HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 Staff ReportGarfield County
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: John Niewoehner, Project Engineer, Building and Planning Department
Date: August 18, 2009
RE: Staff Report — Jackrabbit Pipeline: Extension and Laterals; Enterprise Gas
Processing, LLC (PDP 6002)
Project Overview
The proposed project consists of three pipelines:
• 2.1 mile 20" diameter extension to the existing Marathon Gathering Pipeline
• 4.8 mile 10" diameter Haystack Lateral
• 2.6 mile 10" diameter Garden Gulch Lateral
These pipelines will connect new natural gas wells to the gas collection system. Gas from
these pipelines will be pulled north (under suction) to the already permitted Jackrabbit
Compressor Station. From the compressor station is pushed north through pipelines to
the Enterprise's facility near Meeker. In addition to the pipelines, seven pig launcher or
receivers will be constructed to remove condensate from the pipelines.
Temporary Use Areas (TUAs) will exist along the pipeline route to store equipment and
materials. Besides the TUAs shown on the site plans, no staging areas or contractor
yards are approved through this application.
The application was submitted on July 6, 2009 and was deemed technically complete on
July 22, 2009. The application was reviewed against the requirements of Article IX of the
Unified Land Use Resolution of 2008.
II. Surface Ownership of Pipeline and Staging Area
The pipeline crosses private lands. Based on the information provided, the applicant has
all of the easements and right-of-ways necessary to move forward on the project. The
following sets out a list of those ownerships:
1. Chevron USA, Inc (20" Pipeline Extension, 10" Garden Gulch Lateral)
2. Puckett Land Company (20" Pipeline Extension, 10" Haystack Extension)
10" Garden Gulch
Lateral Pipeline;
Chevron Property
20" Suction Trunk
Line Extension;
Chevron and Puckett
Land Co. Properties
10" Haystack
Lateral Pipeline;
Puckett Land Co.
Property
Vicinity Map
III. Road Access
None of the road access points connect directly to County or State roads.
Access on to the private roads is from CR 215.
This permit does not allow the widening of the existing private roads.
Access Points:
• 20" Extension Pipeline: Much of the pipeline parallels an existing private
road. Access from existing private roads at STA 1+00, 23+00, 53+00,
80+00, and 89+00. Pigging facility served by access at STA 88+00.
• Haystack Lateral: Access from existing private roads at STA 0+00, 35+00,
56+00, 63+00, 81+00, 104+00, 153+00, 167+00, 168+00,and 234+00.
Pigging facilities served by accesses at STA 0+00 and 234+00.
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• Garden Gulch Lateral: Access from existing private roads at STA 0+00,
20+00, 44+00, 101+00, 106+00, and 121+00. Pigging facility served by
accesses at STA 0+00 and 121+00.
IV. Easement Widths, Water Body, Stream and Wetland Crossings
Easement Widths:
• 20" Extension Pipeline (Chevron and Puckett properties): Chevron: 30'
wide permanent ROW with 10' wide and 35' wide temporary construction
easements on the west and east sides of the permanent easement.
Puckett: 50' wide permanent easement.
• Haystack Lateral (Puckett property): 50' wide permanent easement.
• Garden Gulch Lateral (Chevron property): 30' wide permanent with a 45'
wide temporary construction easement on the west side of the permanent
easement.
Water Body, Stream and Wetlands Crossings:
• The 20" extension will cross a wetland near STA 43+00. In order to cross
this wetland, Enterprise has provided the required Nationwide Permit 12
Preconstruction Notification to the Army Corps.
V. Wildlife
The following are the highlights of the Wildlife and Sensitive Areas Report prepared by
WestWater Engineering:
• The Greater Sage -Grouse communal mating area (called a lek), has been identified
approximately 1/2 mile south of the Garden Gulch lateral. Enterprise must cease
construction activities within 0.6 mile of this location during the March 1 — May 31
mating period. Furthermore, during the potential April 15 — July 15 nesting period,
no new land disturbance can occur along the Garden Gulch lateral.
• Four active Red Tail Hawk nests were identified along the 0.33 mile of the proposed
Garden Gulch lateral and 20" Extension pipeline. To protect the Red Tail Hawk
nests, between February 15 and July 15 dates all construction activities must cease
within 0.33 miles of the nests. If other active raptor nests are identified,
construction activities must strictly adhere to the restrictions listed on Table 8 of
WestWater's May 2009 report that accompanied the application.
VI. Referral Comments
Staff referred the Application to the following Agencies / Departments whose comments
are as follows:
A. Debeque Fire Protection District: no comments received
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B. Garfield County Road and Bridge Department:
• All vehicles hauling equipment and materials for this project shall abide by Garfield
County's oversize/overweight permit system on all County roads. All vehicles
requiring oversize/overweight permits shall apply for them at Garfield County Road
and Bridge Department. All vehicles requiring oversize/overweight permits shall
have on file with Garfield County Road and Bridge Department a letter from
Enterprise Gas Processing, LLC stating said vehicles can apply for
oversize/overweight permits under their bond on file with Garfield County.
C. County Vegetation Management:
• Weed Management: (1) The weed management plan is acceptable. (2) It is
recommended that the applicant initiate weed management activities prior to the
start of construction. (3) There should be about a six-week window between the
last herbicide treatment and the initial reseeding.
• Reveqetation Plan: (1) The re -vegetation plan is acceptable. (2) All seed tags
must be saved and made available to the Vegetation Management Department for
verification.
• Revegetation Security: The applicant has quantified the area of disturbance on
private land as 83.78 acres. We recommend a $2500 per acre security for short—
term disturbances on private land. This would come to $209,450. (This figure only
accounts for re -vegetation and not any earthwork, re -contouring, or structure
removal costs.)
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 re -vegetation establishment, to request an inspection for security
release consideration.
D. County Oil & Gas Liaison: No comments were received.
E. County Project Engineer: All submittal materials comply with County standards for
pipelines.
F. County Attorney: All comments have been addressed.
G. County Sheriff: No comments
VII. Summary of Review
Upon review of the documents submitted against the required standards and criteria in
Section IX of the Unified Land Use Code, Staff has made a determination of Approval with
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Conditions for the "Enterprise Gas Processing, LLC — Jackrabbit Extension and Laterals
Pipeline Development Plan".
The specific conditions include the following:
1. COGCC: 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. Minimize Impacts: 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. Oversize/Overweight Vehicles: All vehicles hauling equipment and materials for
this project shall abide by Garfield County's oversize/overweight permit system on
all County roads. All vehicles requiring oversize/overweight permits shall apply for
them at Garfield County Road and Bridge Department All vehicles requiring
oversize/overweight permits shall have on file with Garfield County Road and
Bridge Department a letter from Enterprise Gas Processing, LLC stating said
vehicles can apply for oversize/overweight permits under their bond on file with
Garfield County.
4. GIS Shape File: 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.
5. Endangered Species: In no case shall an operator engage in activities which impact
Federal or State threatened and endangered species.
6. Protection of Sage -Grouse: The Greater Sage -Grouse communal mating area
(called a lek), has been identified approximately 1/2 mile south of the Garden Gulch
lateral. Enterprise must cease construction activities within 0.6 mile of this location
during the March 1 — May 31 mating period. Furthermore, during the potential April
15 — July 15 nesting period, no new land disturbance can occur along the Garden
Gulch lateral.
7. Protection of Raptors: Four active Red Tail Hawk nests were identified along the
0.33 mile of the proposed Garden lateral and 20" Extension pipeline. To protect
the Red Tail Hawk nests, between February 15 and July 15 dates all construction
activities must cease within 0.33 miles of the nests. If other active raptor nests are
identified, construction activities must strictly adhere to the restrictions listed on
Table 8 of WestWater's May 2009 report that was provided with the application.
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8. Air Emissions: 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.
9. Federal and State Regulations: All operations shall comply with all applicable
Federal and State Public Health and Environment, Noise, and Air and Water Quality
Control standards.
10. Abandoned Pipelines: Should an abandoned pipeline be removed, it will be subject
to the original revegetation and weed management requirements in the original
application.
11. Permit Duration: The County requires that the construction of the pipeline and its
appurtenances be completed prior to January 1, 2011.
12. Site Reclamation, Re -vegetation and Weed Management: (1) Unless changes are
approved by the County Vegetation Manager, re -vegetation and weed management
must be performed in accordance with the Reclamation Plan that was submitted as
part of the application. (2) All seed tags must be saved and made available to the
Vegetation Management Department for verification. (3) It is recommended that the
applicant initiate weed management activities prior to the start of construction. (4)
There should be about a six-week window between the last herbicide treatment and
the initial reseeding.
13. Financial Security for Reclamation: Prior to issuance of the permit, the applicant
must provide the County with a bond to the amount of $209,450. This amount was
calculated assuming 83.78 acres of land disturbance and a reclamation cost of
$2500/acre. 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 re -vegetation establishment, to request an
inspection for security release consideration
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