HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-203.G K19 Impact AnalysisArticle 4-203.G
Impact Analysis
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc
K19NE Storage Facility
(Laydown Yard)
OA Project No. 014-2797
OLSSON
ASSOCIATES
Article 4 — Impact Analysis
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
K19 Storage Facility (Laydown Yard)
SECTION 4-203.G. IMPACT ANALYSIS
1. Adjacent Land Use
The proposed site is located within the boundaries of an 88.5 acre property. The storage
use would be limited to a 5.17 acre area. Natural gas development, agriculture, light
industrial, and wasteland are the uses on the subject parcel and surrounding properties.
Natural gas development is the predominate use in the immediate area. The closest
residential use to the proposed laydown yard is approximately a half mile to the north.
2. Site Features
The subject property is located in the Rural (R) zone district of Garfield County on Lot 3 of
Section 19, Township 6 South, Range 92 West of the 6th PM. Access to the laydown yard
is via Garfield County Road (CR) 315 (Mamm Creek Road) for approximately 4 miles from
1-70 exit 94 to CR 333 (Hunter Mesa Road) for approximately 2.8 miles to a private access
road (see Access Road Map). The K19NE Laydown Yard location is approximately 0.5
miles east of CR 333 on this private access road.
The elevation of the site is approximately 5,689 feet.
All native vegetation has been removed from the project site and the area is currently
being used as a COGCC permitted well pad. The proposed laydown yard exists in a
disturbed vegetation community dominated by grasses. The site appears to have been
dominated previously by sagebrush/greasewood shrublands. Scattered patches of grease
wood and big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, fourwing saltbush, and shadscale still persist in
some areas. The understory is not diverse and was dominated by downy brome with
scattered patches of galleta grass and weedy annuals. Additional species occurred in
lesser coverage and amounts.
3. Soil Characteristics
Soils, consisting of the following units, are within the study area around the proposed
laydown yard:
Potts Loam, Map Symbol 55, is a moderately sloping soil found on mesas, benches,
and the sides of valleys at elevations ranging from 5,000 feet to 7,000 feet amsl. The
soil formed in alluvium derived from sandstone, shale, or basalt. Typically the surface
layer is brown loam about four inches thick, the subsoil is reddish brown clay loam
760 Horizon Road, Suite 102 TEL 970.263.7800
Grand Junction, CO 81506
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Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
K19 Storage Facility
about 24 inches thick, and the substratum is pinkish white loam to a depth of 60 inches
thick.
Permeability is moderate, and the available water capacity is high. Surface runoff is slow
and the erosion hazard is moderate. Community development and recreation are limited
by low strength and the shrink -swell potential. Dwellings and roads can be designed to
overcome these limitations.
4. Geology and Hazard
This is a summary of the Natural and Geologic Hazard Assessment Report that is provided
with this application.
The K19NE Storage Yard is not expected to have any buried or aboveground utilities.
Avalanche conditions are not expected to be a hazard in the area of the Site.
Rockfall areas are not a geological hazard in the area of the Site, but may exist in
areas along Mamm Creek and its tributary drainages.
The Site is not in an area mapped as an alluvial fan hazard area.
Slope is not a geologic hazard in the vicinity of the site, but is in areas to the north and
west along West Mamm Creek and Mamm Creek drainages.
The Potts Loam soils are listed as a high risk of corrosion to uncoated steel and a low
risk of corrosion to concrete. These soil characteristics are not expected to pose a
geologic hazard for the proposed development at the K19NE Storage Yard.
The shrink -swell potential for the Potts Loam is low to moderate. Therefore, expansive
soils are not a geologic hazard at the K19NE Storage Yard.
Collapsible soils are not present in the vicinity of the proposed K19NE Storage Yard.
No significant faults have been mapped or are known in the K19NE Storage Yard. The
Site is located to the northwest of the Divide Creek anticline which was formed as a
result of movement along a blind thrust fault associated with the uplift of the Colorado
Rocky Mountains.
The Site is not mapped as being within the 100 -year flood plain. Flash flooding is a
hazard for lower elevations along the West Fork of Mamm Creek, Mamm Creek and
its tributaries, and areas along the Colorado River located approximately two miles to
the north and at elevations that are 100 feet to 200 feet lower than the Site elevation.
Therefore, flooding is not expected to be a natural hazard affecting the Site.
Uranium and Vanadium were mined to the northeast of the town of Rifle; and
approximately ten miles north of the Site.
There are no significant radioactive mineral deposits known in the immediate area of
the Site. The presence of NORM may be an issue with exploration and production and
could be an issue with used pipe scale or used equipment stored at the site.
Radioactive materials are not expected to pose a significant hazard at the Site.
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5. Groundwater and Aquifer Recharge Areas
No flood prone areas are mapped in the vicinity of the site. Areas along the West Fork of
Mamm Creek are potentially prone to flash floods. An individual sewage disposal system
(ISDS) is not being used at this site, so soils will not have to support waste disposal. The
site was previously graded. Minor soil disturbance and construction activity may be
required to accommodate the grading and drainage plan. All soil disturbances have been
fully stabilized according to CDPHE and COGCC criteria.
6. Environmental Impacts
a. Determination of long-term and short-term effects on flora and fauna
Flora
The continued use and redevelopment of the existing location would not adversely
affect federally listed plant species. No additional vegetation removal is associated
with the laydown yard. Vegetation communities and conditions will not be affected on
a long- or short-term basis and would remain in their present condition.
Fauna
Federally Listed Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Wildlife Species
The continued use of the existing site as a laydown yard would not adversely affect
federally listed wildlife species due to the lack of suitable habitat within or surrounding
the project area. No federally designated critical habitat occurs within or near the site.
Colorado State listed Threatened, Endangered or Sensitive wildlife species would not
be impacted by the proposed laydown yard due to the lack of suitable habitat available
for those species within or surrounding the proposed project area.
Raptors, Birds of Conservation Concern, Migratory and Non -Migratory birds
No additional vegetation removal would be associated with the proposed laydown
yard; therefore no suitable raptor, BCC, or other migratory or non -migratory bird
species nesting habitat would be impacted. Long- or short-term effects related to the
project area would be minimal due to the area being previously disturbed from
activities associated with the operation and maintenance of the existing oil and gas
well pad, and a lack of suitable nesting habitat in proximity to the site. Loud noises and
human activities at the site during the breeding and nesting season may have limited
indirect impacts on habitat effectiveness around the pad site, possibly reducing the
suitability or effectiveness for nesting activities in the native shrubland habitats; but as
mentioned, a lack of suitable nesting habitat in proximity to the pad limits the amount
of potential impacts. Foraging and other habitat use would likely continue within
adjacent habitats, as available.
American Elk and Deer
The existing site is absent of any vegetation, and no additional direct impacts to elk or
deer habitats would occur. Elk and deer may be indirectly impacted during the winter
months by increased noise and human presence and increased traffic along the
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K19 Storage Facility
access road, which may cause elk and deer to avoid this area during certain times of
day or during times of more intense human activities. The winter months are a critical
time of year for big game species, when deer and elk are more likely to be utilizing
lower elevations, and disturbance can have a larger relative impact due to poor
foraging opportunities and already stressed animals. Intensive use of the laydown yard
during the winter months may force deer and elk away from the area, which could
increase energy expenditures for the individuals impacted.
During the summer and fall months, most deer and elk are at higher elevation habitats,
and therefore use of the pad site outside of the winter would likely have no impact on
deer or elk. The use of the laydown yard would not block or impede migration corridors
for elk or mule deer. Long-term, reclamation of the site is recommended in order to
improve winter range habitat effectiveness in the area.
b. Determination of the effect on designated environmental resources, including
critical Wildlife Habitat
The K19NE Laydown Yard is not expected to affect any critical habitat for any wildlife
species, as no federally designated critical habitat or species were identified within or
near the site.
According to the CPW GIS data, the project area occurs within Overall, Severe Winter
Range, Winter Concentration Areas and Winter Range for elk and mule deer. No
additional vegetation removal or new construction is associated with the site that would
further decrease habitat. The site would not impede any natural migration or
movement through the area, but use of the site during the winter months may
temporarily cause animals to avoid habitats around the site. Given the limited size and
temporary nature of activities associated with laydown yard use, these impacts would
likely be short-term in nature, and no measureable impact to mule deer or elk herds
would be expected from this project. Activities in the winter months would have a
relatively larger potential effect given the condition of animals in the winter months,
and reduced availability of forage and security habitats. As mentioned, some individual
animals may be indirectly impacted by moving away from the site, but no significant
impacts to herds, or long-term impacts to critical wildlife habitat would be expected.
c. Impacts on wildlife and domestic animals through creation of hazardous
attractions, alteration of existing native vegetation, blockade of migration
routes, use patterns, or other disruptions
The laydown yard would not create hazardous attractions to avian or mammalian
wildlife species or domestic animals, alter additional native vegetation, block migration
routes, or cause a change in habitat use.
Wildlife species may be indirectly impacted by increased noise and human presence
while equipment is being transferred and stored. Use of habitats by wildlife would still
likely occur on or adjacent to the pad and storage yard site during the nighttime hours,
and during times when there are no human activities at the laydown yard. The majority
of the species occurring within the area have widespread habitats; therefore, most
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K19 Storage Facility
wildlife species that may be indirectly affected would have other habitats in the greater
area that are still available for foraging, reproduction, dispersal and shelter. The
proposed project may impact individuals indirectly but would not likely impact
populations. No impacts to domestic animals would be expected.
d. Evaluation of any potential radiation hazard that may have been identified by the
State or County Health Departments
Radon is not expected to be a significant problem at the proposed Site, since the
development will not include any occupied structures, personnel will not be onsite for
extended periods, and the Site will not be developed with structures containing
basements or substructures in which radon can accumulate. Colorado oil and gas
operations are not known to have a significant problem with naturally occurring
radioactive materials (NORM) or technologically enhanced naturally occurring
radioactive materials (TENORM); however, there have been some instances where
pipe scale has contained radium and associated radon gas. A NORM survey including
site specific testing could be performed to further assess the radon potential at the Site
to serve as a baseline assessment if used pipe or pipe scale is stored and is to be
disposed offsite in the future.
7. Nuisance
Adjacent land uses will not be adversely impacted by the generation of vapor, dust, smoke,
glare or vibration generated by the storage use beyond the limits set forth by Garfield
County, the COGCC, the CDPHE and other regulatory agencies.
There will be no equipment stored on site that requires a CDPHE Air Quality Permit. Dust
will be mitigated by use of water or other dust suppressants. A copy of Encana's Fugitive
Dust Control Plan is included with this submittal.
There will be no equipment associated with the laydown yard permanently installed on the
site that could potentially create a noise nuisance.
8. Hours of Operation
The K19 Laydown Yard will be accessible to Encana personnel 24 hours a day, year
round. Materials will be picked -up and dropped -off on an as -needed basis. No personnel
will be stationed at the facility on a regular basis.
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