Memorandum
Date: June 18, 2024
To: The Honorable Board of Directors,
Lake County Sanitation District
From: Scott Harter, Special Districts Administrator
Subject: Consideration of MOU between LACOSAN and Earth Foundries, Inc. for the Operation and Placement of a Mobile Pyrolysis Unit in Middletown at the West End of the Middletown Wastewater Treatment Plant and Authorize the Chair to Sign the MOU.
Executive Summary: There is currently an Air Curtain Incinerator at the Middletown Treatment Plant as part of a collaboration between the County, CalFire, and South Lake Fire Protection District for fuels reduction. This proposed MOU seeks to allow collaboration between the County, Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC), PG&E, and Earth Foundries for fuels reduction and management of woody biomass with the benefit of production of a biochar material as the output. The effort seeks to remove from 2,000 to 3,000 tons of material and convert it to a marketable product which can be used in the local area. Staff is recommending a term of 18 months commencing July 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025 for this pilot program.
Environmental concerns, including coordination with the Lake County Air Quality Management District, are being addressed by both Earth Foundries and CLERC.
This program is at no cost to the County/District with minimal impact to staff resources to facilitate it.
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Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
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☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Approve the MOU between LACOSAN and Earth Foundries, Inc. for the Operation and Placement of a Mobile Pyrolysis Unit in Middletown at the West End of the Middletown Wastewater Treatment Plant Commencing July 1, 2024 for a Period of Eighteen Months Through December 31, 2025, and Authorize the Chair to Sign the MOU.