HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.0 BOCC Staff Report 07.02.2009Garfield County 1
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: John Niewoehner, Project Engineer, Building and Planning Department
Date: July 2, 2009
RE: Staff Report: Chevron USA — Clear Creek Utility Corridor (PDP 4809)
Project Overview
The proposed 8.6 mile utility corridor will encompass various pipelines and fiber optics
lines needed for Chevron's natural gas activities in the area. The corridor will parallel to
Clear Creek and CR211 and will cross the creek several times. The south end of the
corridor is two miles north of the CR204 and CR211 junction (SW1/4 NE1/4 of S22, T6S,
R98W). The north end of the corridor is 11 miles north of the CR 204 and CR211 junction
(SE1/4 NE1/4 of S35, T5S, R98W). Paris of the corridor were previously disturbed by
Chevron while installing a permitted 10" diameter gas pipeline and a fiber optic conduit.
This project consists of the following components:
• Pipelines. As outlined in the application, 16 types of conduits/pipelines may
eventually be placed in the corridor. These conduits/pipelines include: (1) 8" — 24"
diameter gas pipes, (2) frac water pipes, (3) produced water pipes, and (4) fiber
optics conduits.
Not all of the 16 conduits/pipelines will run the entire length of the corridor. At any
point in the corridor there will be a minimum of 3 pipelines and conduits and a
maximum of 12 pipelines and conduits.
• Corridor Easement. A 100 -foot wide permanent easement is proposed for the
corridor except for on Shell's property. On Shell's property there will be a 50' wide
permanent easement and 75' temporary construction easement.
• Pig Launching and Receiving Areas. A total of 8 launcher/receiver facilities have
been proposed.
Permitted laucher//receivers and maximum allowable land disturbance area through
this permit:
Launcher/receiver @ STA 104+00 on Sheet 5;
Launcher/receiver @ STA 133+00 on Sheet 6;
Launcher/receiver @ STA 100+69 on Sheet 10;
Launcher/receiver @ STA 00+50 on Sheet 11;
Launcher/receiver @ STA 14+80 on Sheet 11;
Launcher/receiver @ STA 18+00 on Sheet 11;
Launcher/receiver @ STA 39+67 on Sheet 15;
Launcher/receiver @ STA 45+59 on Sheet 17;
allowable disturbance: 100'x100'
allowable disturbance: 50'x50'
allowable disturbance: 50'x50'
allowable disturbance: 50'x50'
allowable disturbance: 50'x50'
allowable disturbance: 50'x50'
allowable disturbance: 50'x50'
allowable disturbance: 100'x100'
• Stream Crossings. The conduits/pipelines will cross Clear Creek, Deer Park Gulch,
Doe Gulch, Buck Gulch Tom Creek and an unnamed tributary to Clear Creek.
• Staging Areas: Four staging areas are shown on the plans as 'temporary
workspaces'.
temporary workspace @ STA 95+00 on Sheet 4
temporary workspace @ STA 90+00 on Sheet 10
temporary workspace @ STA 16+00 on Sheet 11
temporary workspace @ STA 16+00 on Sheet 15
size: 500'x200'
size: 500'x200'
size: 500'x200'
size: 500'x200'
• Construction Schedule: Per the application, the installation of pipelines in the
corridor will begin in 2009 and will be complete by the end of 2011. Revegetation
will need to begin as soon as the pipelines and conduits are installed in any section
of the corridor. By the end of 2011 all areas of the corridor shall be reseeded and
no more construction can occur under this permit.
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II. Surface Ownership of Corridor
Utility corridor(s) represented by dark lines paralleling Clear Creek.
Approx. Location of
Central Processing
Facility & Fresh
Water Ponds
BLM (not
impacted)
BLM (not
impacted)
Shell Oil
Property
Crossed by
Corridor
Unlabelled
property
adjacent to
corridor is
owned by
Chevron
Renninger
Property, not
impacted
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III. Road Access
All access into the corridor will occur via existing roads. This permit does not allow these
existing roads to be widened. This permit does not allow any land disturbance outside the
corridor and staging areas.
IV. Water Body, Stream and Wetland Crossings
The conduits/pipelines will cross Clear Creek, Deer Park Gulch, Doe Gulch, Buck Gulch
Tom Creek and an unnamed tributary to Clear Creek. The Clear Creek and Tom Creek
crossings will be bored. Of the 10 crossings, only four will be open cut crossings. These
four crossing (across Deer Park Gulch, Doe Gulch, Buck Gulch, and an unnamed tributary
to Clear Creek) will be permitted by the Army Corps through Nationwide Permits.
V. Wildlife and Habitat Protection
The following are recommendations from the Chevron Clear Creek 2008 Biological Survey
and an Utility Corridor Raptor Survey (June 5, 2009) prepared by WestWater Engineering:
• Golden eagles have chosen to nest 0.4 miles from the Central Processing Facility
at the north end of the corridor. Typically a 0.5 mile buffer is recommended from
nests. WestWater recommends that human encroachment within 0.5 miles of
active golden eagle nests be restricted between December 15 and July 15.
• Construction should utilize Best Management Practices for erosion control to
protect Clear Creek and other drainages from sediment generated by construction
activities.
• Noxious weeds shall be controlled to prevent their proliferation in areas of recent
disturbance.
VI. Referral Comments
Staff referred the Application to the following Agencies / Departments whose comments
are as follows:
A. Debeque Fire Protection District: no comments received
B. Garfield County Road and Bridge Department:
• All vehicles hauling equipment and materials for this project shall abide by Garfield
County's oversize/overweight permit system on all County roads. All vehicles
requiring oversize/overweight permits shall apply for them at Garfield County Road
and Bridge Department. All vehicles requiring oversize/overweight permits shall
have on file with Garfield County Road and Bridge Department a letter from
Chevron USA stating said vehicles can apply for oversize/overweight permits under
their bond on file with Garfield County.
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• All vehicles shall abide by all construction signage and speed limits on CR 204, this
could include reduced speed limits, bypasses and traffic stops.
C. County Vegetation Management:
• Weed Management: (1) The weed management plan is acceptable. (2) It is
recommended that the applicant initiate weed management activities prior to the
start of construction. (3) There should be about a six-week window between the
last herbicide treatment and the initial reseeding.
• Revegetation Plan: (1) The re -vegetation plan is acceptable. (2) All seed tags
must be saved and made available to the Vegetation Management Department for
verification.
• Reclamation / revegetation Security: Two financial securities are needed for this
project - - (1) a short-term security to guarantee the revegetation of the corridor and
staging areas after the pipelines and conduits have been installed and (2) a long-
term security to guarantee the reclamation of the land occupied by the pig
launcher/receivers after Chevron ceases gas extraction operations.
Short term security: [corridor 104.1 acres + staging areas 9.2 acres] x $2,500/acre =
$283,250
Long-term security: pig launcher/receivers 0.7 acres x $4,000/acrea = $2,800
The security shall be held by Garfield County until vegetation has been successfully
reestablished according to the Reclamation Standards in the Garfield County Weed
Management Plan. It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact the County,
upon successful re -vegetation establishment, to request an inspection for security
release consideration.
D. County Oil & Gas Liaison: No comments were received.
E. County Project Engineer.
• All submittal materials comply with County standards for pipelines.
F. County Attorney: No comments
G. County Sherif: No comments
VII. Summary of Review
Upon review of the documents submitted against the required standards and criteria in
Section IX of the Unified Land Use Code, Staff has made a determination of Approval with
Conditions for the "Chevron USA — Clear Creek Utility Corridor".
The specific conditions include the following:
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1. COGCC: Any equipment used in construction or operation of a pipeline must
comply with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Rules and
Regulations, Section 802, Noise Abatement. Additionally, all power sources used in
pipeline operations shall have electric motors or muffled internal combustion
engines.
2. Minimize Impacts: Pipeline operations shall be located in a manner to minimize
their visual impact and disturbance of the land surface. Facilities shall be painted in
a uniform, non -contrasting, non -reflective color, to blend with the adjacent
landscape. Right-of-way shall be located in existing disturbed areas unless safety
or visual concerns or other adverse surface impacts clearly dictate otherwise.
3. Oversize/Overweight Vehicles: All vehicles hauling equipment and materials for
this project shall abide by Garfield County's oversize/overweight permit system on
all County roads. All vehicles requiring oversize/overweight permits shall apply for
them at Garfield County Road and Bridge Department. All vehicles requiring
oversize/overweight permits shall have on file with Garfield County Road and
Bridge Department a letter from Chevron USA stating said vehicles can apply for
oversize/overweight permits under their bond on file with Garfield County.
4. GIS Shape File: The Applicant shall provide the County with a digital alignment of
the pipelines once constructed in a format readable to the County Geographic
Information System (GIS) analyst.
5. Endangered Species: In no case shall an operator engage in activities which impact
Federal or State threatened and endangered species.
6. Air Emissions: Air contaminant emissions shall be in compliance with the applicable
permit and control provisions of the Colorado Air Quality Control Program, Title 25,
Resolution 7, C.R.S.
7. Federal and State Regulations: All operations shall comply with all applicable
Federal and State Public Health and Environment, Noise, and Air and Water Quality
Control standards.
8. Abandoned Pipelines: Should an abandoned pipeline be removed, it will be subject
to the original revegetation and weed management requirements in the original
application.
9. Permit Duration: The County requires that the construction within the corridor,
permitted through this permit, must be completed prior to January 1, 2012.
10. Site Reclamation, Re -vegetation and Weed Management: (1) Unless changes are
approved by the County Vegetation Manager, re -vegetation and weed management
must be performed in accordance with the Reclamation Plan that was submitted as
part of the application. (2) All seed tags must be saved and made available to the
Vegetation Management Department for verification. (3) It is recommended that the
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applicant initiate weed management activities prior to the start of construction. (4)
There should be about a six-week window between the last herbicide treatment and
the initial reseeding.
• Financial Security for Reclamation: Two financial securities are needed for this
project - - (1) a short-term security to guarantee the revegetation of the corridor and
staging areas after the pipelines and conduits have been installed and (2) a long-
term security to guarantee the reclamation of the land occupied by the pig
launcher/receivers after Chevron ceases gas extraction operations. Short term
security: [corridor 104.1 acres + staging areas 9.2 acres] x $2,500/acre = $283,250
Long-term security: pig launcher/receivers 0.7 acres x $4, 000/acrea = $2, 800
The security shall be held by Garfield County until vegetation has been successfully
reestablished according to the Reclamation Standards in the Garfield County Weed
Management Plan. It is the responsibility of the Applicant to contact the County,
upon successful re -vegetation establishment, to request an inspection for security
release consideration.
11. Workspaces (Staging Areas): The workspaces may be used only for the storage of
machinery and equipment being used to install pipelines and conduits within the
corridor. The workspaces shall be reclaimed at the end of the corridor construction
activities.
12. Access Roads: The corridor and workspaces can only be accessed via existing
roads. The permit does not allow the widening of existing roads or the creation of
new roads.
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May 18, 2009
Michael DeBerry, Operations Manager
Chevron USA, Inc.
10850 Richmond Avenue
Houston TX 77042
BUILDING & PLANNING DEPARTMENT
RE: Chevron — Clear Creek Utility Corridor (Planning Dept No. PDP 4809)
Dear Mr. DeBerry,
Upon review, the application submitted by Chevron on May 1, 2009 for the 'Chevron
- Clear Creek Utility Corridor' has been deemed technically complete today, May 18,
2009.
Tbe County will send copies of the application to referral agencies and within 18
days (by June 5th) the referral agencies must provide us with their comments.
Within 28 days of today (by June 15th) this office will provide you with a review letter
that summarizes the application and makes a recommendation regarding County
approval. The review letter is also sent to the Board of County Commissioners
which has a 14 day period in which to call up the application for a public hearing.
Presuming that the application is not called up by the BOCC and we get the financial
securities in place, the permit could be approved and issued by the end of June.
Do not hesitate to contact this office if you have any questions.
Very truly yours,
ohn Niewoehner, PE
Project Engineer Director, Building & Planning Dept
970.945.8212
108 Eighth Street, Suite 401 • Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 945-8212 • (970) 285-7972 • Fax: (970) 384-3470