HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-05-1995 - VIII-F l
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O R A N G E C O U N T Y
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 5, 1995
Action Agenda
Item #_ =-F
SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
ESTABLISHING A RESEARCH GRANT-IN-AID
ACTION BY:
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING Yes _x—No
ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT:
Memorandum of Agreement from Warren Faircloth Ext. 2586
The Pennsylvania State University Erosion Control Supervisor
Research Proposal available in the TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Erosion Control Supervisor's office Hillsborough - 732-8181
in the Planning & Inspections Department Durham - 688-7331
Mebane - 227-2031
Chapel Hill - 967-9251
PURPOSE: To consider a Memorandum of Agreement with The
Pennsylvania State University for testing an experimental
sediment basin.
BACKGROUND: Erosion Control staff have attempted to improve the
performance of sediment basins for many years. These
basins are used below construction sites to treat
sediment-laden runoff and prevent damage to streams and
property downstream. Conventional sediment basins are
expensive and are usually not very effective. One study
found that, at best, conventional sediment basins capture
less than 50% of the sediment entering them.
In 1989 Orange County adopted sediment and erosion control
standards requiring the use of basins that incorporated
improvements to increase trapping efficiency. While these
basins improved efficiency, staff discovered some
fundamental problems with the outlet structures that cause
significant sediment loss. These observations resulted in
the idea of using a floating skimmer instead of the stone
filter and perforated risers normally used to drain
sediment basins. The floating skimmer would ensure the
basin filled (which rarely happened before) to cause
sedimentation and then slowly drain the cleaner surface
water instead of draining it from the bottom (where most
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of the sediment is) as is done with conventional basins.
An engineer and developer were persuaded to install an
example of this floating skimmer, and staff was allowed to
use the basin as a laboratory to experiment with different
outlet configurations and to observe the performance of
the basin. This basin demonstrated a dramatic increase in
sediment trapping efficiency compared to conventional
basins and resulted in practical refinements to the
floating skimmer and other basin components.
Staff requested funds from the Education Committee of the
North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission to conduct
experiments using this type of sediment basin and was
given a grant of $10, 000. Later the Commission was
persuaded to allow the County to fund experiments at Penn
State using their sediment basin testing facility. Dr.
Albert Jarrett of the Department of Agricultural and
Biological Engineering and one of his graduate students
have conducted experiments to improve basin performance,
and he is very interested in the concepts and work done in
Orange County. His basin testing facility uses water from
a pond to simulate stormwater runoff and soil is added to
create sediment. This unique facility allows testing in a
much shorter time (waiting for rain is eliminated) and at
a fraction of the cost of waiting for rainfall and
erosion. $8 , 000. 00 of the Commission's grant will be used
to fund these experiments.
Briefly, the research proposal is to measure the sediment
trapping efficiency of both conventional sediment basins
and the basin devised by Erosion Control staff.
Comparisons of the efficiency of the basins will be
compared and recommendations made.
RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends approval of this agreement
with The Pennsylvania State University to conduct the
research according to the research proposal and signing
the Memorandum of Agreement by the Chair of the Board of
Commissioners.
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== PENNSTATE
rr
THE PENNMVAMA STATE UNIYE MY
MEMORAM)LiM OF AGPXMAU T
ES"TABLISSING A MWARCH GRAM-DI-AM
TATS AGREEMENT,effective this day of 19_by and
between The Pennsylvania Star University(here;ina refentd to as"University"),and
Orange County,North Carolina(larchafaer reien P d m as"Donor')
li WHEREAS Donor has a desire to support the development of fnndamemal research in
fields having an impact mkvaat ter Donor's memsts,and whereas University bas an
ongoing fimdiumental research program in those fields at the Department of Agric ltmal
and Biological Enghzee dng,(hereinafter referred to as-Unit' ,which is consistent with
the research intercepts of the:Donor,
NOW,THEREFORE,in cmmdcrdtion of the premises and mmml cove==herein
caned,the panes hereto a&=to the following:
Artide 1-Objectives of Retseamh
Description of the:Rnnmr$and its objectives are Identified.in Fxldbit A.which is
attached hereto and incorporated he rein.
Artkk 2-Prog rare Administ fi m sad Petriad
Thin pia m-ft"M shall be admidsrn W by Albert F--Tmm(Ptmdpe Investigator)of
the Unit in amorddau m with the policies and proeeftm of the Unit and T]te Pem glvania
State University and in consultation with Warren Fairdoth,Erosion Control Supervisor,
in t}tt:Dons Planning and Inspection Department. It"commence upon July 1,
1995 and on March 31,1996. It may be mewed for additional periods upon
c:satsent af-the _ — -- - - ------
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Article 3-Funds
III financial mP1xw of the grant-in-aid,Donor agrees to pay to no Pennsylvaau:6tata
University the sum of$8,000. This sum shall be payable in advance on or about the start
date shown above.
Article 4-Publications
The University retains tide in and has the right to publish the results of Research.
Preprints of technical papers intended for publication shall be available to Donor upon
=q=L Periodic reports on progress in Research may be produced from time to time,
and these reports wdl be available to Donor upon zequest_ Donor is not precluded from
disseminating descriptive-roports of said informdon. The Donor's 9=-in-aid wM be
admowedged in publicadmis�unless the Donor desires otherwise and so advises the
University m writing,
Article 5-PabIkAy
No advertising or publicity matter having or containing any rekmnce to the University or
in which the name of the University is mentioned shall be made use of by the Donor,anal
writmn approval has bees obtained from the University-
IN W1TNFM W REOF, the parties have rased these presents to be executed m
duplicate as of the day and year first above anittm
By An Acaharized Official of By An Authodzcd Official of
The Pennsylvania State University Donor
Name: Robert Rilloren
'f' Director Title: