Biosolids EMS
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Managing Our Biosolids
Introduction
Land Application: Green Acres Farms
Composting: Griffith Park Compost Facility
Deep Well Injection: T.I.R.E.
Other Options and Proposals

 

you should know...

The City is committed to managing its biosolids in an environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and cost-effective manner. We are constantly reviewing the program and incorporating continual improvements. In 2005, the City was directed by a writ of mandate issued by the Tulare County Superior Court (Writ) to undertake an evaluation under Section 15168(c) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines to determine if additional CEQA review was required for the 2000 purchase of the Green Acres Farm site in Kern County and the 2000 amendment of the Responsible Biosolids Management (RBM) contract for the transportation and land application of biosolids. Based on the Writ, an addendum to the 1989 and 1996 Biosolids Program Environment Impact Reports (EIR) was prepared and approved by the City Council on December 8, 2010. In April 2012, the Court Order ruled that the addendum was inadequate to discharge the Writ and directed the City “to do a new Initial Study per §15168(c)(1), and to proceed thereafter as required by law.” As directed by the court, the City has prepared an Initial Study and will prepare the Green Acres Biosolids Land Application EIR. Click here to view the CEQA documentation and find out how to provide comments on the process.


This site was updated on
February 19, 2013

Deep Well Injection: T.I.R.E.

The City of Los Angeles and GeoMechanics Technology in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and with research support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation has embarked on an innovative technology to inject biosolids deep below the geological subsurface at its Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant (TIWRP). The Terminal Island Renewable Energy Project known at TIRE, the first of its kind in the nation, has been in operation for over four -years. TIRE, which is being demonstrated under a U.S. EPA Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit places biosolids in depleted deep subsurface oil and gas formations where the earth’s high temperature would biodegrade the organic compounds to generate methane gas that can ultimately be used to produce an environmentally safe renewable energy, while the carbon dioxide is sequestered. Three wells have been drilled to a depth of approximately 5300 feet beneath the TIWRP. So far, TIRE has successfully injected over 200 million gallons of bio-slurry material, which includes, brine, treated effluent, digested sludge and re-slurried biosolids. Currently all 50 tons of biosolids produced at TIWRP is being managed at the TIRE facility and 150 tons from the Hyperion Treatment Plant. The injection well is accepting the material and formation response is good. The operations are continuously monitored daily and data is reported to the U. S. EPA and a Technical Advisory Committee.

To learn more about the project click the links below.

Environmental documents, permits, and contracts were completed and approved for the TIRE project. Click the links below to view the permits and contracts associated with the project.

To ensure that the interested parties and public are engaged and informed about the TIRE project, the City provides presentations, tours and project updates. The first presentation was held in 2001 where over 43 participants attended. To date over 165 presentations and more than 5000 people updates have been provided.

Project Updates

The City will provide updates on the events and activities related to the project. Check back periodically to find out the project status and view photos.

  • Permit issued in November 2006
  • Groundbreaking occurred April 2007 and construction began June 2007
  • Construction began June 2007
  • First two wells completed June and July 2007
  • Tested injection equipment with effluent and brine - July 2008
  • Injected digested sludge - August 2008
  • Injected dewatered Biosolids (Wet Cake) - September 2008
  • Completed Phase III project milestones - June 2009
  • Completed four years of biosolids injection operations - July 2012
  • Injected over 200 million gallons of bio-slurry material since July 2008 - Oct 2012
  • National League of Cities Silver Award -December 2010
  • Collected monthly air samples since January 2011
  • Submitted January-March 2011 Quarterly Report-May 2011
  • Monitoring well SFI#3 in operation - May 2011
  • Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) Award for Excellence in Innovation - 2011

Photos of projects activities - Revised

If you would like a tour and/or presentation of the TIRE project contact us at 310-648-5248 or the information listed on the bottom of this page.


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Wells being drilled at Terminal Island.


Bureau staff discussing project with EPA staff.

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contact For more information, call
(310) 648-5877
or send your questions and comments to
San.BiosolidsEMS@lacity.org

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