HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 BOCC Staff Report 10.09.2006Exhibits (10/09/06)
Exhibit
Letter
(A to Z)
Exhibit
A
Proof of Mail Receipts
B
Proof of Publication
C
Garfield County Zoning Regulations of 1978, as amended (the Zoning Code)
D
Staff Memorandum
E
Application
F
Memo from the County Road and Bridge Department dated 8/11/06
G
Letter from the Town of Parachute dated 8/11106
BOCC —10109106
(Continued from 09/18/06)
FJ
PROJECT INFORMATION AND STAFF COMMENTS
TYPE OF REVIEW:
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
APPLICANT/PROPERTY OWNER:
LOCATION:
SITE INFORMATION:
ACCESS:
EXISTING ZONING:
ADJACENT ZONING:
Special Use Permit ("SUP")
The Applicant requests a SUP for Storage /
Staging Area of Oil & Gas Equipment in the
RL zone district
Encana Oil & Gas (USA), Inc
NE 1/a of Section 33 and NW 1/4 SW 1/ of
Section 34, T6S, R96W, generally described
as a tract of land 3.5 miles north of the Town
of Parachute off of CR 215
88 acre
Driveway off of County Road 215
Resource Lands (Lower Valley Floor)
Resource Lands (Lower Valley Floor)
• •
(View of Property looking northward up Parachute Creek 1 CR 215)
E. REQUEST
The application is for storage / staging area for gas drilling equipment on 7.21 acres of an 88 -acre
property. This use requires a special use permit in the Resource Lands, Lower Valley Floor zone
district. Specifically, the applicant is proposing to construct a staging area within the parcel to
temporarily park drilling rigs and associated equipment while not actively drilling on a well pad.
Additional equipment would include:
Steed reserve pits;
Mud pumps;
: Generators;
➢ Diesel engines;
y Drill collars; and
Pipe Racks and down -hole casing
II. AUTHORITY
Pursuant to Section 9.03.04 of the Zoning Resolution of 1978, as amended, the Board of County
Commissioners has the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or deny Special Use Permit
applications in a public hearing.
III. REFERRAL
The Application was referred to the following review agencies / departments for comments which
have been incorporated in the memo where appropriate and can be identified by the Exhibit List:
a. Town of Debeque: No comments received.
b. Town of Parachute: Issued a Watershed Permit for the Staging Area. (See Exhibit G)
c. Garfield County Road & Bridge Department: Has no objection to this application with the
following comments. 1) The reduced traffic on CR 215 will be a great benefit to Garfield
County Road & Bridge Department and the people using CR 215. 2) The requested driveway
access permit will be issued upon approval by the BOCC of this application with conditions
specific to the driveway access permit. 3) A stop sign will be required (if not already
installed) at the entrance to CR 215. The stop sign and installation shall be as required by the
MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control devices). 4) Should dust become an issue from
the staging area then we would recommend that a dust control agent be applied to the staging
area. (See Exhibit F)
d. Garfield County Vegetation Management: No Comments Received ,i C. •
IV. REVIEW STANDARDS
Special Uses are subject to the standards in Section 5.03 of the Zoning Resolution. In addition, the
proposed use, due to its industrial nature, shall also be required to address the industrial performance
standards in 5.03.07 and 5.03.08 of the Zoning Resolution. These review standards are presented
below followed by a response by Staff.
A. Section 5.03 Review Standards
1) Utilities adequate to provide water and sanitation service based on accepted engineering
standards and approved by the Board of County Commissioners shall either be in place
or shall be constructed in conjunction with the proposed use;
Staff Finding
The act of storing 1 staging area does not require the provision of water or wastewater service.
2) Street improvements adequate to accommodate traffic volume generated by the
proposed use and to provide safe, convenient access to the use shall either be in place
or shall be constructed in conjunction with the proposed use;
Staff Finding
Access to the site is proposed via an existing internal road that was developed when Unocal
owned the land now owned by Williams and Encana. The Applicant has an agreement with
Williams to use this internal road. The entrance for this road from CR 215 is the main
entrance to the Williams Production Gas Treatment Facility to the north also known as "Man
Camp Road." This intersection was improved by Williams in 2003 as a result of their phase 2
expansion. Since that point, phase 3 was approved by the Board and it was determined that the
access was sufficient for William's needs. It did not contemplate the proposed trips from this
staging / storage use.
The Applicant anticipates traffic trips generated from this use are characterized as the
following:
1) 4 to 5 heavy haul trucks are used each time a rig is brought to site;
2) No more than 2 drill rigs will occupy the site at any one time with a total of one move per
month; and
3) 3 pick-up truck trips per week.
The Application states that this facility will result in "rig traffic traveling to and from well
sites may be reduced as much as 50 percent over time." Staff disagrees. The reason for this
"rig storage / staging area" use is so that rigs can be temporarily housed in the drilling area
rather than be sent back to a contract company which are out of the area and may be out of
state in Utah, Wyoming, etc which may result in Encana losing the rig altogether. The rigs
will still be traveling CR 215 either on the way from the drilled pad out of state or from the
drilled pad to the staging area on CR 215. These pads are either in the north or south
Parachute area. As a result, there is no net gain or loss in trips on the County's road system.
(There may be a reduction on I-70 for rigs not having to go out of state.) This staging area
simply allows Encana to keep the rigs local until a new receiver well pad is ready for the rigs
allowing them to keep rigs around. In the best of worlds, the rigs would actually go from well
3
•
pad to well pad and needed maintenance would occur on the pad prior to a new drill.
Staff finds this appears to represent a minimal amount of trips per week / year. Staff referred
the application to the County Road & Bridge Department who indicated the proposal Garfield
County Road & Bridge Department has no objection to this application with the following
comments.
1) The reduced traffic on CR 215 will be a great benefit to Garfield County Road &
Bridge Department and the people using CR 215.
2) The requested driveway access permit will be issued upon approval by the BOCC of
this application with conditions specific to the driveway access permit.
3) A stop sign will be required (if not already installed) at the entrance to CR 215. The
stop sign and instailation shall be as required by the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control devices).
4) Should dust become an issue from the staging area then we would recommend that a
dust control agent be applied to the staging area.
The access from CR 215 was analyzed by Holt, Felsberg and Ullevig on behalf of Williams
for their SUP to the Phase 2 expansion of their gas plant. Traffic counts were taken visually
on-site over 2- 24 hour periods. The traffic analysis considers the existing and proposed level
of service at the Mancamp Road/County Road #215 intersection is a Level of Service A. As a
result, the Board approved phase 3 of the same operation. This included improvements such
as striping and signage improvements that provided the safety necessary to serve the plant
expansion and other traffic on County Road 215. It would appear the limited increase in traffic
at this intersection from this proposal at its current level would not require any additional
i mprovements.
3) Design of the proposed use is organized to minimize impact on and from adjacent uses
of land through installation of screen fences or landscape materials on the periphery
of the lot and by location of intensively utilized areas, access points, lighting and signs
in such a manner as to protect established neighborhood character;
Staff Finding
The property is located in the Parachute Creek Basin along County Road 215 and is generally
characterized as 88 acres of relatively flat open range land vegetated primarily with sage and
grasses. Property to the north has been developed by Williams by the construction of natural
gas compressors and gas treatment facilities (now in their third phase of that facility); the
property to the west is also Williams beyond Parachute Creek; the property to the east across
CR 215 is the Puckett property currently being developed by Williams; and the property to the
south has been developed by American Soda. This 88 -acre property is the only undeveloped
area between the Williams Natural Gas Facility and American Soda plant. See the map below:
4
The established character
of the area is heavy
industrial in nature. The
storage / staging area will
be the least impacting use
in the area compared to
its neighbors where only
7 of the 88 acres is used
for storage of drilling rigs
and associated pipes /
materials.
r PROaL'CiiON Bier
LATE camMSS 3 `.
mulls PROwT DN
rMa
[}W PLANT,
- _ L'�rr. 1I1
Cr—
'muter rowsuC,g11'. RY1I .
eaIQIIt I iR
WIT. ?Vag
PIPELINE RVICI==CORRIDOR
I
IiOBIL _I _
L CORP
y zl�y -t2s oa iwn
4 MQ IL OIL COR.
-'217i-932-Ap-l}W •,> :..fin • ... P47 -�s}
1fi MS PRODUCTIQo few CU`
96G •-42iDr
Akt:I•itrAN SbtiA,1 LEP..
Regarding lighting, the
Applicant proposes to i c 1
install minimal lighting
for security purposes. Should the Board approve the request; Staff recommends that all
exterior lighting shall be the minimum amount necessary and all exterior lighting will be
directed inward and downward, towards the interior of the property. The Applicant has not
proposed the use of signage on the property. Regarding signage, the Applicant shall be
required to adhere to the county's sign code.
B. Section 5.03.07 Industrial Operation
Industrial Operations, including extraction, processing, fabrication, industrial support facilities,
mineral waste disposal, storage, sanitary landfill, salvage yard, access routes and utility lines,
shall be permitted, provided:
1) The applicant for a permit for industrial operations shall prepare and submit to the
Planning Director ten (10) copies of an impact statement on the proposed use describing
its location, scope, design and construction schedule, including an explanation of its
operational characteristics. One (1) copy of the impact statement shall be filed with the
County Commissioners by the Planning Director. The impact statement shall address
the following:
a) Existing lawful use of water through depletion or pollution of surface run-off,
stream flow or ground water;
Staff Finding
The Applicant is proposing a storm water management plan that incorporates best management
practices as required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Safety for any
disturbance over one acre and is included in the application binder. Specifically, this site calls
for a detention pond to handle drainage flow to the southeast corner of the 7 -acre site. There is
no engineering specification for the detention pond and the flow it is intended to handle in the
application. Staff has no idea what it is intended to achieve.
While no chemicals / fuels are to be stored at the site, Staff suggests due to the nature of the
5
equipment being stored, that the Applicant file a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure
(SPCC) plan with the County and have a copy on site for spills that may occur from vehicles /
machinery in the area.
b) Impacts on adjacent land from the generation of vapor, dust, smoke, noise, glare or
vibration, or other emanations;
Staff Finding
Due to the nature of storing equipment / rigs, there will be a minimum impact on adjacent land
due to generation vapor, dust, smoke, noise, glare or vibration generated from the starting of
trucks and equipment. As a matter of practice, the lot will be graveled with a dust free
maintenance program. The Application states that this site will allow for maintenance to occur
on the rigs and associated equipment yet there was not mention of how this is to occur and how
many employees / trips are included in the operation.
c) Impacts on wildlife and domestic animals through the creation of hazardous
attractions, alteration of existing native vegetation, blockade of migration routes, use
patterns or other disruptions;
Staff Finding
No information was provided regarding impacts to wildlife. The subject property is an open /
range land which may or may not serve as valuable elk / deer habitat / migration corridor
especially in an effort to access water in South Parachute Creek that cuts across two portions of
the west side of the property. This standard has not been met.
d) Affirmatively show the impacts of truck and automobile traffic to and from such
uses and their impacts to areas in the County;
Staff Finding
As mentioned above, the entrance for this road from CR 215 is the main entrance to the
Williams Production Gas Treatment Facility to the north also known as "Man Camp Road.'"
This intersection was improved by Williams in 2003 as a result of their phase 2 expansion.
Since that point, phase 3 was approved by the Board and it was determined that the access was
sufficient for William's needs. It did not contemplate the proposed trips from this staging /
storage use. The Applicant anticipates traffic trips generated from this use are characterized as
the following:
1) 4 to 5 heavy haul trucks are used each time a rig is brought to site;
2) No more than 2 drill rigs will occupy the site at any one time with a total of one move per
month; and
3) 3 pick-up truck trips per week.
The Application states that this facility will result in "rig traffic traveling to and from well
sites may be reduced as much as 50 percent over time." Staff disagrees. The reason for this
"rig storage / staging area" use is so that rigs can be temporarily housed in the drilling area
6
• •
rather than be sent back to a contract company which are out of the area and may be out of
state in Utah, Wyoming, etc which may result in Encana losing the rig altogether. The rigs
will still be traveling CR 215 either on the way from the drilled pad out of state or from the
drilled pad to the staging area on CR 215. These pads are either in the north or south
Parachute area. As a result, there is no net gain or loss in trips on the County's road system.
(There may be a reduction on 1-70 for rigs not having to go out of state.) This staging area
simply allows Encana to keep the rigs local until a new receiver well pad is ready for the rigs
allowing them to keep rigs around. In the best of worlds, the rigs would actually go from well
pad to well pad and needed maintenance would occur on the pad prior to a new drill.
Staff finds this appears to represent a minimal amount of trips per week / year. Staff referred
the application to the County Road & Bridge Department who indicated the proposal Garfield
County Road & Bridge Department has no objection to this application with the following
comments.
1) The reduced traffic on CR 215 will be a great benefit to Garfield County Road &
Bridge Department and the people using CR 215.
2) The requested driveway access permit will be issued upon approval by the BOCC of
this application with conditions specific to the driveway access permit.
3) A stop sign will be required (if not already installed) at the entrance to CR 215. The
stop sign and installation shall be as required by the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control devices).
4) Should dust become an issue from the staging area then we would recommend that a
dust control agent be applied to the staging area.
The access from CR 215 was analyzed by Holt, Felsberg and Ullevig on behalf of Williams
for their SUP to the Phase 2 expansion of their gas plant. Traffic counts were taken visually
on-site over 2- 24 hour periods. The traffic analysis considers the existing and proposed level
of service at the Mancamp Road/County Road #215 intersection is a Level of Service A. As a
result, the Board approved phase 3 of the same operation. This included improvements such
as striping and signage improvements that provided the safety necessary to serve the plant
expansion and other traffic on County Road 215. It would appear the limited increase in traffic
at this intersection from this proposal at its current level would not require any additional
improvements.
e) That sufficient distances shall separate such use from abutting property= which might
otherwise be damaged by operations of the proposed use(s);
Staff Finding
The location of the site (7 acres of an 88 acre property) is buffered away from all adjacent uses
primarily by open range land. The established character of the larger general area is heavy
industrial in nature. The storage / staging area will be the least impacting use in the area
compared to its neighbors where only 7 of the 88 acres is used for storage of drilling rigs and
associated pipes / materials. Other adjoining uses within the area are industrial in nature and
7
• •
should not be damaged by this proposed expansion.
f) Mitigation measures proposed for all of the foregoing impacts identified and for the
standards identified in Section 5.03.08 of this Resolution
Staff Finding
The Applicant does not propose any mitigation for impacts generated from the proposed
operations.
2) Permits may be granted for those uses with provisions that provide adequate mitigation
for the following:
a) A plan for site rehabilitation must be approved by the County Commissioners before
a permit for conditional or special use will be issued;
b) The County Commissioners may require security before a permit for special or
conditional use is issued, if required. The applicant shall furnish evidence of a bank
commitment of credit, bond, certified check or other security deemed acceptable by
the County Commissioners in the amount calculated by the County Commissioners
to secure the execution of the site rehabilitation plan in workmanlike manner and in
accordance with the specifications and construction schedule established or
approved by the County Commissioners. Such commitments, bonds or check shall
be payable to and held by the County Commissioners;
c) Impacts set forth in the impact statement and compliance with the standards
contained in Section 5.03.08 of this Resolution.
Staff Finding
The Applicant provided a landscaping and reclamation plan in the application which included
the following measures:
Landscaping
Due to the location of the facility, within sight distance ofa public road and
highway, measures such as painting and fencing of the facility will be taken to lessen
the visual impact. Any areas disturbed by construction or operation activities that
are not covered by buildings or parking area will be resurfaced with sand and
gravel and graded flat or vegetated, as necessary.
Reclamation
The expected life of the Parachute warehouse and training center will be the
duration of EnCana Oil & Gas operations in the Parachute area.
Reclamation will consist of the following:
• Removal of all buildings and surface equipment
• Restoration and re -contouring of grade to approximately original
conditions
• Replacement of stockpiled topsoil
• Compliance with all prevailing Garfield County regulations and
conditions governing final reclamation
•
This plan appears to be for a different use than what is proposed and is not acceptable.
C. Section 5.03.08 Industrial Performance Standards
AlI industrial operations in the County shall comply with applicable County, State, and Federal
regulations regulating water, air and noise pollution and shall not be conducted in a manner
constituting a public nuisance or hazard, Operations shall be conducted in such a manner as to
minimize heat, dust, smoke, vibration, glare and odor and all other undesirable environmental
effects beyond the boundaries of the property in which such uses are located, in accord with the
following standards:
1) Volume of sound generated shall comply with the standards set forth in the Colorado
Revised Statutes at the time any new application is made.
2) Vibration generated: every use shall be so operated that the ground vibration inherently
and recurrently generated is not perceptible, without instruments, at any point of any
boundary line of the property on which the use is located;
3) Emissions of smoke and particulate matter: every use shall be operated so as to comply
with all Federal, State and County air quality laws, regulations and standards;
4) Emission of heat, glare, radiation and fumes: every use shall be so operated that it does
not emit heat, glare, radiation or fumes which substantially interfere with the existing
use of adjoining property or which constitutes a public nuisance or hazard. Flaring of
gases, aircraft warning signals, reflective painting of storage tanks, or other such
operations which may be required by law as safety or air pollution control measures
shall be exempted from this provision;
5) Storage area, salvage yard, sanitary landfill and mineral waste disposal areas;
a) Storage of flammable or explosive solids or gases shall be in accordance with
accepted standards and laws and shall comply with the national, state and local fare
codes and written recommendations/comments from the appropriate local protection
district regarding compliance with the appropriate codes;
b) At the discretion of the County Commissioners, all outdoor storage facilities may be
required to be enclosed by fence, landscaping or wall adequate to conceal such
facilities from adjacent property;
c) No materials or wastes shall be deposited upon a property in such form or manner
that they may be transferred off the property by any reasonably foreseeable natural
causes or forces;
d) Storage of Heavy Equipment will only be allowed subject to (A) and (C) above and
the following standards:
a) The minimum lot size is five (5) acres and is not a platted subdivision.
9
•
b) The equipment storage area is not placed any closer than 300 ft. from any existing
residential dwelling.
c) All equipment storage will be enclosed in an area with screening at least ei ht18)
feet in height and obscured from view at the sane elevation or lower, Screenan
may include bermin , landscaping. siihf obscuring. fencing or a combination of
any of these methods.
d) Any repair and maintenance activity requiring the use of equipment that will
generate noise, odors or glare beyond the property boundaries will be conducted
within a building or outdoors during the hours of 8 a.m.. to 6 p.m., Mon. -Fri.
e) Loading and unloading of vehicles shall be conducted on private property and
may not be conducted on any public right-of-way.
e) Any storage area for uses not associated with natural resources shall not exceed ten
(10) acres in size.
1) Any lighting of storage area shall be pointed downward and inward to the property
center and shaded to prevent direct reflection on adjacent property.
6) Water pollution: in a case in which potential hazards exist, it shall be necessary to
install safeguards designed to comply with the Regulations of the Environmental
Protection Agency before operation of the facilities may begin. All percolation tests or
ground water resource tests as may be required by local or State Health Officers must be
met before operation of the facilities may begin.
SUGGESTED FINDINGS
1. That proper public notice was provided as required for the hearing before the Board
of County Commissioners.
2. That the hearing before the Board of County Commissioners was extensive and
complete and that all interested parties were heard at that meeting; however, not all
pertinent facts, matters and issues were submitted at the meeting.
3. That for the above stated and other reasons, the proposed special use permit is not in
the best interest of the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity and
welfare of the citizens of Garfield County.
4. That the application is not in conformance with the Garfield County Zoning
Resolution of 1978, as amended. Specifically, the application has not satisfied the
following standards:
Section 5.03.07(1)(a)
Section 5.03.07(1)(c)
Existing lawful use of water through depletion or pollution
of surface run-off, stream flow or ground water;
Impacts on wildlife and domestic animals through the
10
Section 5.03.07(1)( )
Section 5.03.07(2)
creation of hazardous attractions, alteration of existing
native vegetation, blockade of migration routes, use patterns
or other disruptions;
Mitigation measures proposed for all of the foregoing
impacts identified and for the standards identified in Section
5.03.08 of this Resolution
Permits may be granted for those uses with provisions that
provide adequate mitigation for the following:
a) A plan for site rehabilitation must be approved by the County
Commissioners before a permit for conditional or special use will
be issued;
b) The County Commissioners may require security before a permit
for special or conditional use is issued, if required. The applicant
shall furnish evidence of a bank commitment of credit, bond,
certified check or other security deemed acceptable by the County
Commissioners in the amount calculated by the County
Commissioners to secure the execution of the site rehabilitation
plan in workmanlike manner and in accordance with the
specifications and construction schedule established or approved
by the County Commissioners. Such commitments, bonds or
check shall be payable to and held by the County Commissioners;
c) Impacts set forth in the impact statement and compliance with the
standards contained in. Section 5.03.08 of this Resolution.
VI. STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Board deny the Special Use Permit for "Storage / Staging Area of Gas Drilling
Equipment" for Encana Oil & Gas, USA, Inc. Should the Board move to approve the request, Staff
suggests the following conditions:
That all representations of the Applicant, either within the application or stated at the
hearing before the Board of County Commissioners, shall be considered conditions of
approval unless explicitly altered by the Board.
2. That the operation of the facility be done in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and
local regulations governing the operation of this type of facility.
3. That this facility is for the sole use of the Applicant/Operator. If any other entities are to be
added as users, then they would be subject to an additional SUP as well as rules and
regulations as administered by the COGCC.
4. The Applicant shall comply with all standards as set forth in §5.03.08 "Industrial
Performance Standards" of the Garfield County Zoning Resolution of 1978 as amended and
included here as follows:
11
•
a. Volume of sound generated shall comply with the standards set forth in the Colorado
Revised Statutes.
b. Every use shall be so operated that the ground vibration inherently and recurrently
generated is not perceptible, without instruments, at any point of any boundary line of
the property on which the use is located.
c. Emissions of smoke and particulate matter: every use shall be operated so as to
comply with all Federal, State and County air quality laws, regulations and standards.
d. Every use shall be so operated that it does not emit heat, glare, radiation or fumes
which substantially interfere with the existing use of adjoining property or which
constitutes a public nuisance or hazard. Flaring of gases, aircraft warning signals,
reflective painting of storage tanks, or other such operations which may be required
by law as safety or air pollution control measures shall be exempted from this
provision.
e. Storage of flammable or explosive solids or gases shall be in accordance with
accepted standards and laws and shall comply with the national, state and local fire
codes and written recommendations/comments from the appropriate local protection
district regarding compliance with the appropriate codes.
f. No materials or wastes shall be deposited upon a property in such form or manner
that they may be transferred off the property by any reasonably foreseeable natural
causes or forces.
g. All equipment storage will be enclosed in an area with screening at least eight (8) feet
in height and obscured from view at the same elevation or lower. Screening may
include berming, landscaping, sight obscuring fencing or a combination of any of
these methods.
h. Any repair and maintenance activity requiring the use of equipment that will generate
noise, odors or glare beyond the property boundaries will be conducted within a
building or outdoors during the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon. -Fri.
i. Loading and unloading of vehicles shall be conducted on private property and may
not be conducted on any public right-of-way.
J•
Any storage area for uses not associated with natural resources shall not exceed ten
(10) acres in size.
k. Any lighting of storage area shall be pointed downward and inward to the property
center and shaded to prevent direct reflection on adjacent property.
12
• •
5. The Applicant shall provide a "Landscaping and Reclamation Plan" that has been approved
by the County Vegetation Department prior to the issuance of a Special Use Permit.
G. The Applicant shall meet with a representative of the Division of Wildlife on the property in
order to prepare a wildlife mitigation plan for the property such that it addresses any impacts
on wildlife through the creation of hazardous attractions, alteration of existing native
vegetation, blockade of migration routes, use patterns or other disruptions. This plan shall
be submitted to the County for approval prior to issuance of the Special Use Permit.
7. The Applicant shall file a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan with
the County and have a copy on site for spills that may occur from vehicles / machinery in
the area.
8. The Applicant shall obtain a driveway access permit from the County Road and Bridge
Department and shall adhere to conditions specific to the driveway access permit. A stop
sign will be required (if not already installed) at the entrance to CR 215. The stop sign and
installation shall be as required by the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
devices).
9. Should dust become an issue from the staging area, a dust control agent shall be applied to
the staging area.
10. No development activity shall occur at this property until all of these conditions have been
met and a Special Use Permit has been issued by Garfield County Board of County
Commissioners.
e
13
• •
GARFIELD COUNTY
Building & Planning Department
Review Agency Form
Date Sent: August 9, 2006
Comments Due: September 1, 2006
Name of application: Encana SUP for Parachute Staging Area
Sent to: Garfield County Road & Bridge Dept.
EXHIBIT
Garfield County requests your comment in review of this project. Please notify the
Planning Department in the event you are unable to respond by the deadline. This form
may be used for your response, or you may attach your own additional sheets as
necessary. Written comments may be mailed, e-mailed, or faxed to:
Garfield County Building & Planning
Staff contact: Fred Jarman
109 8th Street, Suite 301
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Fax: 970-384-3470
Phone: 970-945-8212
General Comments: Garfield County Road & Bridge Department has no objection to this
application with the following comments.
The reduced traffic on Cr. 215 will be a great benefit to Garfield County Road & Bridge
Department and the people using Cr. 215
The re uested driveway access permit will be issued upon approval by the BOCC of
this application with conditions specific to the driveway access permit. A stop sign will
be required (if not already installed} at the entrance to Cr. 215. The stop sign and
installation shall be as required by the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices).
Should dust become an issue from the staging area then we would recommend that a dust
control agent be applied to the staging area.
Name of review agency: Garfield County Road and Bridge Dept
By: Jake B. Mall
Date August 14, 2006
Revised 3/30/00
•
TOWN OF PARACHUTE
POBox 100
222 Grand Valley Way Parachute, CO 81635
1
'°ORA1
Telephone: (970) 285-7630 Building & Planning Technician
Facsimile: (970) 285-0292 Laura Diaz
August 11, 2006
Wagon Wheel Consulting
111 E. Third St., Suite 213
Rifle, CO 81650
Re: EnCana Watershed Permit for Warehouse & Training Facility and Staging
Area
Dear Mr. Smith,
On August 10, 2006 the Town of Parachute Board of Trustees voted to APPROVE
EnCana's application for a Watershed Permit for the staging area only. The Board will hold
a second public hearing once EnCana is prepared to submit plans for the Warehouse and
Training Facility. PIease forward this approval for the staging area to the Garfield County
Commissioners as a submittal for final approval of the Special Use Permit.
Included in this letter is a copy of the Approved Land Use Application, please retain both
this letter and the application form for your records.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at the number above.
Sincerely,
LA-
Laura Diaz
Building & Planning Technician
Encl.
•
•
•
•
APPROVED
BOW 1F
etteraPNTOWN OF PARACHUTE � Ponetk
DEPARTMENT OF e cfur J
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT k -''
LAND USE APPLICATION(i,� � `` `"` ` ""7-3 I int'
Name of Applicant: EnCana Coil & Gas (USA) Inc. ; 2717 County Road 215, Suitre 100, 1 0
Parachute CO. 81635; 970-285-2600
Project Location: 3.5 miles NW of the Town of Parachute on County Road 215
LEGAL DESCRIPTION:NE % Sec. 33 & NW Y4 SE 'A Sec 34; T -6S; R -96W
Existing Zoning: _RL Resource Land Proposed Zoning:
Type of Application (check all that apply):
SUBDIVISION:
I 1 MINOR SUBDIVISION
1 1 MAJOR SUBDIVISION
[ 1 RE -SUBDIVISION
1
[1
r1
•
P. U. D.
BUILDING DIVISIONS
AMENDED PLAT _
REZONING
ZONING VARIANCES
SPECIAL REVIEW USE
GEOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT
LOT CONSOLIDATION
1 PRELIMINARY
1 PRELIMINARY
PRELIMINARY
1 PRELIMINARY
1 PRELIMINARY
[ 1 FINAL
[ 1 FINAL
1 FINAL
1 1 FINAL
1 I FINAL
[ 1 SIGN VARIANCE
1 FLOOD PLAIN DEVELOPMENT
[ 1 VACATION OF STREET, ALLEY, R.O.W.
1 1 ANNEXATIONS
[ X 1 WATERSHED PERMIT
PROPERTY OWNER: EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 2717 County Road 215, Suite 100;
Parachute, CO. 81635
PROJECT ENGINEER/SURVEYOR: David Grisso; 2717 County Road 215 Parachute CO
81635; Ph # 970-285-2600
Wasatch Surveying 906 Main Street Evanston, Wyoming 82930 Ph # 307-679-
°759
ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS: (attach separate sheet if needed)
Name Address
See Tab "Adjacent Property Owners"
1
• •
MINERAL RIGHTS OWNERS & LESSEES OF SUBJECT PROPERTY
(attach separate sheet if needed) *PLEASE NOTE ALL MINERAL RIGHTS OWNERS AND LESSEES
MUST BE NOTIFIED 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE TO APPLICATION REVIEW, PLEASE INDICATE ALL
MINERAL RIGHTS OWNERS, & LESSEES AS (MR), OR (L)
Name Address
See Tab " Mineral Owners"
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL: (INCLUDE PROPOSED USE, ACREAGE, ETC.)
_See Tab "Project
Description"
Describe how this Proposed Land Use Application Complies with the Town of Parachute Land Use
Regulations and the Town of Parachute Master Plan 2002.
See Tab "Project
Description"
Describe any possible Flood Plain issues:
_See Tab "Storm Water Management
Plan"
Describe Traffic Impact Fees Proposal: (Standard Calculation or Individual Traffic Study)
See Tab "Impact Statement"
Describe Land Dedication Proposal:
See Tab "Proof of
Ownership"
Describe Water Rights Dedication Proposal:
See Tab "Water
Rights"
2
•
1 •
I Certify that the information and exhibits herewith are true and correct to the best of my knowledge,
and that in filing this application, 1 am acting with knowledge and consent of those persons listed
above without whose consent the requested action cannot lawfully be accomplished.
Name:(print)
Address: /// ,E
Signature: P
'sJAr WIt.ge fCow3(.1l/i1V Z,<. 32P -rimy I 53,7 /71.A
Sfizee IL, Sale a / 3 r R r/e, CO 8/6 50 Y - 7 -6 Co
elvolzie
Date:
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Read both sides of application thoroughly.
2. Complete all of the requested information.
3. Descriptions of property and dedication proposals on this form should be general and brief.
4. All applications must include a CURRENT TITLE POLICY, indicating ownership and
encumbrances.
5. All applications must include PROOF OF TAXES PAID.
6. Applicants should review the Town of Parachute Land Use Regulations 15.01, 15.03, 15.04,
15.05, 15.06, and any other sections specified for the proposed request.
7. All applicants who are not property owners must present a Letter of Representation,
signed and notarized by the property owners.
8. Applications not signed and Iacking any of the requested information will be deemed
incomplete and will not be scheduled for a Planning and Zoning Commission review.
ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL:
411 APPLICATION FEE1 ).
APPLICATION RECEIVED DATE:
PLANNING & ZONING BEARING.
]SEARING: ot1
DATE: 11 i `3 I IOW
•
ilOCto
MAILINGS DATE:
3
COMPLETE DATE:
-7114 oiF
PP
BOT SOT
PUBLICATION
1 •
MEMORANDUM
To: Fred Jarman
From: Steve Anthony
Re: Comments on the Encana SUP for Parachute Staging Area
Date: October 6, 2006
The Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weed Management Pian is acceptable.
Because of the unknown timetable of final reclamation it is recommended that the per acre rate of
revegetation security be $4000 per acre. The project encompasses 7.2 acres. this would be a total security
of $28,500.
• •
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
PARACHUTE STAGING AREA`
vto
Supplemental Impact Statement CA OCT 0 5 -
A Section 5.03 Review Standards � �Lo GoU
INNING
2) Street improvements adequate to accommodate traffic volume generated by the
proposed use and to provide safe access to the use shall either be in place or
shall be constructed in conjunction with the proposed use;
EnCana has determined and agreed to limit the proposed use of the staging area to
the North Parachute Operations only. The site will not be utilized to store or
maintain rigs associated with drilling operations within the South Parachute
Operations Area. As a result, rig and associated equipment moves from EnCana
operations to the north will only impact the length of County Road 215 from the
access into the proposed site and to the point where County Road 215 terminates at
EnCana Property to the north. No truck traffic, associated with the proposed site,
will need to travel along the section of County Road 215 south of the access to the
site, nor will rig haul traffic from the north continue to impact the Town of
Parachute or Interstate 70.
During maintenance of the drilling rigs and equipment, while stored in the proposed
staging area, service vehicles will need to access the site. These service vehicles will
range in description and size from 1 ton pickups to 2 % ton trucks. It is anticipated
that one each of this type of vehicles will need to access the site on a daily basis and
will be limited to the duration of which the rig and equipment is being stored on site.
B. Section 5.03.07 Industrial Operations
1) a) Existing lawful use of water through depletion or pollution of surface run-
off, stream flow or ground water;
EnCana has contracted Hawworth-Pawlak Geotechnical to calculate the
drainage requirement for the site. The actual size of the proposed retention
pond exceeds the calculated area required. See attached Mohave Engineering
Associates drawings which depict the proposed drainage plan.
See attached Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan
b) Impacts on adjacent land from the generation of vapor, dust, smoke, noise,
glare or vibration, or other emanations;
During maintenance operations on the rigs and equipment, EnCana anticipates
an average of one 1 ton pickup and one 2 / ton truck with an average crew size
•
of 6 personnel will be required to access the staging area on a daily basis. The
duration of the visits will be determined by the extent and nature of the repairs
and maintenance required. Once repairs and maintenance are completed, these
vehicles will no longer access the site.
c) Impacts on wildlife and domestic animals through the creation of
hazardous attractions, alteration of existing native vegetation, blockade of
migration routes, use patterns or other disruptions;
See attached Westwater Engineering Plan
d) Affirmatively show the impacts of truck and automobile traffic to and from
such uses and their impacts to areas in the County;
As Mentioned above, EnCana has determined and agreed to limit the proposed
use of the staging area to the North Parachute Operations only. The site will not
be utilized to store or maintain rigs associated with drilling operations within
the South Parachute Operations Area. As a result, rig and associated equipment
moves from EnCana operations to the north will only impact the length of
County Road 215 from the access into the proposed site and to the point where
County Road 215 terminates at EnCana Property to the north. No truck traffic,
associated with the proposed site, will need to travel along the section of County
Road 215 south of the access to the site, nor will rig haul traffic from the north
continue to impact the Town of Parachute or Interstate 70.
During maintenance of the drilling rigs and equipment, while stored in the
proposed staging area, service vehicles will need to access the site. These
service vehicles will range in description and size from 1 ton pickups to 2 '/2 ton
trucks. It is anticipated that one each of this type of vehicles will need to access
the site on a daily basis and will be limited to the duration of which the rig and
equipment is being stored on site.
Landscaping Plan
Due to the location of the proposed site, within sight distance of a public road,
EnCana proposes to construct an 8 ft high chain-link fence equipped with privacy
slats on the upper tier of the property along the east side of the site. The proposed
staging area is to be located at a lower elevation as compared to the easterly portion
of the property. With the construction of the privacy fence on the higher elevation,
visual impacts due to the site will be substantially minimized or eliminated for local
traffic along County Road 215. Privacy fencing or additional landscaping along the
north, west and south boundaries should not be required due to the industrial nature
of the adjacent properties.
Reclamation Man
• •
The expected Iife of the Parachute Staging Area will be the same as the duration of
EnCana Oil & Gas operations in the North Parachute area. Reclamation will consist of
the following:
• Immediate re -seeding of all disturbed areas outside of the fenced site caused by
construction of the site.
• Removal of all fencing
• Removal of surface pipe racks and equipment
• Removal of rock and gravel materials
• Restoration and re -contouring of grade to approximately original condition
• Replacement of stockpiled topsoil
• Reseeding with certified, weed -free seed mixtures to match surrounding
vegetation (see Westwater proposed seed mix)
• Continued monitoring of re -vegetation growth. Re-application of seed as
required.
• Compliance with all prevailing Garfield County regulations and conditions
governing final reclamation
Prior to abandonment of the staging area, EnCana would contact the Garfield County
Planning Director to arrange for a meeting and joint inspection of the site. This meeting
and inspection would take place a minimum of 30 days prior to abandonment and would
be held so that an agreement on an acceptable abandonment plan can be reached An
Abandonment and Reclamation Plan would be developed to address the bullet points
listed above:.
• •
EnCana Parachute Laydown Yard
Wildlife Assessment and Mitigation Plan
Garfield County Special Use Permit Application
Introduction
On September 27, 2006, WestWater biologists performed a site inspection of the EnCana Oil &
Gas, Inc. (USA) (EnCana) Parachute Laydown Yard (PLY). The site is located west of County
Road 215, Parachute Creek Road at Wheeler Gulch Road (see Figure 1). The inspections was
conducted for the purpose of a wildlife assessment and management plan. Factors considered
include existing land management practices, absence or presence of suitable wildlife habitat,
direct or indirect evidence of wildlife use, and existing and potential natural vegetation
community.
Landscape Setting
The PLY is on the first terrace above the floodplain of Parachute Creek. It is east of Parachute
Creek in an industrial setting situated between Williams, Inc. compressor plant and American
Soda. Terrain is gently sloping to nearly flat at the entrance to the yard. The property has a
westerly aspect.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) requested approximately 80 acres of vacant land
adjacent to the PLY be set aside as wildlife habitat. EnCana and Williams, Inc. voluntarily
agreed and contributed approximately 40 acres each. The purpose of the set aside is to provide a
corridor for wildlife movement between Wheeler Gulch to the east and Riley Gulch to the west
across the Parachute Creek Valley. According to District Wildlife Manager JT Romatzke
(2006), the corridor would be more effective if the vegetation community had more structure or
layers than merely the surface herbaceous layer and a few decadent shrubs currently present.
Potential Wildlife Occurrence
Due to the relation to the current built environment and poor vegetation component, a low
diversity of wildlife is expected to be observed passing over, nearby, or through the site
seasonally. The wildlife set aside corridor is not as effective as it could be due to extreme sight
distances between between shrub copses.
Species or sign of their presence observed directly on the site are shown in bold type in Table 1.
The other species shown in Table 1 reasonably could be expected to be observed at some time
during the year from on or near the site. The adjacency of the PLY to Parachute Creek and
riparian vegetation community increases the diversity of potential wildlife use. Few of the listed
species are observed year round, i.e. presence is seasonal.
EnCana Parachute Laydown Yard
Wildlife Assessment and Mitigation Plan
Garfield County, Colorado
Prepared for:
EnCana Oil & Gas (USA), Inc.
2717 County Road 215
Parachute, CO 81635
Attn: Brenda Herndon
970-285-2600
Prepared by:
WestWater Engineering
2516 Foresight Circle #1
Grand Junction, CO 81505
970-241-7076
October 1, 2006
• L �tto�,� Found in Wipe Laydown Yard Vicinity'
Scientific Name Occurrence'
i arae i. TumultsSpecies
CornmonName
Amphibians
Bullfrog
Great Basin Spadefoot
Western Chorus Frog
Woodhouse's Toad
Birds
rican Crow
Am
American Kestrel Falco sparverus
Rana catesbeiana
_pea intermontana
Known to occur
Kno
to occur
Abundance'
Locally Common
Uncommon
Pseudacris triseriata
Bufo woodhousii
Known to occur
Fairly Common
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Per • • 'ne Falcon Falco ter- : nus anatum
American Robin
Black -billed Magpie
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown -headed Cowbird
Bushtit
Cassin's Finch
Common Raven
European Starling
Field Sparro
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Empidonax wrightii
Turdus migratorius
Pica pica
Eu p gus cyanocephalus
Molothlrus ater
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Common
Fairly Common
Fairly Common
Rare
Common
Common
Common
Common
PsaItriparus minimus
Carpodacus cassinit
Corvus corax
Sturnus vulgaris
Spizella pusilla
Known to occur
Known to oc
Known to occur
Known to occur
Kno
o occur
Uncommon
Fairly Common
Fairly Common
Abundant
Unknown
Gray Flycatche
Great Blue Hero
Homed L
House Finch
House Sparrow
House Wren
Killdeer
Loggerhead Shrike
Mountain Bluebird
Mourning Dove
Red-tailed Hawk
Red -winged Blackbi
Rock Dove
Spotted Towhee
Turkey Vulture
Western Bluebird
Western Kingbi
estem Meadowlark
White -crowned Sparrow
Wild Turkey
Yellow -Humped Warbler
Mammals
Coyote
Deer Mouse
Desert Cottontail
House Mouse
Mule Deer
Raccoon
Red Fox
Striped Skunk
White-tailed Jackrabbi
Reptiles
Fence Li
Racer
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Ardea herodias
Eremophila alpestris
Carpodacus mexicanus
Passer domesticus
Troglodytes aedon
Charadrius vociferus
Lanius ludovicianus
Sialia currucoides
Zenaida macroura
Buteo jarnaicensis
Agelaius phoeniceus
Columba livia
Pipilo maculatus
Cathartes aura
Sialia mexicana
Tyrannus verticalis
Stumella negecta
Zonatrichia Ieucophrys
Meleagris gallopavo
Dendroica coronata
Canis latrans
Peromyscus maniculatus
Sylvilagus audubonii
Mus musculus
Odocoileus hemionus
Procyon lotor
Vulpes vulpes
Mephitis mephitis
Lepus townsendii
Sceloporus undula
Coluber constrictor
Thamnophis elegans
'DOW, 2005, edited by WestWater Engineering for the PLY. men found in Garfield County in
similar vegetation communities with normal structural diversity.
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occu
Known to occur
Uncommon
Fairly Common
Common
Fairly Common
Common
Common
Common
Fairly Common
Uncommon
Known to occu
Known to occur
Known to occur
own to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Fairly Common
Common
Uncommon
Abundant
Common
Common
Fairly Common
Rare
Fairly Common
Common
Fairly Common
Uncommon
Common
Abundant
Abundant
Common
own to occur
Abundant
Known to occur Abundant
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Known to occur
Abundant
Uncommon
Abundant
Common
Known to occur Common
Known to occur Uncommon
Known to occur Fairly Common
IP
Discussion
Importance of vegetative structure was evident at the time of inspection. The neo -tropical birds
observed as noted in bold in Table 1 were all using greasewood. The site is poor wildlife habitat
due to lack of vegetation community structure, past soils disturbances, high levels of human
activity in combination with sight distances of 400 meters or more, and domestic livestock
grazing.
To be more effective for wildlife, the corridor would benefit from establishment of vegetation
communities with multiple structural levels. According to the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 2006, potential natural vegetation for Arvada loam soil on the
east, north and south side of the PLY include alkalai sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), inland
saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smYthii), bottlebrush squirreltail
(Sitanion hystrix), Gardner's saltbush (Atriplex gardneri), greasewood (Sarcobatus
vermiculatus), and winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata). A vegetation community composed of
these species would contain multiple structural layers resulting in a complex more suitable to
providing multiple life stage functions for resident wildlife.
Actual vegetation complexes observed include a few greasewood, 0.5-1.5 m. in height, robust,
desert seep willow (Saueda moquinii), Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), and pepperweed
(Lepidium spp) which dominate the alkaline halaquepts soil. Vegetation present on the majority
of the site includes alkalai sacaton, bottlebrush squirreltail, a few rabbitbrush (Ericameria spp.)
and a wheatgrass, probably tall wheatgrass (Elymus elongatus). Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)
and halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) are also present but in relatively low density. Within 250
meters was a copse of rabbitbrush more suitable to providing the type of cover providing more
function of greater value than that currently available.
Vegetation conformation, hoof prints, and fecal remains exhibited evidence of heavy grazing
pressure from cattle with less than 25% annual growth remaining on most plants in the study
area. Native vegetation canopy varied between 1-15% where it was found.
Wildlife Mitigation
Improvement of undisturbed adjacent land to encourage vegetative type conversion to shrublands
would greatly increase the function and value of the set aside. Greater than 90% of the
surrounding land possesses only the herbaceous layer of vegetation. Methods to improve the
vegetation community include:
• removing or reductin domestic livestock grazing,
• controlling and eliminating noxious and invasive vegetation, planting aggressive, native
grasses,
• creating shrub copses by seeding or planting live plant materials in locations to reduce
sight distances between copses and other cover,
• selectively locating future berms or soil stockpiles to decrease sight distances,
• removing all unnecessary fences,
• and ensuring necessary fences are wildlife friendly.
•
This list is not meant to be exhaustive. Other options to improve wildlife value may emerge.
Those listed above are the most obvious for direct improvement of wildlife function and value.
Best Management Practices
Minimize the footprint of temporary disturbances and reduce to the minimum level possible all
soil disturbing activities. Construction vehicles and staging should be done in a manner to
reduce the footprint of new disturbance during construction.
Re -seeding
Temporary disturbances on EnCana property should be re -seeded with the seed recipe in the
PLY Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weed Management Plan.
Fence Removal
Some wildlife un -friendly fences are located near the PLY. Removal of all unnecessary fencing
in the vicinity will improve the over all value to wildlife as the vegetation community develops
more functions and greater values with subsequent increases in levels of wildlife use and
diversity.
References
Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), 2005. Natural diversity information source. Dept. or
Nat. Res., Div. of Wildlife, World wide web at http:/lndis.nrel.colostate.eduf.
Romatzke, JT, 2006. Personal communication. District Wildlife Manager, Dept. Nat. Res., Div.
of Wildlife, Parachute, CO.
NRCS, 2006. Web Soil Survey, US Dept. of Agriculture. URL:
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov
•411-4.-1"Li9721,%
MAY=
all? -e1{- DIM
MI.. 'WNW left,1111
4311ft 11114 1.1100.411
ap.
as waraerva pro... u +eau
NVidgllS QYVA NMOOAV7 C1390dOdd
ON/ (fl) SVD 710 VNVON2
1
sir rrros)
1-7.7mr-E4
4