Joint Water Pollution Control Plant Effluent Outfall Tunnel Western Avenue Boring

Emergency exploratory boring and drilling operations are being conducted along Western Avenue in Los Angeles to investigate a partial tunnel breach in the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant Effluent Outfall Tunnel that occurred on July 9, 2025. Due to restricted access mandated by Cal OSHA, the only viable method to assess the tunnel’s current condition is through up to fourteen boreholes drilled to depths of up to 365 feet below ground surface. The primary purpose is to identify subsurface voids and evaluate structural integrity to prevent further ground settlement and enable emergency repair planning. All boreholes will be properly abandoned following Los Angeles County and California Well Standards upon completion. The project qualifies for an emergency exemption under CEQA Guidelines §15269 and Public Resources Code §21080(b)(4), relieving it from standard environmental review requirements. The Los Angeles County Sanitation District is the contracting agency, with Patricia Horsley, Environmental Planner, serving as the primary point of contact. There is no publicly disclosed contract value, pricing structure, or formal solicitation number, and no standard FAR clauses, contract type, or accounting data are specified in the available documentation. The place of performance is clearly defined as Western Avenue, approximately 600 feet south of Weymouth Place, with inspection and acceptance occurring at the site. Although no formal contract administration data, payment details, invoicing method, or COR/COTR assignments are included, the project is treated as an urgent public works effort exempt from standard federal procurement regulations such as Davis-Bacon, DBE reporting, and Buy American provisions due to its emergency nature and public agency status. Submission of the Notice of Exemption and supporting fee receipt to the Los Angeles County Clerk’s office in Norwalk confirms compliance with state-level filing procedures for emergency exemptions.