HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 Staff ReportAPPLICANT:
REPRESENTATIVE:
MEMORANDUM
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
RENATA BUSCH, PERMIT & ROW
COORDINATOR FOR ENCANA OIL & GAS
GENERAL LOCATION: PARALLELS HIGHWAY 6 & 24, SEC. 5 & 6, T SS, R
96W & SEC. 27, 28, 32, & 33, T 7S, R 96W.
PIPELINE WIDTH &
PIPELINE LENGTH:
3.2 MILES OF 12 INCH DIAMETER NATURAL
GAS PIPELINE
COMPRESSOR STATION: NONE ARE PROPOSED IN APPLICATION
DATE: MAY30,2008
Re: Administrative Pipeline Development Permit for EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
known as "Tombstone Phase 3 Pipeline"
Upon an initial review, the Application was deemed technically complete May 9, 2008
and has been reviewed against the submittal requirements required in Resolution 2005-53
and required in Section 9.07 of the Garfield County Zoning Resolution of 1978, as
amended. This letter shall constitute Garfield County's review of the project.
(See attached vicinity map at the end of staff report)
I) GENERAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Staff has reviewed the Pipeline ROW Application for the "Tombstone Phase 3 Pipeline"
for EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. Staff understands that the project generally consists of
the construction, operation and maintenance of a new trunk pipeline for gathering and
transporting of natural gas from related drilling operations in the Orchard Unit area north
and south oflnterstate I-70. The Tombstone Phase 3 Pipeline is approximately 16,641
feet in length and will parallel EnCana's existing 24-inch Parachute to DeBeque pipeline.
The proposed route and all construction distUrbances will be located within an existing
pipeline corridor.
EnCana has submitted a Colorado Department of Transportation Utility/Special Use
Permit Application requesting permission to construct the 12-inch diameter natural gas
pipeline and related above ground facilities in the CDOT right-of-way in Garfield
County. Permit Number 13 897 was issued by CDOT on 4/2112008.
The proposed project is approximately 3.2 miles of up to 12-inch diameter, .281 wall
X52/60 FBE steel or composite. The pipeline will be buried at least 48-inches in depth to
ensure proper protection of the pipeline. The estimate maximum allowable operation
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pressure is 1,440 pounds per square inch and the pipeline will be operated at a normal
operating pressure of200 to 500 psi. The entire project route is located within an
existing, disturbed pipeline corridor that parallels EnCana's existing 24-inch diameter
Parachute to DeBeque Pipeline. The average width of the existing, disturbed pipeline
corridor is approximately 75 feet. A temporary work area of 60 feet will be used during
construction of this project. The right-of-way will revert to a permanent easement of30
feet. Construction of the proposed pipeline will disturb approximately 22.9 acres. No
new disturbance will occur outside the existing, disturbed area. Construction activities
are anticipated to last 12 to 16 weeks. Working hours will normally range from sunrise
to sunset Monday through Saturday. The proposed pipeline will not cross any Garfield
County roads.
II) REFERRAL AGENCY COMMENTS
Staff referred the Application to the following Agencies I Departments whose comments
are included here for review:
A. Town of Parachute: No comments received.
B. Grand Valley Fire Protection District: A letter dated May 15, 2008 from Rob
Ferguson, Deputy Fire Chief-Operations was received with the following
comments. "After reviewing the Pipeline Development Plan for EnCana, I do
not see anything that raises concern with the Fire District. The location would
be accessible and with a project like this it is our main concern as we as
safety."
C. Garfield Countv Road & Bridge Department: A letter was received from Jake
Mall of the Garfield County Road & Bridge Department dated May12, 2008
that stated "they have no comment on this application as it is all within CDOT
ROW and does not directly effect our County road system."
D. Garfield County Vegetation Management: The following comments dated
May 23, 2008 were received from Steve Anthony and they are as follows:
Noxious Weeds
Weed Management: The weed management plan is acceptable.
It is recommended that the applicant initiate weed management activities prior to
the start of construction. This is extremely important in the areas where the
noxious weed, diffuse knapweed has been inventoried. This weed is mandated
by the Colorado Department of Agriculture for immediate eradication.
We request that the applicant forward application records that verify the treatment
of diffuse knapweed prior to pipeline construction. The records may be sent to:
Garfield County Vegetation Management
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POB 426
Rifle CO 81650
Or email:
santhony@garfield-county.com
Revegetation
Revegetation Plan: The revegetation plan is acceptable.
All seed tags must be saved and made available to the Vegetation Management
Department for verification.
Revegetation Security: The applicant has provided a security bond.
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 bond release consideration.
E. Garfield County Oil & Gas Liaison: No comments received.
F. Mountain Cross Engineering: Comments were received from Chris Hale of
Mountain Cross Engineering, Inc. dated May 27, 2008. His comments are as
follows:
This office has performed a review of the documents provided for the Pipeline
Development Plan of the Tombstone Phase 3 Pipeline by EnCana Oil and
Gas. The submittal was found to be thorough and well organized.
1) The application may require an APEN permit for fugitive dust control.
The applicant should verify and obtain permits as necessary.
2) The pipeline is proposed to be buried at 48" deep but drainages and
piping across the highway are likely near the same depth of bury. The
profile view does not show crossing pipe elevations. The Applicant
should verify pipe locations and resolve any conflicts with the
proposed pipeline prior to construction.
3) The Applicant proposes to use water from a West Divide contract for
pressure testing. No information was provided concerning this
contract. The applicant should provide copies of the West Divide
contract to verify lawful use of the water.
III) SUMMARY OF REVIEW
EnCana plans to increase production in the Orchard Unit area to 50 million standard
cubic feet per day, each year, for the next several years. The Tombstone Phase 3 pipeline
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will complete a natural gas gathering system that will utilize existing pipelines to
transport the projected future volumes of natural gas to the Meeker Gas Plant in Rio
Blanco County for processing. After processing, natural gas liquids would be transported
via existing pipeline from the Meeker Gas Plant to the MAPCO pipeline in Utah and the
processed natural gas would be delivered to the Entrega/Rockies Express pipeline or
other interstate pipeline sales outlet.
The proposed route will be located within an existing pipeline corridor and the pipelines
will parallel EnCana's existing 24-inch pipeline and the route will be located solely
within CDOT's right-of-way which has been approved by CDOT. No new disturbance
will occur outside the existing disturbance.
EnCana's contractors will haul the pipe used for the project from a pipe wholesale
distributor located in Garfield County and no pipe yards will be necessary for the
construction of the project.
All adjoining property owners have been notified of this request.
IV) DECISION OF DIRECTOR
Therefore, upon substantive review of the documents submitted against the required
standards and criteria in Section 9.07.06, Staff has made a determination of Approval
with conditions for the EnCana "Tombstone Phase 3 Pipeline" project. The specific
conditions include the following:
I) Any equipment used in construction 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) 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
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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.
5) The Applicant shall provide the County with a digital alignment of the pipeline
once constructed in a format readable to the County Geographic Information
System (GIS) analyst.
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.
I 0) Should any abandoned pipeline be removed, it will be subject to the original
revegetation and weed management requirements in the original application.
11) There shall be no entrances to an County roads for the project and the only impact
to the County road system shall be during the construction of the pipeline project.
12) The Applicant shall satisfy the following comments made by Chris Hale of
Mountain Cross Engineering, Inc. as follows:
a) The application may require an APEN permit for fugitive dust control.
The applicant shall verify and obtain permits as necessary.
b) The profile view does not show crossing pipe elevations. The Applicant
shall verify pipe locations and resolve any conflicts with the proposed
pipeline prior to construction. The pipeline is proposed to be buried at 48"
deep but drainages and piping across the highway are likely near the same
depth of bury.
c) The Applicant shall provide Garfield County with a copy of the West
Divide contract for lawful use of water to be used for pressure testing.
13) The Applicant shall satisfy the following comments made by Steve Anthony of
Garfield County Vegetation Management as follows:
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a) The applicant shall initiate weed management activities prior to the start of
construction.
b) The applicant shall forward application records that verify the treatment of
diffuse knapweed prior to pipeline construction. The records shall be
sent to:
Garfield County Vegetation Management
POB 426
Rifle CO 81650
Or email: santhony@garfield-county.com
c) All seed tags shall be saved and made available to the Vegetation
Management Department for verification.
d) 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 bond release consideration.
This determination has been sent to the Board of County Commissioners to determine if
they will call up the matter. Staff will let you know if this matter is called up by June 13,
2008. (Note, no activity can be done on the project until all conditions have been met.)
Do not hesitate to contact this office if you have any questions.
Sincerely, {;d6: ~
Cathi Edin~
Planning Technician
(970) 945-8212
cc: Fred Jarman
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5 / 5
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~!NATH
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MEMORANDUM
To: Cathi Edinger
From: Steve Anthony
Re: EnCana Tombstone
Date: May 23, 2008
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on this permit.
My comments are as follows:
Noxious Weeds
Weed Management
The weed management plan is acceptable.
It is recommended that the applicant initiate weed management activities prior to the start of
construction. This is extremely important in the areas where the noxious weed, Diffuse knapweed
has been inventoried. This weed is mandated by the Colorado Department of Agriculture for
immediate eradication.
We request that the applicant forward application records that verify the treatment of diffuse
knapweed prior to pipeline construction. The records may be sent to:
Garfield County Vegetation Management
POB 426
Rifle CO 81650
Or email:
santhony@garfield-countv.com
Revegetation
Revegetation Plan
The revegetation plan is acceptable.
All seed tags must be saved and made available to the Vegetation Management Department for
verification.
Revegetation Security
The applicant has provided a security bond.
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 bond release consideration.
May 27, 2008
Ms. Cathi Edinger
Garfield County Planning
108 8th Street, Suite 401
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
MOUNT/\IN CROSS
ENGINEERIN<i, INC.
CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL (ONSULTING AND DESIGN
RECEIVED
JUN 0 2 2008
GARFI ELDC0uN l Y
BUILDING & PLANNING
RE: Review of Encana Oil & Gas: Tombstone Phase 3 Pipeline
Dear Cathi:
This office has performed a review of the documents provided for the Pipeline Development.Plan of
the Tombstone Phase 3 Pipeline by Encana Oil and Gas. The submittal was found to be thorough
and well organized. The following comments, questions, or concerns were generated:
1. The application may require an APEN permit for fugitive dust control. The applicant should
verify and obtain permits as necessary.
2. The pipeline is proposed to be buried at 48" deep but drainages and piping across the highway
are likely near the same depth of bury. The profile view does not show crossing pipe elevations.
The Applicant should verify pipe locations and resolve any conflicts with the proposed pipeline
prior to construction.
3. The Applicant proposes to use water from a West Divide contract for pressure testing. No
information was provided concerning this contract. The applicant should provide copies of the
West Divide contract to verify lawful use of the water.
Feel free to call if any of the above needs clarification or if you have any questions or comments.
Chris Hale, PE
826 1 /2 Grand Avenue • Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
PH: 970 .945.5544 • FAX : 970.945 .5558 • www.mountaincross-eng.com