HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 Staff ReportNovember 6, 2006
Amanda Jacobs
Cordilleran Compliance Services, Inc.
826 21'14 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81505
Garfield County
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RE: Chevron Piceance Valley Pipeline
Dear Amanda,
BUILDING & PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Staff has reviewed the Pipeline ROW Application for the Chevron Piceance Valley Pipeline
Project submitted to this office on September 26, 2006.
Staff understands this project generally
consists of the construction of 6.25 miles
of an 8 -inch natural gas gathering
pipeline and compressor station on well
pad #598-36-1 located approximately 17
miles northwest of DeBeque. The pipeline
and compressor falls entirely on private
property primarily owned by Chevron with
one other property requiring a surface
use agreement by Shell Frontier which
has been signed and delivered to the
County and is in place.
This pipeline is intended to convey
untreated natural gas gathered from the
Piceance Basin areas in Garfield County.
The proposed route will disturb
approximately 39 acres of land for the
pipeline to be completed by February 1,
2007. This activity requires an
Administrative Pipeline Permit from
Garfield County.
[The site plan to the right illustrates the
proposed pipeline in a dashed red line,
County Road 211 in a solid black line, the
two road crossings with two black boxes,
and the one other private property which the line crosses owned by Shell Frontier.]
108 8th Street, Suite 201, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601
(970) 945-8212 (970) 285-7972 Fax: (970) 384-3470
Staff also understands that along with the compressor, the facility will include a small in-
line heater which is skid mounted and located on well pad 36-1 with the compressor. The
purpose of the heater is to add propylene glycol to the heating section of the treater which
contains heater tubes. A gas powered heater moves heat through the tubes, heating the
surrounding glycol. A pump then moves the heated glycol through stainless steel tubing
that encases the dump lines of the compressor,
thereby heating the gas in the dump lines. It is a closed
loop system and all of the glycol is recycled through the
system. There will not be any type of glycol discharge,
nor will there be any additional glycol storage on site.
The fuel gas used to power the heater will produce
emissions that will be emitted from a stack, as seen on
the left.
Upon an initial review, the Application was deemed technically complete on October 17,
2006 and has been substantively reviewed against the submittal requirements required in
Resolution 2005 — 53 and required in Section 9.07 of the Zoning Resolution of 1978, as
amended. This letter shall constitute Garfield County's review of the project. The vicinity of
the pipeline in the County is identified by the map below with a box delineating the area at
the end ofCR211.
[The photo to the right shows the road
along which the pipeline is to be located
on the Chevron property. This photo
illustrates the characteristic of the land in
the area of the proposed pipeline in the
Resource Lands zone district.]
Staff referred the Application to the following Agencies / Departments whose comments
are included here for review and attached to this letter which is required by Resolution
2005 — 53:
A. Town of Debeque: No comments received.
B. Grand Valley Fire Protection District: No comments received.
C. Garfield County Road and Bridge Department: No comments received but the
County has issued road cut permits for the two pipeline crossings which were in the
application.
D. County Vegetation Management.: Staff consulted with the Director and comments
are incorporated here and as conditions of approval:
1. Revegetation along the pipeline corridor and along the County Road for the
crossings shall be required to be approved by Garfield County Vegetation
Manager and the ROW restoration will be approved by Garfield County Road &
Bridge Department representative.
2. The Applicant shall provide spring 2006 pre -construction surveys to the County
Vegetation Director for review to analyze the presence of noxious weeds along
the line. The Applicant shall treat noxious weeds prior to construction activities.
Additionally, the Applicant shall install wash stations on site. Please contact us
at 625-8601 when the stations are on site.
3. The Applicant shall provide the County with a revegetation security for fee lands
in the amount of $97,500.00 for 39 acres disturbed. Additionally, the Applicant
shall submit the original tags from each seed bag. The seed mix in the Plan
shall match the seed mix used in the field. Seed mix containing yellow sweet
clover (Melilotus offcinalis) or annual yellow sweetclover (M. indicus) shall not
be used. The amount of seed specified to be planted in the Plan shall match the
quantity of seed used in the field. 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
revegetation establishment, to request an inspection for security release
consideration.
E. County Oil & Gas Liaison: No Comments Received
F. County Sheriff Department: Indicated they had no comments to offer on the project.
(See attached email from the County Sheriff Department)
G. Mountain Cross Engineering: Reviewed the proposal and provided the following
comments:
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1. Easement agreements are still pending with Shell Frontier. This is a
requirement of approval. At a minimum, the agreement should be in place as a
condition of approval;
2. The permits with the Corp of Engineers are reported to be granted yet not
received. At a minimum, the permits should be in place as a condition of
approval;
3. The CDPS General Permit for Stormwater discharges requires that a
Stormwater Management Plan be prepared. Since the permit is general and
predates the application by a few years, a Stormwater Management Plan
specific to the proposed pipeline needs to be prepared; and
4. A reported 417,000 gallons of water are to be disposed of in compliance with the
Minimal Discharge Wastewater Permit. However this permit has apparently not
been applied for and is expected to be submitted sometime in October. At a
minimum, this permit should be in place as a condition of approval.
Determination of Review
Upon substantive review of the documents submitted, Staff has made a determination of
Approval with Conditions for the Chevron Piceance Valley Pipeline Project. The specific
conditions include the following:
1. 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. 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. All access and oversize or overweight vehicle permits shall be obtained from the
County Road & Bridge Department prior to beginning operation. Any new roads or
intensified driveway accesses created as a result of the pipeline construction,
intended to be permanent for maintenance and repair operations shall be placed
behind a locked gate or other barriers preventing use by recreational vehicles. Any
gates or barriers need to be consistent with the surface owner's preferences.
4. Revegetation along the pipeline corridor and along the County Road for the
crossings shall be required to be approved by Garfield County Vegetation Manager
and the ROW restoration will be approved by Garfield County Road & Bridge
Department representative.
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5. All vehicles working within Garfield County Right of Ways will be licensed and
registered in the State of Colorado. All vehicles hauling equipment and materials for
the pipeline construction will abide by Garfield County Road & Bridge Departments
oversize/overweight regulations. All vehicles requiring an oversize/overweight
permit will send a letter showing proof that they can operate under a known bond
holder on file with Garfield County Road & Bridge Department before a permit will
be issued.
6. A ROW survey showing the pipeline location and a traffic control plan will be
submitted to Garfield County Road & Bridge Department prior to starting the
project.
7. The. Applicant shall provide an air permit for the emissions from the in-line heater, if
necessary. If a permit is necessary, it will be obtained and documentation will
provided to Garfield County.
8. The Applicant shall provide spring 2006 pre -construction surveys to the County
Vegetation Director for review to analyze the presence of noxious weeds along the
line. The Applicant shall treat noxious weeds prior to construction activities.
Additionally, the Applicant shall install wash stations on site. Please contact us at
625-8601 when the stations are on site.
9. The Applicant shall provide the County with a revegetation security for fee lands in
the amount of $97,500.00 for 39 acres disturbed. Additionally, the Applicant shall
submit the original tags from each seed bag. The seed mix in the Plan shall match
the seed mix used in the field. Seed mix containing yellow sweet clover (Melilotus
offcinalis) or annual yellow sweetclover (M. indicus) shall not be used. The amount
of seed specified to be planted in the Plan shall match the quantity of seed used in
the field. 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 revegetation establishment, to request an inspection
for security release consideration.
10. The Applicant shall provide the County with a digital alignment of the pipeline once
constructed in a format readable to the County.
11.1n no case shall an operator engage in activities which impact Federal or State
threatened and endangered species.
12. 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.
13.AIl operations shall comply with all applicable Federal and State Public Health and
Environment, Noise, and Air and Water Quality Control standards.
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14.Any proposed waste disposal or treatment facilities shall comply with all
requirements of the County Individual Sewage Disposal System Regulations.
15. Should an abandoned pipeline be removed, it will be subject to the original
revegetation and weed management requirements in the original application.
Finally, this determination shall not be final, and no permit based upon the determination
shall be issued, for 14 calendar days after the date of the determination (November 20,
2006) in order to allow time for the Applicant to appeal, or for the Board of County
Commissioners to call up the determination for further review, pursuant to Sections
9.07.08 and 9.07.09 of the Pipeline Resolution. This determination shall become final, and
permits applied for in accordance with the determination may be issued, only after the
expiration of this 14 -day period, and only if the determination is not reviewed and acted
upon by the Board of County Commissioners at a subsequent appeal or call-up hearing.
This determination has been sent to the Board of County Commissioners to determine if
they wish to call up the matter. Staff will let you know if this matter is called up within the
next 14 days.
Do not hesitate to contact this office if you have any questions.
Very truly yours,
Fred A. Jarman, AICP
Building & Planning Director
970.945.8212
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October 23, 2006
Mr. Fred Jarman
Garfield County Planning
108 8th Street, Suite 401
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
RE: Review of Development Plan for Chevron Pipeline
Dear Fred:
MOUNTAAIN CROSS
ENGINEERING, INC.
CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING AND DESIGN
OCT 2 3 2006
A review has been performed of the documents for the Development Plan Submittal for Chevron
Pipeline. The package was found to be thorough and well organized. The following comments,
questions, or concerns were generated:
1. Easement agreements are still pending with Shell Frontier. This is a requirement of approval.
At a minimum, the agreement should be in place as a condition of approval.
2. The permits with the Corp of Engineers are reported to be granted yet not received. At a
minimum, the permits should be in place as a condition of approval.
3. The CDPS General Permit for Stormwater discharges requires that a Stormwater Management
Plan be prepared. Since the permit is general and predates the application by a few years, a
Stormwater Management Plan specific to the proposed pipeline needs to be prepared.
4. A reported 417,000 gallons of water are to be disposed of in compliance with the Minimal
Discharge Wastewater Permit. However this permit has apparently not been applied for and is
expected to be submitted sometime in October. At a minimum, this permit should be in place
as a condition of approval.
Feel free to call if any of the above needs clarification or if you have any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Mountairi Cross Engin ering, Inc.
\- Chris Hale, PE
826 1/2 Grand Avenue • Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
PH: 970.945.5544 • FAX: 970.945.5558 • www.mountaincross-eng.com