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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 Staff Reporte. Garfield County BUILDING & PLANNING DEPARTMENT August 31, 2006 Jimmy Smith Wagon wheel Consulting 111 East 3rd Street, Suite 213 Rifle, CO 81650 RE: South Parachute 20", 8", and 6" Pipeline Project Dear Jimmy, Staff has reviewed the Pipeline ROW Application for the South Parachute 20", 8", and 6" Pipeline Project submitted to this office on December 02, 2005 on behalf of Encana Oil & Gas USA, Inc. (You elected to place the project on hold until July 31, 2006 so that Surface Ownership contracts could be submitted.) As you are aware, the County defines pipelines in Section 2.02.431 of the Zoning Resolution in the following way: Any conduit and appurtenant facilities designed for, or capable of, transporting natural gas, other petroleum derivatives, gaseous matter or other liquid matter. Pipelines regulated, licensed or permitted under federal regulations as interstate transmission lines shall be exempt from regulation under this Chapter. The County has the authority to regulate pipelines pursuant to Section 9.07.02 in the following way: A development plan must be submitted for the site or area of any pipeline(s),greater than 12 " in diameter and over two (2) miles in length or any pipeline more than five (5) miles in length, proposed to be located in the unincorporated area of Garfield County. Development plan approval is required prior to the issuance of any County building permits, or associated access or other land use permits associated with pipeline operations. General Project Overview The project is located in an area 2 miles SW of Parachute in the High Mesa area where the total proposed pipeline length comprises 9.16 miles with 4.4 miles (Private Ground) and approximately 5.7 miles (BLM). There will be one County Road crossing of CR 302. 108 8th Street, Suite 201, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601 (970) 945-8212 (970) 285-7972 Fax: (970) 384-3470 The zoning for the pipeline includes both ARRD and OS (BLM). The BLM portion of the line has been completed. The portion proposed through the private ground will parallel an existing Canyon Gas pipeline corridor with very limited new ground disturbance. The map below shows the corridor with the private ground portions outlined in hashed stripes. A more detailed description of the project is also described below. EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. proposes to construct, operate and maintain approximately 9 miles of natural gas, water distribution, and produced water gathering pipelines within the South Parachute Area. The proposed pipeline will be immediately adjacent to the existing Canyon Gas Resources pipeline system. The natural gas is currently gathered by Canyon Gas Resources, The current Canyon Gas system is limited due to capacity and high pressure. EnCana is proposing to install a pipeline project that will include a main trunk line system consisting of up to 20 inch (natural gas), 8 inch (water distribution), and 6 inch (water gathering) pipeline. Temporary Right -Of -Way widths for construction will need to be 55 feet for the trunk line system and revert to a 30 foot permanent easement. No additional work space will be required on BLM land. 2 The proposed, up to 20 inch pipeline will gather and transport up to 100 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas. The proposed pipeline will transport natural gas to the Orchard Compressor Station where it will be compressed to meet discharge pressure. The natural gas will then be transported through existing pipelines to West Mamm facility for additional conditioning and then distributed to existing transmission companies. The proposed 8 inch trunk pipeline will distribute water from the High Mesa Storage Pond into existing pipelines for drilling operations. Water will be pumped from the Una Bridge to the High Mesa storage pond and used as make up water. EnCana currently has water available from their contract with the West Divide Water Conservancy District, contract #i010628BP (b), for 200 acre feet of water. The proposed 6 inch trunk pipeline will gather water from present and future wells to be transported to the High Mesa water storage and evaporation facility. The water will be filtered and recycled for drilling operations which will minimize the need for additional makeup water. Water from the West Divide Water Conservancy District will be utilized to hydrostatically test the pipeline. Following the completion of the test, the water will be discharged into temporary, above ground storage tanks and then filtered and reused for well drilling operations. There will be no ground water discharge. Construction for the trunk line will occur on one construction spread and is scheduled to commence upon arrival of land grants, land owners Right -of -Way agreements, and associated permits with a completion of approximately 8 weeks later. II. Referral Agencies / Applicant's Responses to Comments 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. Garfield County Oil & Gas Auditor: No Comments Received. 3 b. County Vegetation Management Director: (See attachment) In the last two years revegetation efforts of pipelines in Garfield County has resulted in a proliferation of yellow sweet clover more than any other plant species. While yellow sweet clover isn't a noxious weed, it is a troublesome plant; it moves into disturbed areas and finds its way onto roadsides causing maintenance and site distance issues. I have concerns that the seed mixes mentioned in the SUP applications and what is actually used are sometimes different mixes. I am requesting that the applicant provide actual seed tag labels listing the species used and the percentage of Pure Live Seed. They should save every tag and make them available to the Vegetation Management office so we can verify that they planted the amount they committed to. I am recommending a revegetation security in the amount of $2000 per total disturbed acre. This would be for the surface area disturbed on private lands. The applicant will need to quantify the surface area disturbed on private land only. It is recommended that the applicant mulch the disturbed area after reseeding. If using straw or hay, it must be certified weed -free. As the applicant stated in the SUP, this is a heavily weed infested area. The biennial plant, musk thistle, is prevalent in the area. It is suggested that the applicant monitor the pipeline ROW within a month after pipeline completion for the emergence of noxious weed rosettes. Monitoring and treatment should be done at least twice before reseeding. Reseeding should be done in late fall as to avoid seed germination in the hot summer months. The applicant should be responsible for assisting the private landowners with weed management on the pipeline. c. Bureau of Land Management: No Comments received. d. Garfield County Road & Bridge Department: (See Attachment) Garfield County Road & Bridge Department has no problem with this Special Use Permit as we have already met on site with the applicants to look at the road crossing area. The Utility permit for the road crossing will be issued by Garfield County Road & Bridge Department prior to construction. There will be special conditions listed in the Utility permit specific to the installation of the pipelines. e. Battlement Mesa Water & Sanitation: No Comments received. f. Grand Valley Fire Protection District: (See Attachment) On Thursday, February 09, 2006, Road and Bridge drove to the proposed location of this project and found almost all of it will be accessible utilizing existing roads, in the event of an emergency. There is a small section along the existing North/South pipeline corridor that is not currently accessible, but the distances are short and I'm sure that a temporary work/access road will be build to get equipment in and out. 4 Therefore the District will not need any extra accommodations made during the duration of this project. g. Town of Parachute: No Comments Received. III. Staff Summary of Review The Applicant has provided all the necessary information required in the administrative permit application and has committed to all of the proposed requirements and conditions including a revegetation security to be held by the County for all pipeline corridors and staging areas. The duration of the construction is fairly limited to approximately 6 to 8 weeks which is very quick to be begun as soon as an approval can be obtaioned. Staff finds the Applicant has satisfied concerns raised by the referral agencies and further complies with industrial performance standards / criteria previously used to review a pipeline in the Special Use Permit regulations. Lastly, the conditions proposed below are similar to conditions placed on pipeline applications which have been approved by the Board of County Commissioners which address issues regarding revegetation and weed control, emergency contacts and plan management, and permit approval for County road crossings. IV. Determination Upon substantive review of the documents submitted, Staff has made a determination of Approval with Conditions for the South Parachute 20", 8'; and 6" 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. 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. 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 5 holder on file with Garfield County Road & Bridge Department before a permit will be issued. 5. 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. 6. In no case shall an operator engage in activities which impact Federal or State threatened and endangered species. 7 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. 8. All operations shall comply with all applicable Federal and State Public Health and Environment, Noise, and Air and Water Quality Control standards. 9. Any proposed waste disposal or treatment facilities shall comply with all requirements of the County Individual Sewage Disposal System Regulations. 10. Should an abandoned pipeline be removed, it will be subject to the original revegetation and weed management requirements in the original application. Due to concerns that seed mixes mentioned in the applications to be used in revegetation are sometimes different mixes that are used on the ground, the applicant shall provide actual seed tag labels listing the species used and the percentage of Pure Live Seed. They shall save every tag and make them available to the Vegetation Management office in order to verify that they planted the amount they committed to. The Applicant shall mulch the disturbed area after reseeding. If using straw or hay, it must be certified weed -free. 11. The Applicant shall provide a revegetation security in the amount of $2000 per total disturbed acre including ROW and any staging areas used I the construction of the pipeline. This would be for the surface area disturbed on private lands. The applicant will need to quantify the surface area disturbed on private land only. The project cannot begin until this security has been placed with the County at an amount satisfactory to the Vegetation Director. 12. Because the subject area is a heavily weed infested area with species such as the biennial plant, musk thistle, being the most prevalent in the area, the Applicant shall monitor the pipeline ROW within a month after pipeline completion for the emergence of noxious weed rosettes. Monitoring and treatment should be done at least twice before reseeding. Reseeding should be done in late fall as to avoid seed germination in the hot summer months. The Applicant shall provide the County Vegetation Management Office with reports demonstrating this follow up action has occurred. 6 13. The Applicant shall obtain a utility permit for the road crossing from the Garfield County Road & Bridge Department prior to construction. 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 (September 15, 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. Jarman, AIC:' Co -Director 970.945.8212 7 7 GRAND VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 1777 S. BATTLEMENT PARKWAY PO BOX 295 PARACHUTE, CO 81635 (970) 285-9119, FAX (970) 285-9748 February 10, 2006 Fred Jarman Garfield County Planning and Building Department 108 8th Street, Suite 201 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Subject: Construct and operate a 20" Natural Gas Gathering Line, 8" water distribution line, and a 6" water gathering line. Mr. Jarman, On Thursday, February 09, 2006, I drove to the proposed location of this project and found almost all of it will be accessible utilizing existing roads, in the event of an emergency. There is a small section along the existing North/South pipeline corridor that is not currently accessible, but the distances are short and I'm sure that a temporary work/access road will be build to get equipment in and out. Therefore the District will not need any extra accommodations made during the duration of this project. If you have any questions regarding this review, I can he reached at the above listed phone number. David A. Blair Fire Chief, GVFPD Cc: file Mission Statement We, the members of the ParachuteBattlement Mesa Volunteer Fire Department, dedicate our efforts to the protection of the lives, property and environment of the citizens of, and visitors to, the Grand Valley Fire Protection District