EWEB identifies abandoned ‘partial’ drill hole as root cause of blasting incident

Contractor will use flags to improve communication between drill, blast crews

Blasting could resume next Tuesday, Nov. 9

Nov. 3, 2021

Dear East 40th Neighbors,

On Nov. 2, EWEB’s contractor conducted a controlled underground blast at the E. 40th water storage site. An incident occurred during the blast which resulted in flying rock and debris.

While there were no injuries, a house adjacent to the construction site sustained some cosmetic damage.

Although blasting is performed through a professional subcontractor, EWEB is ultimately responsible for the overall project and is taking this incident very seriously. We are committed to doing our part to maintain a safe and well-managed worksite, and to protect the safety of our customers.

EWEB’s project manager was on-site at the time of the incident. The immediate response was:

1. Safety – check on neighbors who were in the area when the incident occurred.
2. Cease work – contractors were instructed to stop all work on the site.

A Root Cause Analysis Report was performed by the blasting contractor to determine what happened, why it happened and what the contractor can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

The analysis determined the incident resulted from an oversight by a drill operator.

The operator drilled a partial hole, then abandoned the hole without placing a visual marker to alert the blasting crew. Because the partial hole was unknown, the blasting crew did not take measures, such as packing and fully covering the hole with blasting mats, to prevent material from being ejected during the blast.

No problems were identified with the design, material or equipment used in the blast.

A few neighbors noticed that the Nov. 2 blast was louder or stronger than the previous test blast on Oct. 28.

Seismographs show that the vibration levels on Nov. 2 were not significantly different than the test blast last week. However, the air pressure from yesterday’s blast not being contained underground may explain why this blast felt stronger. Having said that, we understand that sound and vibration are experienced differently for everyone. Some folks are more sensitive and may wish to be away from home during future blasting events.

The contractor has submitted a plan to EWEB for preventing similar incidents from occurring in future blasts.

The plan includes expanding the footprint of blast mats to extend 20 feet past the last loaded hole, and retraining workers to ensure they mark any drill hole anomalies with visible flags.

EWEB’s Safety Officer has reviewed the contractor’s plan and we are satisfied that these corrective actions are appropriate to prevent future incidents. Once we have verified that all required remedies are done and in place, we will authorize the contractor to resume blasting. We expect this will happen this week, allowing blasting to resume on Tuesday, Nov. 9. If that changes, we will let you know.

We understand that even with these measures in place, you may have additional questions and concerns about site safety. Whenever a safety incident occurs on a job site, EWEB expects all involved parties to step up, provide a full and honest accounting of events, take responsibility for their part in what happened, and then work together to take corrective actions. That’s exactly what is happening here.

We have asked the contractor to prepare a letter to neighbors with additional information about the Nov. 2 blasting incident, their analysis and safety measures. We will forward the letter to you as soon as we have it.

What to expect at the site this week

While the contractor is finalizing their remediations, we will continue with some other work on the site beginning tomorrow, Nov. 4.

Workers will be preparing the entrance of the site for paving. This is intended as an additional erosion control measure to reduce the amount of sediment leaving the site and entering the gutter.

As part of the paving, workers will begin drilling a perforated grid in the rock at the entrance. This drilling work will happen tomorrow and is necessary to prepare for the pipeline that will eventually be installed down Patterson St.

Paving will occur on Friday or Monday.

There will be no excavation or blasting until at least next week.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the project team if you have questions.

Contact us with questions

If you have questions or input, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the project team at 541-685-7899 or water.storage@eweb.org. Emails sent to this address will reach:

Laura Farthing, Project Manager/Senior Civil Engineer
Jen Connors, Communications Supervisor
Jeannine Parisi, Customer Relationship Manager
Wally McCullough, Water Engineering Supervisor

rEV Up! Workshops teach the basics of owning an electric vehicle, new or used.

Tuesday, November 17 at 7 pm or Tuesday, December 7 at 7 pm via Zoom

Are you curious about electric vehicles (EVs)? Have questions, need answers about EVs? Interested in a new or used EV with a 200+ mile range?

In November and December, the Emerald Valley Electric Vehicle Association (EVEVA) will be hosting two more sessions of our workshop to introduce local residents to the benefits and technology of owning an EV. The free workshops, led by experienced local EV owners, will be delivered via live Zoom video conference.

Registration is required, and can be completed at revuporegon.org.

Workshops will cover topics such as EV charging, batteries, range, cost, purchase incentives, and benefits of ownership.

EVEVA is producing the workshops in partnership with many local municipalities, utilities, and nonprofits.

Temporary Camping Update

The City of Eugene continues to make progress in establishing its first Safe Sleep sites and will start to draw down the two large temporary camps at Washington Jefferson Park and 13th Avenue as Safe Sleep sites become operational. The Safe Sleep sites will provide a safe and legal place to go for people living in tents or in their vehicles.

This update is meant to provide information on the progress of Safe Sleep sites, as well as the two large temporary camps. We know these camps have created challenges for the housed, unhoused, and those who work nearby. We’ve taken steps to mitigate the impacts, but it’s a continuous process. Below you will find information on our ongoing efforts.

For more information about Safe Sleep sites, including the two approved locations, visit https://eugene-or.gov/safesleep. For information about the criteria for temporary camping visit https://eugene-or.gov/tempcamping.

Washington Jefferson Park

A view of tents in Washington Jefferson Park in October 2021.
There are currently 234 tents in the park, as some of the 12’x12’ spaces now have multiple tents within them. Eugene Police park resource officers were limited this week because of court commitments and department training. Site monitors and resource officers removed more than a dozen abandoned tents and addressed non-compliant campers. Unified Command Logistics section contracted with NW HazMat to replace the Sheriff’s work crew for regular park trash pickup three days per week. NW HazMat is also able to remove human waste, needles and other hazardous materials appropriately. EPD has requested supplemental budget funding to help stabilize park resource officer presence; this duty is challenging for regular patrol officers to perform in a backup capacity since experience with park rules and camping is so critical to success.

13th Avenue

The 63 gridded spaces remain occupied. Site monitors will focus on some camps decreasing amassed property in preparation for eventually moving to Safe Sleep sites or other stable locations. Since the area has been closed to new camping, some newcomers were denied access, and those people attempted to set up camps on or near sidewalks in adjacent areas. City staff and police worked to halt and remove these disallowed activities. Mitigating nearby unsanctioned camping remains a priority near temporary camps, Rest Stops and Safe Sleep sites.

Safe Sleep Sites

The Safe Sleep site at 310 Garfield in October 2021.
Work is ongoing to firm up sites as soon as is practicable.

310 Garfield St.
The City of Eugene opened its first Safe Sleep site at 310 Garfield St. on October 4. The site reached capacity October 14 and accommodates up to 55 vehicles used for shelter, along with additional vehicles used by those residents for transportation. Most of the vehicles at the site have been in unsanctioned streets in west Eugene. St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County operates the site, which has a waiting list. The site currently serves 78 community members.

Chase Commons Park
Staff are still seeking a service provider for Chase Commons Park, which is expected to host up to 20 Conestoga huts. A draft site plan has been created, and staff will also engage more with the neighborhood and businesses to respond to questions and concerns related to this site. The site has water and electricity available for connection in the street.

2243 Roosevelt Blvd.
Approved as a Safe Sleep site by City Council on September 29; staff will begin community engagement and site and operator planning. To be operated by SquareOne Villages.

Dani Street
Approved as a Safe Sleep site by City Council on September 29; staff will begin community engagement and site and operator planning. To be operated by EveryOne Village (Everyone Church).

410 Garfield St.
Approved as a Safe Sleep site by City Council on September 29; staff will begin community engagement and site and operator planning. To be operated by St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County.

More information about the City’s response to homelessness is available online.

Oct. 25, 2021

Dear East 40th Neighbors,

Following is a round-up of recent activities on the water storage project, information about stormwater management, and FAQ on controlled underground blasting.

What’s been happening at the site?

Third-party pre-blast home inspections are nearly complete. TerraFirma will email the reports directly to homeowners this week.

The additional, unplanned work to reduce the slope angle on the west side of the site is complete (see Oct. 7 email for more information).

Excavation of topsoil around Tank #1 (east side) is nearing completion. Excavation for Tank #2 (west side) is about 60% complete.

Drilling is beginning this week. Drilling hours are anticipated to be 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F. We expect this will be the noisiest phase of the project and will last 6-8 months.

Blasting is tentatively scheduled to begin this Thursday (10/28) at 1 p.m. The first blast will be a small, test. Starting next week, blasting is expected to take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1-1:30 p.m.

Six seismographs/vibration monitors have been installed around the perimeter of the site.

In the next couple of weeks we will be installing a temporary construction power supply. The new conduit will be bored from an electric box near 4065 Hilyard St. There could be traffic impacts on Patterson St. that day.

Benches are here! We will be putting two on the west side of the construction site and one on the east side to provide a place to watch the construction.

Detention pond collects runoff

Just in time for the rainy season, a detention pond has been built to collect runoff from the site. Water is funneled to this low spot and treated with a chemical called Chitosan which works as a flocculant, binding sediment together in a mat which then settles out in the pond. Clean water is then discharged via a pump to the City’s storm system.

For now, the pump is being operated by a diesel generator, which will be noisy when running. Once power is supplied to the site, the pump will be run off electricity.

Eventually the pond will be replaced by a permanent rain garden/swale that will collect runoff from the site and discharge it to a newly constructed stormwater system. Long term this will have the same function as the pond but will not require pumping and will flow by gravity to the City’s stormwater system.

EWEB, the contractor and City staff continue to work together to adjust and improve stormwater management. The switch from dry weather best management practices (BMP) to wet weather BMPs is causing some mud build-up on Patterson St., and we have requested a meeting with the City so that we can make adjustments that align with our erosion control permit.

The contractor is sweeping Patterson Street multiple times a week to keep mud to a minimum. We have asked the contractor to move the “biobags” during street cleaning and then replace them afterward. This should help keep bags and surround areas a little neater.

Underground Controlled Blasting FAQ

What is underground blasting?

Underground controlled blasting is a common infrastructure construction method used to break rock for excavation. Holes are drilled into the rock for placement of the blasting agent. Packed dirt is added to holes and above the rock. A seismograph records blast vibrations to verify they are within specifications.

Is it safe?

Yes. Controlled blasting is highly regulated and conducted using safe methods and procedures by trained professionals. Blasts will be monitored by seismographs to maintain acceptable levels of ground motion in conjunction with vibration controls. Each blasting event will occur only after verification of all safety precautions and the site is deemed cleared and secure by the blaster-in-charge.

What can I expect to hear/see/feel?

Air horn safety signals will sound 5 minutes and 1 minute before the blast and at the conclusion of the blast. In addition to the air horn, those very near to the construction site may feel a vibration comparable to a door slam or a large truck driving down the street.

Dust suppression systems and heavy blasting mats will be in place to minimize vibration and debris.

Watch an example of controlled underground blasting.

When will blasting occur?

Blasting activity will likely begin the second or third week of October and continue for approximately six months. Current plans call for a blasting event once a day between 1-1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The blasting schedule is subject to change and to the extent weather or project schedule necessitates blasting outside of those times, blasting would occur during daylight hours Monday through Friday. No blasting will be performed weekends or federal holidays.

What should I do to prepare?

Residents living adjacent to the project site may wish to keep windows closed for the brief period of the blasting, between the one-minute signal and the following all-clear signal. If you are near the construction site and hear an air horn, please be aware blasting activity will occur shortly and follow instructions of site personnel or any additional signage that may be posted.

Water Storage Improvement Projects

Access to clean water is vital to our community. EWEB is hard at work making sure safe, reliable water continues to flow even as critical infrastructure ages and new challenges arise. In the next decade, we plan to construct new water storage facilities near 40th Ave. and Patterson St. and replace the water storage systems at EWEB’s College Hill and Hawkins Hill sites. The projects will be built to seismic and contemporary operating standards, providing more than 40 million gallons of resilient, safe water storage.

Visit our Website

Contact us with questions
If you have questions or input, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the project team at
541-685-7899 or water.storage@eweb.org. Emails sent to this address will reach:

Laura Farthing, Project Manager/Senior Civil Engineer
Jen Connors, Communications Supervisor
Jeannine Parisi, Customer Relationship Manager
Wally McCullough, Water Engineering Supervisor

Three emergency management leaders from the State of Oregon will share their insights at a free online webinar Oct. 28 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Speakers will include Peter Mackwell, Medical Surge Planner, Oregon Health Authority; Ed Flick, Emergency Management Director, Oregon Department of Human Services; and Sonya McCormick, Public/Private Partnership Program Manager, Oregon Office of Emergency Management.

The webinar is sponsored by a Bend non-profit, PathFinderEX. to bring together community members and experts to discuss disaster awareness and preparedness topics.

The schedule is as follows:

5:00 p.m. – 5:05 p.m.: Introduction

5:05 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.: NETs in Disasters / Hurricane Katrina best practices and lessons learned. Mr. Peter Mackwell will discuss the importance of NETs in Disasters and share his experiences & best practices learned from Hurricane Katrina in 2004. Mr. Mackwell is a thirty-year veteran of EMS/Fire and Disaster response, and a member of the Oregon State and the Federal disaster response system. He has served as the Operations Section Chief on the Incident Management Team for IMT-West, overseeing Emergency Support Function 8 (ESF-8).

5:25 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.: Oregon’s Wildfires: A look back, and what can we expect in the future. Ed Flick will discuss what has happened to the areas throughout Oregon that were impacted by wildfires over the past few years. Mr. Flick is the Emergency Management Director for the Oregon Department of Human Services. In his role he organizes, coordinates, and prepares Emergency Support Function 6 (ESF-6), Mass Care, for the state of Oregon. He has decades of experience in disaster risk reduction and preparedness from his time as an Army Special Forces officer to his experience as a county emergency manager.

5:45 p.m. – 6:05 p.m.: Public & Private Partnerships: The importance of working with state agencies.  Sonya McCormick will discuss the importance of working with state and local agencies prior to, during, and following a disaster. Ms. McCormick is the Public/Private Partnership Program Manager for Oregon Office of Emergency Management, in Salem, Ore. She has worked for local and state governments in the fields of epidemiology, environmental health, and emergency management.

6:05 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.: Open forum: question & answer session. Closing remarks.

This event is supported by the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon (OPSO).

You may register for the event at: https://www.pathfinderex.org/event-details/pfx-summit-neighborhood-team-response-in-an-emergency-2