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Mr. Thomas M. Sweeney Sweeney, O'Connor & LeMay July 9, 1984 Page Three The Lake Gervais Interceptor has not yet been issued a sewer extension permit by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The MPCA has delayed permit issuance until the Lower Beltline Interceptor approvals are resolved, because MPCA has contended that capacity must be available downstream (i.e. the new Lower Beltline Interceptor must be operational) before the Lake Gervais Inter- ceptor goes into operation. Given the events in June, the Commission expects MPCA to issue a sewer extension permit for the Lake Gervais Interceptor. The project will proceed to construction immediately thereafter. The Lower Beltline Interceptor project has been delayed by difficulties en- countered in obtaining 201 facility plan approval from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in meeting EPA's stated conditions for approval of the construction grant application. A major breakthrough occurred recently, when the NPDES /SDS Permit for the Lower Beltline Interceptor was issued on June 12, 1984. This permit contains a compliance schedule for construction of the Lower Beltline Interceptor, requiring contract award by December 31, 1984, and completion of construction by June 30, 1986. The Commission intends to seek 100% metropolitan funds from the Metropolitan Council in the event that a grant is not received in the near future. The permit compliance schedule must be met with or without grant funds. Summary Unusually high wastewater flows, caused by high infiltration /inflow induced by high rainfall volume and intensity, overloaded the Little Canada interceptor system in June, 1984, resulting in the bypassing of about 1,500,000 gallons of untreated wastewater during the June 7 -13 period. This action was taken to minimize basement flooding, which represents a public health hazard and causes property damage. All Commission facilities were functioning and operating at maximum capacity during this period. The Commission has designed the Lake Gervais and Lower Beltline Interceptor projects, which together will provide additional wastewater conveyance capacity for Little Canada and upstream communities. These projects are expected to be constructed and operational by mid -1986. The situation in June, 1984, was unusual because the precipitation was the highest recorded in many years over such a short period of time. If normal precipitation occurs during the next two years, wastewater bypassing should be unnecessary. However, climatic conditions are beyond the Commission's control. Little Canada and upstream communities can mitigate the effects of high preci- pitation by taking action to minimize infiltration /inflow into local collection systems. These actions include enforcement of sewer use ordinance provisions prohibiting extraneous flow connections, high quality sewer design and construc- tion inspection, and sewer rehabilitation to eliminate major I/I sources, such as leaky manhole covers, frames, and rings and cracked sewer lines, 10