HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.0 BOCC Memo 03.17.2008MEMORANDUM
TO Board of County Commissioners
FROM Building and Planning Department, Fred Jarman
DATE March 17, 2008
RE
Referral of a Special Use Permit for "Processing and
Material Handling of Natural Resource" for a natural gas
compressor station (Phase lli of Encana's Middle Fork
Compressor Station)
BACKGROUND
The Building and Planning Department received a Special Use Permit (SUP)
application for "Processing and Material Handling of Natural Resource" for a
natural gas compressor station on the North Parachute ranch (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 UNOCAL
property where oil shale processing occurred. The location of the compressor is
just beyond the private gate at the end of County Road 215 adjacent to a
permitted produced water storage facility.
More specifically, the Applicant requests approval for the third phase of an
existing natural gas compressor station permitted by Garfield County. This
compressor will serve as a collector point where gathered natural gas is sent for
dehydration and compression of gas collected in the North Parachute Ranch.
See the attached "Impact Statement" which describes the proposed use, general
design of the compressor, hours of operation, trips generated, noise, vibration,
and odor impacts, impacts to wildlife, and life of structure. Specifically, this
expansion includes the following components:
> 1 electric compressor
> 1 maintenance building (50' X 50')
> 1 PDC building (40' X 20')
• Expansion of a switchyard substation
> 1 Mars 100 Turbine building (50' X 30')
> 1 centrifugal compressor building (50' X 30') A
9 1 pump house building (25' X 25')
• 1 pump breaker house building (12' X 60')
> 1 water treatment building (50' X 50')
/
Photo: Taken in 2005 during the original construction of Phase I. (Intended to
illustrate character of area.)
II. REFERRAL AUTHORITY
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
The Board has recently approved Phases I and II without referring them to the
Planning Commission. This phase will result in one additional electric
compressor as well as a variety of buildings that will not have an adverse impact
to adjoining properties. The nearest residence is over 5 miles according to the
Applicant's sound analysis where measurements were taken that the existing
facility is inaudible. Therefore, Staff recommends that due to:
1) The limited nature of potential impacts to surrounding properties;
2) The remote 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; and
3) 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,
Staff recommends the Board direct Staff to schedule a public hearing for the
Board and not refer the matter to the Planning Commission.
Middle Fork Compressor Station
Expansion Phase Ill
Garfield County
Special Use Permit
Application Narrative
December 2007
Applicant:
EnCana Oil and Gas (USA) Inc.
2717 CR 215, Suite 100
Parachute, CO 81635
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Project Overview l
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Description 1
1.3 Purpose and Need 2
1.4 Location 2
1.5 Project Design 2
1.6 Attachments 3
2.0 Section 5.03.07 Industrial Operations 3
2.1 Existing Lawful Use of Water 4
2.2 Generation of Vapor, Dust, Smoke, Noise, Glare or Vibration 5
2.3 Wildlife and Domestic Animals 5
2.4 Traffic Impacts 5
2.5 Abutting Property 6
2.6 Reclamation Plan 6
2.7 Emergency Response Plan 6
3.0 Section 5.03.08 Industrial Performance Standards 7
3.1 Sound Volume 7
3.2 Vibration 7
3.3 Smoke and Particulate Matter 7
3.4 Heat, Glare, Radiation, and Fumes 7
3.5 Storage 7
3.6 Water Pollution 8
ATTACHMENTS
Narrative Tab
Permits Tab
Site Plan Tab
Landowners Tab
Construction Specifications
Stormwater and SPCCP
Supporting Documentation
Emergency Response Plan
Middle Fork Compressor Station Expansion Phase III
1.0 PROJECT OVERVIEW
1.1 Background
EnCana Oil and Gas (USA) Inc. (EnCana) received approval in August 2005 from the Garfield
County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) (Resolution 2005 -85) for the construction,
maintenance, and operation of the Middle Fork Compressor Station (MFCS). Resolution 2005-
85 approved the installation and operation of seven natural gas driven engines, three electric -
driven compressors, and related ancillary equipment. In May of 2007 EnCana received approval
for the expansion of the MFCS through Resolution 2007-44. Resolution 2007 -44 approved the
addition, installation, and operation of four additional electric- driven compressors, one slug
catcher, one JT skid (liquids condenser and separator), and removal of one gas driven
compressor. The building housing the electric compressors was also approved to be expanded to
accommodate the additional four electric compressors. Currently, EnCana has completed the
installation of the two electric- driven compressors and the slug catcher this past summer, which
has increased the total number of electric- driven compressors to five. After January of 2008 the
remaining seven natural gas -fired compressors will not be necessary for the operation of the
MFCS. In 2008 the remaining two electric- driven compressors will be installed and the building
housing the electric compressors will be constructed. The MFCS provides a natural gas
compression and dehydration facility for EnCana's natural gas production and other 3`d Party
natural gas producers in the Piceance Basin.
1.2 Description
The current proposed expansion of the MFCS includes the installation and operation of one
additional electrical compressor and the expansion of the electrical building to accommodate the
additional electric compressor. The construction, operation, and maintenance of one maintenance
building (50' X 50'), one PDC building (40' X 20'), expansion of the electrical switchyard
substation, one Mars 100 Turbine building (50' X 30'), one centrifugal compressor building (50'
X 30'), one pump house building (25' X 25'), one pump breaker house building (12' X 60'), one
production pump building (50' X 50'), and one water treatment building (50' X 50'). The
maintenance building will be used to house miscellaneous mechanical equipment, facility
operation vehicles, and a restroom. The maintenance building will mainly serve as a storage
building but will also facilitate any maintenance operations to be performed during normal plant
operations. The PDC building will serve as a electrical housing structure to provide a dry -
containment area for all of the electrical components associated with the electric - driven
compressors. The expansion of the switchyard will increase the size of the existing substation to
accommodate a third transformer at the MFCS. The Mars 100 Turbine building will be used to
house the Mars 100 Turbine. The Mars 100 Turbine building will be used to mitigate any noise
produced by the turbine as well as maintain the integrity of the equipment. The centrifugal
compressor building will house the centrifugal compressor unit and mitigate any noise produced
by the operation of the centrifugal compressor. The pump house building will be used to house
production pumps. The pump breaker house will be used to house the 4160 motor starters for the
production pumps. The production pump building will be used to house production pumps. The
water treatment building will be used to house the water treatment process equipment.
Special Use Permit Application Narrative 1
December 2007
Middle Fork Compressor Station Expansion Phase III
1.6 Attachments
This Special Use Permit application includes the following attachments:
Narrative Tab
Narrative
Permits Tab
Resolutions 2005 -85 and 2007 -44
Garfield County Building Permits
CDPHE Air Quality Permits
Garfield County ISDS Permit
Site Plan Tab
Location Map
Site Plan
ISDS Site Plan
Landowners Tab
Deed and Legal Description
Assessor Maps
Construction Specifications
Construction Specifications
Stormwater and SPCCP
Stormwater Management Plan
Spill Prevention Control
Supporting Documentation
Geotechnical Investigation
Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weed Management Plan
Wildlife Assessment and Mitigation Plan
Sound Level Survey
North Parachute Reclamation Plan
Emergency Response Plan
2M SECTION 5.03 CONDITIONAL AND SPECIAL USES
The following sections address impacts as required by Section 5.03 of the Garfield County Land
Use and Zoning Regulations.
2.1 Water and Sanitation Utilities
Portable toilets are available on -site and potable water is transported from off -site and made
available to personnel. The portable toilets will be maintained throughout construction, until
Special Use Permit Application Narrative 3
December 2007
Middle Fork Compressor Station Expansion Phase III
with stormwater management and spill prevention controls and countermeasures as required by
Garfield County, the State of Colorado, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Implementation of these plans also ensures that EnCana would not pollute surface runoff, stream
flow, or groundwater. Copies of the SWMP and SPCCP are provided in the Stormwater and
SPCCP Tab.
3.2 Generation of Vapor, Dust, Smoke, Noise, Glare or Vibration
No smoke or glare would be produced as a result of this project. Minor vibration would occur
from operation of the compressor engines; however, vibrations would not be noticeable at the
fenced property boundary at the MFCS. Equipment operation would produce vapor, which is a
standard by- product of equipment operation. EnCana would apply water, gravel, tackifier, or
other equivocal measures as necessary to prevent fugitive dust emissions from equipment and /or
vehicles traveling in the project area.
EnCana has conducted a sound level survey for the existing compressor facility and the results of
the sound survey are provided in the Supporting Documents Tab. The MFCS is operated within
noise requirement guidelines of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission ( COGCC).
After installation of the additional compressor engines, EnCana will perform an additional sound
level survey. If operations exceed COGCC regulations, EnCana would install sound mitigation
equipment as necessary to meet COGCC regulations. Sound mitigation measures could include a
combination of residential grade silencers over fans, pre - fabricated steel buildings over
compressors and drivers, and/or installation of other sound mitigation equipment.
EnCana has acquired air quality permits from the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment Air Pollution Control Division for the seven existing natural gas - driven
compressors, and additional air permits for condensate removal, equipment leaks, condensate
tanks, and two glycol dehydrators. The air permits are included in the Permit Tab.
3.3 Wildlife and Domestic Animals
EnCana prepared a Wildlife Assessment and Mitigation Plan for the existing MFCS, which is
included in the Supporting Documentation Tab. The assessment determined that the compressor
station location and immediate vicinity was poor quality wildlife habitat. Installation of
additional compressor engines inside the fenced, disturbed area would not create additional
adverse impacts to wildlife or domestic animals in the project area.
3.4 Traffic Impacts
Expansion and construction of the additional buildings at the MFCS would require a workforce
of approximately 15 to 25 personnel or 12 vehicles per day during the peak construction period.
During the pre - construction and post - construction phases of the project approximately 10 to 15
personnel or six vehicles per day would be traveling to the MFCS. The pre - construction and
post- construction phases would last approximately one additional month before and after the
peak construction periods. Typically, a facility building can be constructed in two to four
months. Peak construction periods during 2008 and 2009 would primarily occur for
approximately four to six months each calendar year.
Special Use Permit Application Narrative 5
December 2007
Middle Fork Compressor Station Expansion Phase III
EnCana would reimburse the appropriate emergency service provider for costs incurred in
connection with emergency response for activities associated with this project.
4.0 SECTION 5.03.08 INDUSTRIAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
All operations at the MFCS would comply with applicable county, state, and federal regulations
regulating water, air, and noise pollution and would not be conducted in a manner constituting a
public nuisance or hazard. Operations would be conducted in a manner as to minimize heat, dust,
smoke, vibration, glare and odor and all other undesirable environmental effects beyond the
boundaries of the property. The following section address compliance with the standards set
forth in Garfield County Zoning Regulations 5.03.08.
4.1 Sound Volume
EnCana would conduct a sound level study after the completion of the MFCS expansion to
determine compliance with COGCC regulations. If operations exceed COGCC regulations,
EnCana would install sound mitigation equipment as necessary to meet COGCC regulations.
Sound mitigation measures could include a combination of residential grade silencers over fans,
pre - fabricated steel buildings over compressors and drivers, and /or installation of other sound
mitigation equipment.
4.2 Vibration
EnCana would provide vibration mitigation to meet all vibration regulation requirements.
Vibrations would not be noticeable at the fenced property boundary at the MFCS.
4.3 Smoke and Particulate Matter
Smoke would not be produced as a result of this project. EnCana would apply water, gravel,
tackifier, or other equivocal measures as necessary to prevent fugitive dust emissions from
equipment and /or vehicles traveling in the project area. EnCana has acquired air quality permits
for the seven existing natural gas- driven compressors (included in Permit Tab). EnCana would
acquire additional permits for natural gas - driven compressors prior to installation and operation.
4.4 Heat, Glare, Radiation, and Fumes
Ancillary facilities may produce heat during operation of the MFCS. Heat produced would be
minimal and would not be detectable at the MFCS property boundary. No glare, radiation, or
fumes would be produced. Adjacent property would not be affected and a public nuisance or
hazard would not be created.
4.5 Storage
Compressor engines, building material, construction equipment, and ancillary equipment would
be temporarily stored at the MFCS. Temporary storage would no longer be needed once the
compressors, buildings, and ancillary equipment are installed. A fter expansion is complete,
Special Use Permit Application Narrative 7
December 2007