NAVAJO-GALLUP WATER SUPPLY PROJECT

PROJECT CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 56

THURSDAY, July 28, 2022 9:00 AM

via MICROSOFT TEAMS

SUMMARY

1. Review and approve agenda (Reclamation) - approved 

2. Review and approve April 21, 2022 PCC Meeting Summary Handout (Reclamation) – approved and available for 

comment

3. Review of PCC Action Item List – Handout (Reclamation) – reviewed and updated

4. Other Related Navajo-San Juan NM Settlement Issues (BIA/Navajo Nation)

a. Conjunctive Groundwater Use Plan - see slides

b. San Juan River Navajo Irrigation Projects - see slides

 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

5. Block 4C-8 (Reclamation) - see slides

 

6. Pumping Plants No. 4 and 7 (Reclamation) - see slides

 

7. Navajo Code Talkers Sublateral (Reaches 12.1/12.2) (Reclamation) - see slides

 

8. Reach 27.11 (Gallup)

a. On schedule and budget

b. $24k change order due to material price increases

c. Changing some valves/sizes

d. 1600 ft of pipe left to install but is currently unobtainable with supplier delays and may need to shut down 

construction and wait for pipe deliveries

e. Electrical connection pieces have 6-month lead time currently

f. Est. $4.6 million for completion

 

SAN JUAN LATERAL- ISSUES / DESIGN UPDATE

9. Value Planning Update - to be complete Sep 2022

 

10. San Juan Lateral Intake (aka Reach 1) – Status/Schedule (Reclamation)

a. SJR Intake Pumping Plant Rehab and SJGS Reservoir Modifications

i. 30% expected in Aug 2022

ii. VE anticipated mid-Dec 2022

b. River Pumping Plant Physical Model

i. ~40% complete

ii. Report expected by year-end

iii. USBR - Provide video tour of completed physical model (If significant interest from Project 

Participants, an in-person tour of the physical pump model can be arranged as well)

c. SJGS Land/Facilities Acquisition Update

i. Agreements

i. Land Purchase Contract (LPC) is with PNM for final review

ii. Water Conveyance Agreement is with Reclamation Policy for final review

iii. Improvements (water conveyance facilities) agreement is being drafted

ii. Appraisal

i. Draft has been received by AVSO but Reclamation hasn't seen it yet

ii. Once finalized, an offer letter will be sent to PNM

d. NEPA Compliance – Update and Schedule

i. Environmental Assessment issued for Public comment on July 14, 2022; closes Aug 15, 2022

ii. Review/respond to comments - end of Aug 2022

iii. Sign FONNSI first few weeks in Sep 2022

11. Block 2-3 – Status/Schedule (Reclamation)

a. VE Study - Reclamation is still vetting a few last VE proposals to determine feasibility, schedule impact, 

and overall value. The proposal to follow N36 is being reviewed for schedule, cost, and cultural benefit.

b. 60% Design – TSC is working towards 60%. Recent analysis and discussions on the location of Pumping 

Plant 1 have had an impact on the design of reach 2. Those changes are being implemented. 60% has been 

moved back 6 weeks (from 07/25 to 09/05).
12.

SJL Pumping Plants – Status/Schedule (Reclamation)

a. Pumping Plant #1

 . Focus call recap – Location Decision PIN - see slides (summary comparison was given for the 

pumping plant south of the river versus north. Reclamation recommends locating the plant south 

for lower O&M costs).

b. Pumping Plants #2 & #3 The TPEC is being concluded this week. Award goal is mid to early September. 

Construction to begin early 2023

13. Block 4A-4B – Status/Schedule (Reclamation)

a. Final Design (Spec B) – Final design comments are being implemented. Solicitation is planned for 

September with construction to start in the spring of 2023

14. Reach 27/Pumping Plant #8– Status/Schedule (City of Gallup)

a. Reach 27.7b - provides water to 14.1/2, January advertisement

b. Reach 27.12 - 60% by year-end

c. PP8 - environmental, cultural, land discussions currently underway

15. Tohlakai Pumping Plant

a. Interim Groundwater Delivery from Twin Lakes Well (Reclamation/City of Gallup)

i. City will be begin taking water deliveries and providing Navajo communities served through the 

Gallup Regional System in August

 

16. Reach 14 (Indian Health Service)

a. Reaches 14.1 and 14.2 – Status/Schedule

i. 14.1/2 construction has been pushed to fall

ii. Pre-con scheduled in September

iii. NECA will be prime contractor

b. Reaches 14.6a, 14.7a, 14.8a – Status/Schedule

i. No update

 

17. BBN9 – Status/Schedule (Navajo Nation/SMA)

a. All phases under design

i. 10.1.1 and 10.1 at or nearing 90% design

ii. Others in various stages of design - most at 60%

b. Considering potential water delivers beyond Crownpoint, currently just conceptual

 

CUTTER LATERAL

18. Construction and OM&R Update (Reclamation/NTUA/Navajo Nation)

a. Cutter Lateral Completion Ceremony and Commemoration – June 9th (Reclamation)

b. Operation Update (NTUA/Navajo Nation)

c. Reaches 24 – 26 Construction Closeout and JAN Water Delivery (Navajo Nation/NTUA/SMA)

i. JAN is planning to take first water deliveries in Fall 2022

ii. Reach 24.1 Lybrook connection is only remaining portion

i. SMA working on this portion

ii. Realignment has occurred and is proceeding through design

d. Area-Wide Optimization Program (Reclamation)

i. Operators are voluntarily meeting goals, which are more stringent than Safe Drinking Water Act 

and New Mexico Environmental Department requirements

 

WATER TREATMENT

19. Regulatory Issues (Reclamation)

a. SJL Disinfection By-Product Study Update

i. Two water collection events during the pilot study

ii. Testing will be done at Reclamation's laboratory

iii. Tank aeration study is currently wrapping up design in Mar 2023

b. Corrosion Control Study

i. Planning flowthrough pipe rig

ii. Will evaluate stability of distribution system water quality

iii. Coupon testing is on-going

iv. Have plans to sample remaining NTUA systems through late-summer/fall

 
20. San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant (Reclamation)

a. Appraisal Level Design Update (TSC)

i. Cost estimating has started, completion expected Jan 2023

b. UF/NF Membranes Pilot Study (TSC)

i. Contract awarded to CDM Smith

ii. Currently in planning stage

iii. Reclamation working to obtain permits

iv. Pilot will be located at reservoir

c. SJLWTP Sizing Basis of Design – PIN 022.4 (TSC)

d. Project Delivery Method Decision (FCCO)

i. Considered a number of different Project Delivery Methods including Reclamation designing and 

contracting construction through a construction manager at-risk project delivery.

ii. Decision has been made to pursue Hybrid Design-Build contract (similar to Cutter Lateral’s 

progressive design-build model but with more price competition prior to award)

iii. Will incorporate lessons learned from CLWTP

iv. Special Notification listed on sam.gov providing information regarding the Design-Build

i. USBR to forward link to Special Notification to Participants, which can be forwarded on, 

as it is a public document

v. Will go through RFQ, will request 30% design from 2-3 firms w/prices, will pay stipend to cover 

some of the design costs, single firm selected after 30% with a guaranteed maximum price, then at 

90% will have firm-fixed price in order to go to construction

i. Project Participants can be part of the selection process; just not voting members.

vi. Industry day Nov 8-9 in Farmington will include site tours and one-on-one meetings to obtain 

feedback from industry experts

vii. Review C expected in January 2023

viii. Solicitation in spring 2023

ix. Water deliveries planned for summer 2028

 

PROJECT WIDE

 

21. Upcoming PINs / Modified PINs (Reclamation)

a. PIN 022.4 – Add Startup Flows for SJLWTP – To be updated once WTP Sizing Basis of Design is 

finalized

b. PIN 024.3 – Water Storage Tank Materials – Recommend eliminating bolted steel tanks due to ongoing 

leaks and increased O&M needs on recently installed projects – Circulating for signatures

c. PIN 027.1 – Cutter Turnout Flows – Being updated to add start-up flows

d. PIN 034 – SJ Lateral Storage – FCCO updating to reflect latest designs and will send as draft in September

e. PIN 038.1 – In-Tank Chlorination Systems, Water Quality Sampling, Pre-use Monitoring, and Tank 

Penetrations – Circulate for signatures in August

f. PIN 039.1 – SJLWTP Site Selection – Draft out for review

g. PIN 045 – Reallocation of Funds from Shiprock Connection to other Priority Connections – Navajo Nation 

to send letter rescinding request

h. PIN 049 – Pumping Plant #1 Location – Draft to be sent out August

 

22. Cultural Resources Compliance – Project-Wide (Reclamation)

a. Surveys

i. Received PP8 survey received, no issues with the location

ii. 24.1 Lybrook survey conducted but Reclamation has not yet seen the results

iii. Task order for remaining survey for Reaches 1-3 is beginning

b. Data recovery

i. Crownpoint lateral is on-going

i. Remote sensing on 10.1.1 completed with no significant results, Reclamation will send 

report for consultation

ii. Currently conducting remote sensing on 10.1 and results need further investigation

c. CRC

i. 4a 4b issued

ii. 10.1.1 to be completed next after consultation on Phase I results

d. Greater mitigation program

i. Working to provide funding to tribes for "Alternative Mitigation" in FY2023

e. Workgroup Meeting

i. Potentially in Aug via Teams

 
23. Environmental Compliance – Project-Wide (Reclamation)

a. Environmental Assessments

i. San Juan Lateral Realignment (Reaches 1-4B, SJLTWP, PNM, PP1&2, etc.)

i. Draft EA in public comment until August 15. Final EA and FONNSI to follow ASAP

ii. Biological Assessment/Evaluation with NNDFW and USFWS for consultation. Need 

NNDFW’s Biological Resources Compliance Form (BRCF) and USFWS’s Biological 

Opinion (BO) before finalizing EA

ii. BBN9

i. Final EA and FONNSI with BIA. Need BIA to review FONNSI and give go ahead for 

signing.

iii. 14.6a/7a/8

i. NEPA work on hold until alignment is solidified and IHS provides more information 

about the project

iv. Lybrook 24.1

i. In planning. Needs onsite scheduled with BLM/other landowners before progressing 

further.

b. NEPA Sufficiency Reviews

i. Pumping Plant 8 (anticipated)

i. City of Gallup completing additional biological/cultural surveys

c. NGWSP Overall Revegetation Plan

i. With BIA and Navajo Nation for signature since September 2021

24. Power Transmission (Reclamation)

a. San Juan Lateral Status (NTUA)

i. Power to Pumping Plants #4 and #7

i. Working w/ NTUA to get power into PP7

ii. Pole placement beginning in August

ii. Power to Block 9-11 Rectifiers

i. WAPA has added to agreement to cover cost to rectifiers

ii. Waiting on NTUA to sign and return

iii. Power to Block 4C-8 Rectifiers

i. Will be adding to the agreement

iv. 115kV Powerline Construction

i. No update

b. Power Supply Agreements

i. Will be returning to the main power supply agreement

ii. Need to finalize interim power supply agreement with NTUA

c. Cutter Lateral Renewable Energy Feasibility Study w/NREL (WCAO)

i. Completing analysis

ii. Space available surrounding CLWTP

iii. VFD motors would help with use of renewable power at Pumping Plants 1 and 2, but may not be 

feasible

25. SCADA/Cybersecurity (Reclamation)

a. CLWTP Federal Information System Modernization Act (FISMA) compliance currently w/ Reclamation’s 

Denver office for consideration

26. Budget (Reclamation)

a. FY2022 Construction Budget: $185,041,000 - largest funding year to date, will fully obligate and in 

process of requesting additional funding for FY2023

i. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Mandatory) - $123,000,000

ii. Discretionary - $67,342,000 (incl. $5,301,000 of O&M funding)

b. NM Cost-Share Update/Status - CSCR #8 approved, CSCR #1 final to be approved

c. City of Gallup Credit Request Status - expecting to receive R27.9 request

d. 4th Quarter FY2022 Bills - Sent early-July, due early-August

27. Design and Procurement Schedule - uploaded to SharePoint

28. Information Sharing / Public Outreach (Reclamation)

a. Quarterly Newsletter - accepting idea/articles for upcoming newsletters

b. NM Legislature – Indian Affairs Committee - update provided to the committee on July 11th
29. Action items and assignments (Reclamation)

30. Schedule next PCC meeting – Nov 3, 2022 – in-person with virtual option