The project includes external fusion bond epoxy coating, cathodic protection and leak detection system, he added.
Last month, CUC began replacing the petroleum fuel pipeline to Power Plants 1 and 2 in Lower Base.
Fletcher said the project marks a major achievement for CUC and also a major milestone with regard to the stipulated orders filed in federal on March 11, 2009 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“These actions are also required pursuant to Sections 309 and 311 of the Clean Water Act to address oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response actions,” he added.
He said the pipeline assessment was completed in Dec. 2009 by Unitek Guam Inc. and Knight Enterprises, Hawaii.
Though an expensive additional electronic investigation was also offered to assess the corrosion damage to the pipeline, CUC in consultation with EPA, decided that a replacement of the entire pipeline was in the best interests of CUC, he added.
Fletcher said it was agreed that an economical repair is not possible and such repairs will not meet the required codes and regulations and will not guarantee that the installation will not cause any spill into the ground or the adjoining shoreline.
In April 2010, he said CUC issued a request for proposals to design and build a new pipeline base upon the approval of the bid document by EPA, and the grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of the Insular Affairs.
He said after a detailed assessment by the CUC bid review committee and discussion with the vendors who participated in the procurement process, the contract was awarded to Smithbridge Guam Inc. in July 2010 for the design work.
Due to funding limitations, only the design portion of the scope of work was contracted, he said.
“CUC was fortunate enough to receive an additional award of $2,154,000 from DOI Office of the Insular Affairs, with the support of the CIP office of the governor,” he said.
Fletcher said the design development, review and approval by EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration was received in April 2011.
The grant allowed CUC to contract the construction or Phase 2 of the project to Smithbridge Guam Inc. in May 2011.
EPA’s project approval also had other conditions, including the hiring of a construction manager.
“This milestone was achieved in September 2011 after going through a difficult procurement process, considering the fact that such expertise is not locally available,” Fletcher said.
Another requirement was the hiring of an independent third party quality assurance/quality control firm.
