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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 Memo to BOCC 04.11.2005TO FROM DATE MEMORANDUM Board of County Commissioners Building and Planning Department, Fred Jarman April 11, 2005 RE Referral of a Special Use Permit for "Storage, Processing, and Material Handling of Natural Resource" for a water storage pond. I. BACKGROUND The Building and Planning Department received a Special Use Permit (SUP) application for "Storage, Processing, and Material Handling of Natural Resource" for a lined water storage pond on a 27,000 -acre property owned by Encana Oil & Gas USA, Inc located at the end of County Road 215 north of Parachute and is also formerly known as the old UNICAL property where oil shale processing occurred. The location of the pond is just beyond the private gate at the end of County Road 215 on a 3 -acre portion of the property. More specifically, the Applicant, represented by Wagon Wheel Consulting, proposes to construct a water storage pond to store `produced water' from drilling operations on the North Parachute Ranch. See the attached "Impact Statement" -which describes the proposed use, general design of the pond, hours of operation, trips generated, noise, vibration, and odor impacts, impacts to wildlife, and life of structure.. II. REQUEST Section 9.03.04 of the Zoning Resolution of 1978, as amended requires that Special Use Permit applications be initially brought to the Board so that the Board may determine if a recommendation from the Planning Commission is necessary. III. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Due to the limited nature of potential impacts to surrounding properties, the remore location of the property such that it is situated at the end of a dead-end county road which is used primarily for industrial traffic serving the existing industrial uses in the area with very limited general population traffic, the fact that the site itself will be situated in an industrial area already characterized by intense industrial activity from the oil shale exploration / processing activities, and the fact that the majority of water tanker trips generated to and from the site will occur on roads located on the privately owned 27,000 - acre property, Staff recommends the Board direct Staff to schedule a public hearing for the Board and not refer the matter to the Planning Commission. ,r• 36 57 1790* 7 .3;U Drat No IC ori S P`a r+ ' LNPF' Water Storage Facility Gale and Security Post Garfield County Toad 215 I 1 • ry L.intlAuer Point .'.tirhYef P:l 31 R69 MAP SOURCE: 7.5 MINUTE U.S.G.S. TOPOGRAPHIC MAP (FORKED GULCH QUADRANGLE) SITE LEGAL LOCATION: SW 1/4 OF SW 1/4, SECTION 30. TOWNSHIP 5 SOUTH, RANGE 95 WEST EA s-1 Siit•i1t1j. M me$ n 1D ,� FIGURE 1 TOPOGRAPHIC LOCATION MAP ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA), INC, NPR WATER STORAGE FACILITY GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO RAISON DATE: 01/04/05 REVISION NUTABEI 001 DRAWN Or DM APPROVED By: DTA! PROJECT # EG04250 SCALE: 1:24,000 CORDILLERAN Part II Impact Statement The location for the new facility was selected for a number of beneficial reasons. The proposed location is within an area formerly used for oil shale processing and is central to existing access roads within the NPR. This will shorten truck trips and lessen the need for truck travel off the NPR to other facilities located closer to Parachute or Rifle. The storage facility does not differ significantly from thepast oil shale processing and current surrounding oil and gas exploration and production related land uses. The location is relatively remote. The nearest residence is located approximately 3 miles south of the site. A water storage pond presents relatively benign effects in terms of noise, odor, dust, and visual impact and sufficient distance exists to provide protection to surrounding properties from the minimal impacts of this facility. The facility will be in continuous use and operation 24 -hours per day, year-round. However, the majority of activity at the facility will occur during normal business hours. At maximum usage the facility is expected to require an average of approximately 10 water tanker truck trips per day into and out of the new facility. The majority of these trips will be on existing private roads that already service natural gas operations within the NPR. Water trucks will operate primarily during daylight hours and will be traveling to and from well locations in the area. Heavy trucks already travel the roads in the North Parachute area, therefore the new facility is not expected to require specific improvements to the existing roads. Need to provide an estimate of vehicles accessing the site each day. The water pump at the facility is expected to emanate low-level noise and possibly minimal amounts of vibration. The planned pump building will aid in mitigating this noise and vibration. The sound level of noise emanating from the facility will not exceed the 75 decibel maximum set forth in Colorado Revised Statute 25-12-103. Given the remote location of the new facility, noise will not be a nuisance to area residents. The vibration, if any, should be localized to a small area immediately surrounding the pump. If, in the unlikely event, nuisance noise, vibration, or odors are emanated by the facility, additional measures will be taken to control them. This facility is designed to protect groundwater and surface water resources. The storage pond will be double -lined with impermeable high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner. The initial volume of fresh water and periodic supplement of fresh water supply will be taken from existing water wells on the NPR or from the Colorado River water intake (need to provide well permit and other legal water supply information) A water supply system already exists on the property and was used to supply previous oil shale activities. This system includes wells, pumps, and pipelines. The facility design will preclude any pollution to enter surface run-off. There will be no sewage or solid waste generated on the site. Need to provide a copy of the deed and legal description of the property. Need an agent authorization letter from EnCana for Wagon Wheel and/or Cordilleran. The storage pond will be surrounded by a 6 t field fence (wood posts with wire mesh panels). The fencing includes steel gates for personnel access. The gates are typically closed at all times to prevent unauthorized access. A security gate and guard shack are located at the end of County Road 215 near the property boundary. A guard is posted at the gate during peak operating hours and after hours the gate is locked. The security gate precludes public access to the site. The adjacent property characteristics and surrounding land uses are such that a visible barrier fence should not be necessary. Signage includes the company name and address as well as a 24-hour toll-free emergency phone number. The NPR Water Storage facility will occupy about 2 acres of an approximately 27,000 - acre parcel. According to wildlife distribution maps from the Colorado Department of Wildlife, the site is located on winter rangeland for mule deer, elk and turkey. This type of facility is by nature incompatible with continued wildlife access therefore wildlife will be excluded by wildlife -proof fencing. The limited size of the facility will not block wildlife migration routes. The water to be stored at the site is not expected to be an attraction or a threat to waterfowl, but a deterrence system will be installed if waterfowl usage does occur. All equipment will be painted in a beige color to match the surrounding terrain. Visual impact to the area will be negligible due to the minimal amount of surface equipment at the site. Electrical power will be installed at the facility to power the pumping equipment. No other public utilities will be needed at the facility. The expected life of the NPR Water Storage Facility is 20 years. Reclamation of the facility is outlined in Part VII of this document.