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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 BOCC Staff Report 06.22.1995BOCC 6/22/95 PROJECT INFORMATION AND STAFF COMMENTS REOUEST: APPLICANT: LOCATION: SITE DATA: WATER: SEWER: ACCESS: EXISTING AND ADJACENT ZONING: A Special Use Permit to allow the construction and operation of a produced water evaporation Pit. Barrett Resources Corporation A tract of land located in a portion of Section 20, T6S, R94W of the 6th P.M.; approximately four (4) miles west of Rifle; off of CR 246. 38.06 Acres Will not be used Will not be used Direct access to CR 246 RIL -lower valley floor, gentle slopes I. RELATIONSIDP TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The subject property is located in District B -Subdivisions/Rural Serviceable Areas, Minor Environmental Constraints as designated by the Garfield County Comprehensive Plan's Management Districts Map, II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL A. Site Description: The property is located approximately four (4) miles west of Rifle, immediately west of CR 246 in a wide valley, which slopes gently to the south. Sage and native, annual grasses are the predominant vegetation types on the property. B. Adjacent Land Uses: The area surrounding the proposal is dominantly range land. It is assumed the property is used as grazing. To the east is the Garfield County landfill and to the north is the old Anvil Points oil shale project. C. Proposal: The water evaporation pit is intended to serve as a collection point for water produced from some of the 350 natural gas wells Barrett presently has in the area. On the average, wells produce 2.5 bbls/day, which is typically stored in an 80 bbl capacity tank on the site. This facility would have two ponds capable of handling 420,000 bbl of water and provide an evaporation "pan" area.( See the enclosed application) The evaporation pan would not have water contained in it, but would act as an area for water to be sprayed to enhance evaporation. The water would then return to the ponds via a gravity system. The ponds and pan areas will be lined with 40 to 60 mil High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). The combination of ponds and pan is projected to evaporate 1200 gpd on an average, with a higher level of evaporation occurring in the summer and virtually none in the winter. The facility will be equipped with provisions to prevent oil from reaching the holding ponds. The entire facility will be enclosed with a 7 ft. tall panel fence to prevent livestock and wildlife access. Any disturbed area not covered by liner or gravel, will be reclaimed and graded. The entire facility is projected to be 200 feet about the I-70 corridor to the south, leaving only the embankment on the south side visible to the vehicles on the interstate. II. MAJOR ISSUES AND CONCERNS A. Zoning: The subject property is within the R/L zone district which does support, through the issuance of a Special Use Permit, of the property as a site for processing, storage or material handling of natural resources. B. Legal Access: Legal access exists from CR 246, which will require a driveway access permit from the Road and Bridge Department C. Water: No water is proposed to be used in the construction or operation of this facility. The applicants have proposed to drill monitoring wells on all four sides of the facility and conducted on a quarterly basis. If groundwater is present, it will be evaluated on a quarterly basis and data to be submitted to the COGCC. Staff would suggest that a copy of the same reports be submitted the Garfield County Planning Department to be included in the file with this application. D. State and Local Health Standards: Based upon previous applications of a similar nature, no state or local health standards are applicable. It appears that the State Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) regulates this type of proposal. E. Fire Protection: The application does not address fire protection measures, but staff does not see any significant fire hazards created by the proposed facility. F. Soils: The Natural Resources Conservation Service identifies a number of different soils in the area, but the information included in the application is very limited. Given the lining of the pits and the proposed monitoring program, a higher level of detail does not appear to be necessary. G. Traffic: The applicant expects traffic to the facility to be approximately 20 heavy truck round trips (water tankers) and 5 light truck round truck trips per day on the Anvil Points road. The same road provides access to West Rifle Landfill and the additional traffic should not create any significant impacts to the road. H. Site Rehabilitation: The applicant has submitted a brieflandscaping plan, that says that all areas not lined or otherwise utilized in the operation will be seeded with a mix of native seeds. Staff recommends that the seeds used, be certified weed free seed. At the end of the 20 year useful life of the facility, the applicants proposed to remove all equipment and liner material and regrade the property to the as near as possible to the original condition. IV. FINDINGS I. That proper posting and public notice was provided as required for the hearing before the Board of County Commissioners. 2. That the hearing before tile Board of County Commissioners was extensive and complete, that all pertinent facts, matters and issues were submitted and that all interested parties were heard at that hearing. 3 . That the application is in compliance with the Garfield County Zoning Resolution of 1978, as amended, 4. For the above stated and other reasons, the proposed Special Use Permit is in the best interest of the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity and welfare of tile citizens of Garfield County. V. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends APPROVAL of the application, subject to the following conditions I All representations of the applicant, either within the application or stated at the hearing before the Board Of County Commissioners, shall be considered conditions of approval. 2. The operation of the facility be done in accordance with any federal, state or local regulations governing the operation of this type of facility. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The issuance of this Special Use Permit is subject to submittal of copies of any quarterly water analysis submitted to the COGCC for water in any of the proposed monitoring wells. Any determination of contamination of the groundwater, will result in the immediate discontinuance of the facility, subject to a determination of mitigation in a public hearing before the Board in the same procedure required for the initial hearing. All vehicles accessing the facility and other mobile equipment shall be registered with the Garfield County Clerk & Recorders office, as required by law. Any seed used for revegetation, shall be certified weed free seed and the applicant shall be responsible for maintaining the site in a weed free manner. The facility is for the sole use of the applicant. If any other companies are to be added as users, a new special use permit must be obtained. An emergency plan will be filed with the County Emergency Preparedness Office and the Rifle Fire District.