(Aug. 25, 2016) The next steps in the Berlin Rubble Fill closure project was approved by the Worcester County Commissioners at its meeting last Tuesday.
John Tustin, county Pubic Works director, provided background on the project.
“We are under consent order by the Maryland Department of the Environment to construct a cap and closure to the old Berlin Rubble Fill to be completed by October 2017,” he said.
The 45-acre Berlin landfill, which opened in 1950, is located a half mile east of Berlin, southwest of the intersection of Flower Street and Seahawk Road.
Before discontinuing use of the site in 1990, the county decided that approximately 27 acres in the northern two thirds of the parcel would be for landfilling, while the southern one third consisted of a borrow pit and stormwater pond. The bulk of waste deposited at the landfill was from Ocean City.
In June the commissioners awarded the contract to cap and close the site to A-Del Construction, based in Newark, Delaware. On Aug. 9, Tustin provided a motion to proceed for A-Del to commence the project.
“We now are in need of some contract administration, construction inspection and certification services as required by the Maryland Department of the Environment,” he said.
At the same time as the motion to proceed was issued to A-Del, Tustin also requested a price quote from Snow Hill based EA Engineering for construction management and inspection services.
“The Maryland Department of the Environment requires a final construction report, relevant testing and field documentation for final submittal to MDE,” he said. “They (EA) proposed a price of $152,949.”
Most importantly, Tustin said, EA will prepare the MDE required Engineers Certificate of Substantial Completion.
Commissioner Chip Bertino asked Tustin why the item wasn’t put out for competitive bidding.
“EA’s been your solid waste consultant for many years,” Tustin said. “We need their eyes and ears.”
Additionally, Kelly Shannahan, county assistant chief administrative officer, pointed out the county is not required to put professional service contracts out to bid.
From 1950 until 1983 the landfill was an open-burning dump. Only a year after launching, the site drew the attention of the Maryland State Health Department based on citizen concerns over odors and smoke from the operation. Although the larger landfill was shut down in March 1990, the rubble section remained open for an additional two years.
John Tustin, county Pubic Works director, provided background on the project.
“We are under consent order by the Maryland Department of the Environment to construct a cap and closure to the old Berlin Rubble Fill to be completed by October 2017,” he said.
The 45-acre Berlin landfill, which opened in 1950, is located a half mile east of Berlin, southwest of the intersection of Flower Street and Seahawk Road.
Before discontinuing use of the site in 1990, the county decided that approximately 27 acres in the northern two thirds of the parcel would be for landfilling, while the southern one third consisted of a borrow pit and stormwater pond. The bulk of waste deposited at the landfill was from Ocean City.
In June the commissioners awarded the contract to cap and close the site to A-Del Construction, based in Newark, Delaware. On Aug. 9, Tustin provided a motion to proceed for A-Del to commence the project.
“We now are in need of some contract administration, construction inspection and certification services as required by the Maryland Department of the Environment,” he said.
At the same time as the motion to proceed was issued to A-Del, Tustin also requested a price quote from Snow Hill based EA Engineering for construction management and inspection services.
“The Maryland Department of the Environment requires a final construction report, relevant testing and field documentation for final submittal to MDE,” he said. “They (EA) proposed a price of $152,949.”
Most importantly, Tustin said, EA will prepare the MDE required Engineers Certificate of Substantial Completion.
Commissioner Chip Bertino asked Tustin why the item wasn’t put out for competitive bidding.
“EA’s been your solid waste consultant for many years,” Tustin said. “We need their eyes and ears.”
Additionally, Kelly Shannahan, county assistant chief administrative officer, pointed out the county is not required to put professional service contracts out to bid.
From 1950 until 1983 the landfill was an open-burning dump. Only a year after launching, the site drew the attention of the Maryland State Health Department based on citizen concerns over odors and smoke from the operation. Although the larger landfill was shut down in March 1990, the rubble section remained open for an additional two years.