 PM

To: 'offshore@rmic.gc.ca'

Cc: Rob Isaac; Ron Bernier; Stella Chiu

Subject: JAMES WWTP exposed Outfall Pipe

Hi Per,

I've attached some more details for your review:

Background - The JAMES Plant effluent discharge line is comprised of a 1,082m length of 1,200mm diameter HOPE transmission pipe that conveys the effluent water to the high current area of the Fraser River. A 76m length of steel pipe is connected to the end of the HOPE pipe and contains 70 diffuser ports through which the effluent is discharged. The HOPE pipe was designed and installed with concrete anchor blocks and a nominal 1.0m cover of sand backfill material.

The outfall pipe is with in a statutory right of way that extends out into the north channel of the Fraser River. This right of way also passes over the eastern tip of Matsqui Island and near the boundary of Three Island IR No.3

In early fall of 201 0 Plant Staff observed that the outfall pipe appeared to be exposed at the east point of Matsqui. lsland . Subsequent visits to the Matsqui Island on November 02 and 12, 2010 confirmed that approximately 245m of the HOPE outfall pipe is now exposed on the south shore of the Island and into the south channel. There may be less than 1.0m cover over other sections of the outfall to the south -photo 009 attached.

We have installed two hazard marker buoys - they are 36" x 9" diameter. One is at the southern end of the exposed pipe and the other is at mid-length of the exposed section. I have attached 3 photos of the installed Buoys - they are labeled with PRIV, owner information - JAMES WWTP OUTFALL, Ph 604-557-1455 (WWTP Address - 5959 Gladwin Dr. and our City Logo.

The Buoys are not planned to be permanent and will be removed upon completion of remedial work to restore cover over pipe. We are planning to have the restoration work completed by the end of February 2011.

I have also attached a PDF showing an air photo of the Outfall with the approximate Hazard Buoy locations.

I will await your review and comments. Please note our office will be closed for all of next week, and I will be away from Dec 27 and back in the Office on January 4th

Will we also need to advise the Canadian Hydrographic Services? I have already been in contact with Roberta Oight at Transport Canada.

Regards, Tony

4/21 /2011

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Appendix.

Tony Seibert

From: Dight, Roberta [Roberta.Dight@tc.gc.caj

Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 8:34 AM

To: Tony Seibert

Subject: RE: JAMES WWTP Outfall Pipe

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the update. Let me know if you r plans change from the approved ones. Otherwise I hope it all works out smoothly for you .

Roberta

From: Tony Seibert [mailto:tseibert@abbotsford.ca] Sent: 12 April 2011 15:46 To: Dight, Roberta Subject: JAMES WWTP Outfall Pipe

Hi Roberta,

I have received the original copy of the TC approval for proposed temporary remedial work on the outfall. Thanks for the quick turn around on this.

To update you on our progress:

1) Contractor methodology was to do this work from the River side but due to risk of placing material (and having it sink below mud line) , the contactor could not commit to a price and estimates of material required were bringing costs into $500,000 range.

2) We then began to look at other options of working from Island side and purchase material from Matsqui, and installing more anchor weights to keep pipe firmly in place over freshet, however Matsqui First Nation is not willing to allow any work or activity on the Island.

3) We are now planning to have Phoenix Marine install an additional 9 hazard marker buoys (36" above water x 6" dia. ) to better delineate each exposed anchor block- This is scheduled for April 14, and 15th .

4) We will also plan to visually inspect (from boat) outfall pipe up to start of freshet and immediately after water begins to drop.

5) We plan to re-organize and look at finding a long term solution that can be implemented in next available construction window.

Call me if you have questions.

Regards, Tony

4/21 /2011

Appendix C ,

Appendix D

Attention Boaters

- Hazard Warning -

Anchor Blocks .. ~ & Exposed Pipe ·

approx. 49dOTOO"N ~·~~~~I

122d19'20"W I....",..

Exposed 1.2m diameter HDPE Outfall Pipe and Concrete Anchor Blocks

(marked with white hazard buoys s Abbotsford .

rr>IIMission Water & Sewer Services