HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-203.G.4 Geohazards RptArticle 4-203.G.4
Geologic and Soils Hazard
Report
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc
K19NE Storage Facility
(Laydown Yard)
OAProject No. 014-2797
NATURAL AND GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
ASSESSMENT REPORT
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
K19NE STORAGE YARD
NE 1/4 SW 1/4 (Lor 3) SECTION 19, T6S, R92W, 6TH P.M.
GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
PREPARED FOR
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
143 DIAMOND AVENUE
PARACHUTE, COLORADO 81635
PREPARED BY
OLSSON ASSOCIATES
4690 TABLE MOUNTAIN DRIVE, SUITE 200
GOLDEN, COLORADO 80403
FEBRUARY 2015
PROJECT No. 014-2797
CAOLSSON
ASSOCIATES
Natural and Geologic Hazard Report Preface
Garfield County, Colorado, finalized the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) with an
effective date of July 15, 2013, last amended December 16, 2013. According to Section 7-108
Use of Land Subject to Natural Hazards of the Garfield County LUDC "Land subject to identified
Natural and Geologic Hazards, such as falling rock, landslides, snow slides, mud flows,
radiation, flooding, or high water tables, shall not be developed unless it has been designed to
eliminate or mitigate the potential effects of hazardous site conditions as designed by a qualified
professional engineer and as approved by the County."
The LUDC requires a Natural and Geologic Hazard Study be prepared by a qualified
professional geologist and submitted with a development plan or plat. The LUDC defines a
geologic hazard as "A geologic phenomenon that is so adverse to past, current, or foreseeable
construction or land use as to constitute a significant hazard to public health and safety or to
property.
The LUDC defines a Hazard Area as "An area that contains oris directly affected by a geologic
hazard, including but not limited to the following types of areas."
A. Avalanche Area. "A mass of snow or ice and other material that may become
incorporated therein as such mass moves rapidly down a slope."
B. Landslide Area. "An area with demonstrably active mass movement of rock and
soil where there is a distinct surface rupture or zone of weakness that separates
the landslide material from more stable underlying material."
C. Mudflow Debris Area. "An area subject to rapid mud and debris movement or
deposit occurring after mobilization by heavy rainfall or snowmelt runoff. Such
areas are formed by successive episodes of deposition of mud and debris."
D. Radioactive Area. "An area subject to various types of radiation emission from
radioactive minerals that occur in natural or manmade deposits of rock, soil, or
water."
E. Potentially Unstable Soils. "An area of land identified as having soils that may
cause damage to structures, such as buildings and roadways, as a result of over
saturation or some other outside influence."
According to the Garfield County LUDC Section 4-203 Description of Submittal Requirements,
the professional qualifications for preparation and certification of certain documents required by
this Code are as follows:
"Geologist: Geology reports shall be prepared by either a member of the American
Institute of Professional Geologists, a member of the Association of Engineering
Geologists, or a qualified geotechnical engineer licensed in the State of Colorado."
Geologic Hazard Report
Encana K19NE Storage Yard
Garfield County, Colorado
Olsson Associates
Golden, Colorado
February 2015
Currently, the State of Colorado does not require licensure or registration of geologists;
however, Colorado Revised Statutes do require that geologic reports be prepared or authorized
by a professional geologist, and the term "Professional Geologist" is defined in Colorado
Statutes.
The references for these Statutes are shown here:
34-1-201. Definitions. As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Geologist" means a person engaged in the practice of geology.
(2) "Geology" means the science which treats of the earth in general; the earth's
processes and its history; investigation of the earth's crust and the rocks and other
materials which compose it; and the applied science of utilizing knowledge of the
earth's history, processes, constituent rocks, minerals, liquids, gases, and other
materials for the use of mankind.
(3) "Professional geologist" is a person who is a graduate of an institution of higher
education which is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency, with a
minimum of thirty semester hours (forty-five quarter) hours of undergraduate or
graduate work in a field of geology and whose post baccalaureate training has been in
the field of geology with a specific record of an additional five years of geological
experience to include no more than two years of graduate work.
(4) 34-1-202. Reports containing geologic information. Any report required by law or by
rule and regulation, and prepared as a result of or based on a geologic study or on
geologic data, or which contains information relating to geology, as defined in Section
34-1-201 (2), and which is to be presented for any state agency, political subdivision
of the state, or recognized state or local board or commission, shall be prepared or
approved by a professional geologist as defined in Section 34-1-201(3).
Geologic Hazard Report
Encana K19NE Storage Yard
Garfield County, Colorado
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Olsson Associates
Golden, Colorado
February 2015
Professional Geologist Certification
By means of this certification, I attest that:
- I am qualified to prepare a Natural and Geologic Hazard Study in accordance with
the provisions of Section 7-207 of the Garfield County LUDC, and that I am a
member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists per LUDC 4-203.
- Although I have not visited the proposed Site, I am familiar with the geology and
have performed field work in the area of the proposed Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
Storage Yard located in the NE'/ SW'/, (Lot 3) Section 19 Township 6 South,
Range 92 West, 6th Principal Meridian in Garfield County, Colorado.
Although Colorado does not currently have a licensing board or registration program
for professional geologists practicing in the state of Colorado, there are requirements
within local and State statutes that require that geologic reports be prepared by a
professional geologist. I attest that I meet the requirements of the Colorado
Geological Survey's definition of a professional geologist having completed and met
the educational requirements of the Colorado Geological Survey definition.
I am a licensed Professional Geologist and Professional Geoscientist in other States,
including Texas, Utah, and Wyoming which do have licensing programs for
professional geologists.
I have reviewed published geologic maps and reports applicable to this area and
have considered the implications of these conditions in the context of the proposed
development.
This report has been prepared in accordance with good scientific principles and
engineering practices including consideration of applicable industry standards, and
with consideration of the requirements of the National Association of State Boards of
Geology. The conclusions and recommendations contained in this report are based
on information available and known to me at the time of this report. Good scientific
principles and standard engineering practices were taken into consider -__a= ����
arriving at the conclusions and recommendations made in this repo
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Reviewed 7J3O5
iia. �AIP�! SA
Prepared by
.44/ted— 40, /914x
James W. Hix, PG
Senior Geologist
Date: 02/02/2015
Kevin J. Ta,'`` �; F� ; Cr_
Senior Geologis
Date: 02/02/2015
Note: The PG's certification does not relieve the owner/operator of the facility of the duty to review this report or fully implementing
the recommendations in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and local requirements in order to achieve the desired goals
or objectives.
Geologic Hazard Report
Encana K19NE Storage Yard
Garfield County, Colorado
Olsson Associates
Golden, Colorado
February 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Natural and Geologic Hazard Report Preface i
Professional Geologist Certification iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS iv
FIGURES iv
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
2.0 GENERAL SITE LOCATION AND BACKGROUND 3
2.1 Project and Site Description 3
2.2 Structural Geology 3
2.3 Site Geology 4
2.4 Soil 4
2.5 Hydrologic Setting 4
2.6 Aquifers 5
2.7 Permitted Water Wells 5
3.0 NATURAL AND GEOLOGIC HAZARD ASSESSMENT 6
3.1 Utilities 6
3.2 Avalanche Hazard Area 6
3.3 Landslide Areas or Potential Landslide Hazard Areas 6
3.4 Rockfall Areas 7
3.5 Alluvial Fan Hazard Areas 7
3.6 Unstable or Potentially Unstable Slopes 7
3.7 Corrosive or Expansive Soils and Rock 7
3.8 Mudflow and Debris Fan Areas 7
3.9 Development Over Faults and Risk of Seismic Activity 7
3.10 Flood Prone Areas 8
3.11 Collapsible Soils 8
3.12 Mining Activity 8
3.13 Radioactivity 8
4.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 10
5.0 REFERENCES 11
FIGURES
List of Figures
V-1 Vicinity Map
T-1 Topographic Map
G-1 Geology Map
S-1 Soils Map
F-1 Floodplain Map
Geologic Hazard Report
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Garfield County, Colorado
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Olsson Associates
Golden, Colorado
February 2015
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Olsson Associates (Olsson) was contracted by Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. (Encana) to
assess natural and geologic hazards potentially present in the area of the proposed Storage
Yard (Site) located in the Lot 3 of Section 19, Township 6 South, Range 92 West, of the 6th
Principal Meridian, in Garfield County, Colorado. The Site location is shown on the V-1 Vicinity
Map. The Site is at an elevation of about 5,689 feet above mean sea level (amsl) as shown on
the attached T-1 Topographic Map.
The purpose of this report is to identify geologic conditions that may pose hazards to a land
development project in order that appropriate mitigation or avoidance techniques may be
implemented as described in the Garfield County LUDC. According to the Garfield County
LUDC, Section 7-207, the types of natural and geologic hazards identified pertain to the
following:
A. Utilities;
B. Development in Avalanche Hazard Areas;
C. Development in Landslide Hazard Areas;
D. Development in Rock -fall Hazard Areas;
E. Development in Alluvial Fan Hazard Areas;
F. Slope Development;
G. Development on Corrosive or Expansive Soils and Rock;
H. Development in Mudflow Areas; and
I. Development Over Faults.
This report presents Olsson findings following an evaluation of these and other geologic
hazards potentially affecting the Site and proposed development. The Encana site was found to
be suitable for the proposed development with consideration of the following identified geologic
hazards.
• No utilities are planned for the proposed Site development.
• The Site is not in an Avalanche Hazard Area.
• The Site is located on a gently sloping parcel of land south of the Mamm Creek drainage
and bound to the west by the West Mamm Creek drainage and to the east by unnamed
tributary drainages to Mamm Creek. Slopes do not appear to be a hazard affecting the
Site since it is in an area of gentle slopes.
• The soil beneath the Site is mapped as the Potts Loam (Map Unit # 55). These soils are
found on three percent to six percent slopes; however, soil in adjacent areas along
Mamm Creek and the tributary drainages are mapped as Rock outcrop —Torriothents
complex and are found on steep slopes ranging from 12 percent to 25 percent to the
west, and steep slopes to the north.
• The Site is not located in an area of rock -fall or landslide hazards.
• According to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) GIS online
map, the bedrock geology has been mapped (scale of 1:500,000) in the vicinity of the
Site as the Tertiary age Wasatch Formation including the Fort Union equivalent at its
Geologic Hazard Report
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Garfield County, Colorado
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Golden, Colorado
February 2015
base and the Ohio Creek Formation. Quaternary gravels and alluviums of Pinedale and
Bull Lake Age are shown to the south in Section 30, Township 6 South, Range 92 West.
According to the Geologic Map of the Silt Quadrangle, Garfield County (1:24,000), the
Site surficial geology consists of Quaternary age loess deposits overlying older terrace
alluvium and bedrock consisting of the Eocene Shire Member of the Tertiary Wasatch
Formation.
• According to the Geologic Map of the Leadville Quadrangle, alluvial fan gravels are
mapped on Grass Mesa to the west, but the site is not in an area mapped as having
alluvial fan deposits; therefore, the site is not in an alluvial fan hazard area.
• According to the Geologic Map of the Leadville 1° x 2° Quadrangle, Colorado (scale
1:250,000), and the Geologic Map of the Silt Quadrangle, there are no mapped faults in
the area of the Site. The axis of the Rifle Syncline lies to the north of the Site subparallel
to the Colorado River drainage.
• The Eocene Shire Member bedrock dip angles in the vicinity of the Site have been
measured and range from seven degrees to ten degrees to the west and northwest as
plotted on the Geologic Map of the Silt Quadrangle. This compares to dip angles of
nearly 90 degrees along the Grand Hogback north of the town of Rifle and areas where
the bedrock strata is overturned. This is evidence of thrust faulting in the region.
• The Silt topographic quadrangle map and the Geologic Map of the Silt Quadrangle do
not show any mining operations in the immediate vicinity of the site. There are sand and
gravel quarries located along the Colorado River drainage to the north. Natural gas wells
and production facilities are present in the vicinity of the Site and surrounding areas.
• The Site is not mapped within the FEMA 100-year flood plain. The Site is located at an
elevation of approximately 5,689 feet approximately two miles south of the Colorado
River which is at an elevation of approximately 5,368 feet above mean sea level (amsl).
The bottom of the drainage to the west of the Site is at an elevation of approximately
5,581 feet amsl. These drainages and the Colorado River may experience flash floods,
but the K19NE Site is located above the expected flood stage.
There do not appear to be any significant natural or geologic hazards associated with the Site
proposed for the Encana Site. This report should be read in its entirety, including but not limited
to the conclusions and recommendations in Section 4.0.
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Garfield County, Colorado
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2.0 GENERAL SITE LOCATION AND BACKGROUND
Encana contracted Olsson Associates (Olsson) to conduct a natural and geologic hazards
assessment as part of the proposed development of the K19NE storage yard (Site). The
proposed facility will be used to store surplus equipment and materials used in the drilling and
production of natural gas wells in the area. The following sections provide information about the
proposed development and the Site geologic setting.
2.1 Project and Site Description
The proposed Site is located southeast of the town of Rifle, Colorado off of Garfield County
Road 333 south of the Garfield County Municipal Airport. The Site is located in the Lot 3 of
Section 19, T6S, R92W, 6th P.M. (39.50956° N -107.70974°W) and is located on parcel #2179-
193-00-128. The surface land parcel encompasses approximately 88.42 acres and is owned by
Encana; however the storage yard occupies approximately 2.7 acres in the south central part of
the parcel.
2.2 Structural Geology
The Site is located in the southeastern part of the Piceance Basin. The Piceance Basin is an
irregularly-shaped elongated basin formed by tectonic forces associated with the Laramide
orogeny. These forces down warped the earth's crust and formed the Piceance Basin as a
result of the uplift of the surrounding Colorado Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau. The
area geology is shown on the G-1 Geologic Map.
The Piceance Basin is the major structural geologic feature in the region. It is bound to the east
by the Grand Hogback monocline, the White River Uplift to the northeast, the Gunnison Uplift to
the south, the Uncompahgre Uplift to the south and southwest, the Douglas Creek Arch to the
west-northwest, and the axial basin uplift to the north. Sedimentary rocks in the southwestern
Piceance Basin gently dip to the north-northeast except where this regional dip is interrupted by
low -amplitude folds. Numerous small sub -parallel northwest trending folds have been identified
within the basin. The Divide Creek and Wolf Creek anticlines are two gentle, north-northwest
trending, natural gas producing intrabasin folds located near the eastern margin of the Piceance
basin. (Grout and Verbeek, 1992). These anticlines are located south-southeast of the Site. The
bedrock in the vicinity of the Site dips at angles between seven degrees and ten degrees to the
west-northwest.
A fault is a fracture in rock along which movement has occurred. Mountains are bound by faults
and are a visible indication of a structural weakness in the earth's crust. The Colorado Rocky
Mountains are bound by faults; however, these faults are not always visible at the ground
surface either because the fault trace is `blind', meaning that the fault does not have surface
expression since it does not cut across overlying sedimentary bedrock units, or that it has been
buried and concealed by unconsolidated sediments deposited over the area where the faults
are present.
There are no mapped faults shown in the immediate area of the Site on the Geologic Map of the
Leadville 1° x 2° Quadrangle, Garfield County, Colorado (Tweto, Moench, and Reed, 1978) or
on the Geologic Map of the Silt Quadrangle, Garfield County, Colorado (Shroba and Scott,
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February 2015
2001) (Scale 1:24,000). However, folds such as the intrabasinal Divide Creek anticline and Wolf
Creek anticline, and the Grand Hogback monocline, which defines the eastern margin of the
Piceance Basin, have been interpreted as the surface expression of thrust faulting in which a
wedge of basement rock was moved west-southwest during the uplift of the Rocky Mountains
during the Laramide orogeny. Movement along the thrust fault compressed the overlying
sedimentary rock which formed these low amplitude folds and the Grand Hogback (Grout and
Verbeek, 1992).
2.3 Site Geology
The area geology is shown on the G-1 Geologic Map. According to the Geologic Map of the
Silt Quadrangle ((Shroba and Scott, 2001), bedrock mapped in the area of the Site consists of
the Eocene Shire Member of the Wasatch Formation which consists of variegated purple,
lavender, red, gray, and brown claystone; some locally lenticular, fine- to coarse-grained
sandstone and conglomerate, and thin limestone beds. The maximum exposed thickness of the
Shire Member is approximately 1,600 feet, and reaches up to 3,900 feet thick in the Silt
Quadrangle (Shroba and Scott, 2001).
The Shire Member is the upper member of the Wasatch Formation and overlies the Molina
Member and Atwell Gulch Member, which in turn lie above the Ohio Creek Formation. The Ohio
Creek Formation marks the boundary between the Cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary rocks
in the Piceance Basin (Donnell, 1969).
The bedrock at the site is mantled by Quaternary age terrace alluvium and loess deposits.
Terrace deposits associated with Pinedale and Bull Lake age are mapped to the south in
Section 30 and the SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Section 19, T6S, R92W.
2.4 Soil
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) S-1 Soils Map shows the area soil types.
Soils, consisting of the following units, are within the study area around Site:
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 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.
2.5 Hydrologic Setting
The Site is located at an elevation of approximately 5,689 feet, bound to the west by the West
Fork of Mamm Creek and the main branch of Mamm Creek lies to the north. The surface water
hydrology and shallow groundwater contained in the alluvium are controlled by Mamm Creek
and its tributary drainages. Surface water flow is to the west — southwest toward the confluence
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Garfield County, Colorado
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with the main branch of Mamm Creek. Shallow groundwater is expected to follow topography
and flow toward and parallel the flow of the West Fork of Mamm Creek to the north toward the
confluence with Mamm Creek and its confluence with the Colorado River approximately two
miles north of the Site. These surface water features are shown on the H-1 Hydrography Map.
2.6 Aquifers
The Wasatch Formation consists predominantly of very fine-grained claystone and mudstone
with lenses of very fine-grained to coarse-grained sandstone and conglomerate. The matrix of
these rock types generally exhibits low porosity, relatively low hydraulic conductivity, or the
ability to transmit groundwater. Therefore the Wasatch Formation is generally considered a
confining unit. Some lenticular sandstones yield water wells in some areas south of the town of
Rifle; however, the quantity and quality of this water is variable. The most productive wells are
those completed in areas with secondary porosity or interconnected bedrock fractures.
Alluvial aquifers consist of unconsolidated sediments deposited along the Colorado River,
Mamm Creek, and major tributaries to these streams. The thickness of the unconsolidated
sediments must provide for sufficient volume and stream valley size to be capable of yielding
groundwater to domestic wells to be of significance for domestic or use for livestock.
2.7 Permitted Water Wells
Three groundwater monitoring holes were permitted by Encana in 2007 in anticipation of
constructing a centralized E&P waste management facility per COGCC Rule 908 on the
property. The E&P waste management facility was never constructed, and it does not appear
that the monitoring wells were ever drilled as the last correspondence with the Colorado Division
of Water Resources was to request an extension.
There are permitted water wells located in the NW 1/4 NW % Section 19, Township 6 South,
Range 92 West. Well permit #190496 MH 26571 was drilled in November 1995, and recorded in
May 1996 by the Division of Water Resources. The total depth of the well is listed at 203 feet.
The driller's log indicates that from the surface to 56 feet below ground surface (bgs) consisted
of large river gravels, from 56 feet to 130 feet bgs consisted of hard red sandstone, from 130
feet to 135 feet consisted of fractured gray shale, from 135 feet to 180 feet bgs consisted of
hard red sandstone, and from 180 feet to 203 feet bgs consisted of gray shale. Groundwater
was reportedly encountered at 130 feet to 135 feet bgs with a yield of approximately one gallon
per minute (gpm).
Water well permit 26571 MH is a monitoring hole permitted in 1995. The notification for this well
was for a second monitoring/observation well drilled since the first hole was drilled to 333 feet in
depth, was dry, and was plugged and abandoned per state rules (see 25935 MH) to the Division
of Water Resources.
A water well was drilled in the NW % NW % of Section 19 in April 1998, and was advanced to
400 feet bgs. Lithologies consisted of sandstone, shale, mudstone to the total depth.
Groundwater was reportedly encountered at 285 feet to 292 feet bgs with a yield of 1/2 gpm, and
at 360 feet to 367 feet with a yield of 1 to 11/2 gpm.
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Garfield County, Colorado
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February 2015
3.0 NATURAL AND GEOLOGIC HAZARD ASSESSMENT
The following sections present the assessment of geologic hazards in the vicinity of the Site.
The T-1 Topographic Map shows the location of the Site in relation to the affected parcel and
local roads.
3.1 Utilities
Trenches for water pipelines, natural gas pipelines, and electrical lines are not expected to be
associated with the proposed development of the Site. The slopes and rocky soil may pose
technical challenges to the installation of utilities; however, it is expected that these limitations
can be overcome with proper design and installation if utilities are installed.
Aboveground utility facilities located in Hazard Areas are to be protected by barriers or diversion
techniques approved by a qualified professional engineer. The determination to locate utility
facilities aboveground will be based upon the recommendation and requirements of the utility
service provider and approved by the County. Aboveground utilities, such as transformers and
electrical lines, are not expected to be affected by geologic or other natural hazards.
3.2 Avalanche Hazard Area
Winters are cold in the mountainous areas of Garfield County, and valleys are colder than the
lower parts of adjacent mountains due to cold air drainage. Average seasonal snowfall in
Garfield County is 50 inches. The greatest snow depth at any one time during the period of
record from 1951 to 1974 was 29 inches recorded at Rifle, Colorado approximately 5 miles to
the northwest of the proposed Site.
Avalanches are not expected to affect the proposed Site, since it is located at an elevation of
approximately 5,689 feet amsl. Areas in eastern Garfield County are at higher elevations,
receive more snow pack, and are, therefore, more prone to avalanches in certain years.
Avalanches are the most dangerous geologic hazard in Colorado resulting in injuries, loss of
life, and about $100,000 in direct property damage, and indirect economic losses in the millions
of dollars annually. However, the avalanche prone areas include the Park Range and Flat Tops
in northeastern Garfield County, Colorado, to the north of Glenwood Springs. Glenwood
Springs, near the east edge of the area, averages about one degree cooler than Rifle and
receives about five inches more precipitation per year (Harman and Murray, 1985).
3.3 Landslide Areas or Potential Landslide Hazard Areas
The Shire Member has been identified in areas of steeper slopes on the Rifle Quadrangle to the
west as being a potential landslide hazard, but these conditions are not present in the vicinity of
the Site. According to Map 24 — Surface Geology map, Geologic Hazards Identification Study
(Lincoln Devore, 1975-1976), there are landslide areas shown to the southwest of the town of
Rifle, but not in areas to the southeast of Rifle or County Road 333 (Garfield County, Surface
Geology, 2007).
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Garfield County, Colorado
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3.4 Rockfall Areas
The Site is located in an area with moderate to gentle slopes ranging from three percent to six
percent slopes. The underlying bedrock in the vicinity of the Site dips seven to ten degrees to
the west-northwest. Rock fall is not a potential geologic hazard in the vicinity of the Site.
Rockfall is a potential geologic hazard in areas along the West Mamm Creek and Mamm Creek
drainages to the west and north of the Site.
3.5 Alluvial Fan Hazard Areas
The Site is not located in an area that is mapped as being in an alluvial fan hazard area
according to the Garfield County Surficial Geology, 2007. The Site is located on loess deposits
and older alluvium mantling bedrock of the Wasatch Formation. There are alluvial fans to the
west on Grass Mesa.
3.6 Unstable or Potentially Unstable Slopes
According to the Garfield County Slope Hazard Study Areas 1, 2, & 3 Map 22, areas of
moderate slope are depicted south of the Colorado River and Interstate 70 near the town of
Rifle, Colorado, but have not been mapped as being areas of major slope hazard. The areas
along County Road 333 are not mapped as a slope hazard area in the vicinity of the Site.
Moderate slope hazard areas were identified along the West Mamm Creek and Mamm Creek
drainages.
3.7 Corrosive or Expansive Soils and Rock
According to the Soil Survey of the Rifle Area, the Potts Loam soils pose a high risk of corrosion
to uncoated steel, but a low risk of corrosion to concrete. The Potts Loam soils have a low to
moderate shrink -swell potential. These soil characteristics are not expected to pose a hazard to
the proposed Site development as a storage yard.
Some Tertiary and Cretaceous age sedimentary rocks with high clay content are capable of
accepting water into their chemical structure and expanding many times their volume when dry.
These sedimentary rocks and soils formed from these rock types, may expand or contract as
they become wet and then dry out resulting in damage to structures built upon them.
3.8 Mudflow and Debris Fan Areas
The Site is not located in an area of mapped mud flow and debris fan areas. Mudflows and
debris flows have been mapped on the Rifle Quadrangle and Rulison Quadrangle further to the
west of the Site.
3.9 Development Over Faults and Risk of Seismic Activity
There are no major faults shown in the immediate area of the Site; however, the Site is located
to the northwest of the Divide Creek anticline which trends to the northwest. The Divide Creek
anticline and Wolf Creek anticline are the surface expression of compressional forces
associated with movement along a blind thrust fault that occurred during the uplift of the
Colorado Rocky Mountains.
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Garfield County, Colorado
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Today, Colorado is considered a region of minor earthquake activity; however, there is
uncertainty due to the relatively short historic record. According to the USGS Colorado
Earthquake History online, newspaper accounts were the primary source of earthquake data in
Colorado prior to 1962. Few earthquakes have been reported in this part of Colorado. A very
minor earthquake occurred in the northwestern part of Colorado on November 22, 1982 at 3:09
a.m. MST. The magnitude 2.9 (Richter scale) earthquake was located about 18 miles northeast
of the town of Rifle and was felt at a fish hatchery in the area.
The largest quake in the area occurred on April 22, 1984 and had a magnitude of 3.1 on the
Richter scale. The quake was felt in Carbondale and in Glenwood Springs. Of the hundreds of
quakes that occurred in the Carbondale area during that time period, 12 were reported as felt.
3.10 Flood Prone Areas
The facility is not shown within the FEMA 100 year flood hazard zone based on the Flood Plain
Map in the Vicinity of the Town of Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado, or a Firmette Map generated
from the FEMA data along the Colorado River. The Site is located approximately two miles
south of the Colorado River. The Colorado River lies at an elevation of approximately 5,368 feet
amsl, and the Site is located at an elevation of approximately 5,689 feet amsl.
Areas along the West Fork of Mamm Creek are potentially prone to flash floods; however, the
creek is located at an elevation of 5,589 feet, or 100 feet below the Site. The flood plain along
the Colorado River is shown in relation to the Site on the attached F-1 Flood Plain Location
Map.
3.11 Collapsible Soils
According to the Soil Hazard Profile, Study Areas 1, 2, & 3, Garfield County, prepared by
Lincoln-Devore Testing Laboratory in 1975-1976, the area southeast of Rifle was not identified
as a soil hazard area.
Collapsible soils are another type of subsidence that occurs in parts of western Colorado where
unconsolidated sediments are present. This ground settlement can damage man-made
structures such as foundations, pavements, concrete slabs, utilities, and irrigation works.
Collapsible soils have not been mapped in the area and are not expected to be encountered in
the vicinity of the Site.
3.12 Mining Activity
There is no mining activity in the immediate area of the Site. There are sand and gravel
operations located along the Colorado River, and there are natural gas exploration and
production facilities in the area of the Site.
3.13 Radioactivity
Naturally occurring radioactive materials are not expected to be an issue at the Site. 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
Geologic Hazard Report
Encana K19NE Storage Yard
Garfield County, Colorado
8
Olsson Associates
Golden, Colorado
February 2015
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.
Olsson reviewed the Colorado Bulletin 40, Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado which
states that nearly all of Garfield County's uranium production came before 1954, and most of
that came from the Rifle and Garfield mines. Both of these mines were located along the same
ore body northeast of the town of Rifle in Section 34 and Section 35, Township 4 South, Range
92 West, or approximately 10 miles to the north of the Site (Fischer, 1960).
These occurrences were all hosted in the Jurassic Morrison and Entrada Formations, and the
Triassic-Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, or the Triassic Chinle Formation which are known to
contain uranium and vanadium deposits in the county and in the Colorado Plateau in general
(Nelson-Moore, Collins, and Hornbaker, 1978). These formations lie at great depth in the vicinity
of the Site and are stratigraphically below the depth of the Wasatch Formation.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has posted a statewide
radon potential map on their website based on data collected by the EPA and the U.S.
Geological Survey. Garfield County and most of Colorado has been mapped as being within
Zone 1 — High Radon Potential, or having a high probability that indoor radon concentrations will
exceed the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
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.
Geologic Hazard Report
Encana K19NE Storage Yard
Garfield County, Colorado
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Olsson Associates
Golden, Colorado
February 2015
4.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The following conclusions and recommendations were made following a review of the available
site data for natural and geologic hazards in the vicinity of Site located in Garfield County,
Colorado.
• The Site 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 of landslides or potential landslides.
• 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 surface runoff is slow and the soil erosion hazard for the Potts Loam is moderate.
• The Site is not located in an area of mapped mud flow or debris fan areas.
• 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 Site.
• The shrink -swell potential for the Potts Loam is low to moderate. Therefore, expansive
soils are not a geologic hazard at the Site.
• Collapsible soils are not present in the vicinity of the proposed Site.
• No significant faults have been mapped or are known in the Site. 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. However, these mines were developed in
Jurassic age geologic formations that lie at great depth stratigraphically below the
Wasatch Formation. 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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Encana K19NE Storage Yard
Garfield County, Colorado
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Olsson Associates
Golden, Colorado
February 2015
5.0 REFERENCES
• Donnell, J.R., 1969, Paleocene and lower Ecoene Units in the Southern Part of the
Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, 21 p.
• Fischer, R.P., 1960, Vanadium -Uranium Deposits of the Rifle Creek Area, Garfield County,
Colorado, USGS Bulletin 1101, 52 p.
• Grout, M. A. and Verbeek, E.R., 1992, USGS Bulletin 1787-Z, Fracture History of the Divide
Creek and Wolf Creek Anticlines and Its Relation to Laramide Basin -Margin Tectonism,
Southern Piceance Basin, Northwestern Colorado, 32 p.
• Harman, J.B. and Murray, D. J., 1985, Soil Survey of Rifle Area, Colorado, Parts of Garfield
and Mesa Counties, Colorado: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service,
in cooperation with the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, 149 p. two plates, and 20
map sheets.
• Nelson -Moore, J.L., Bishop Collins, D., Hornbaker, A.L., 2005, Colorado Geologic Survey,
Bulletin 40, Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado, pp 154-158 (CD)
• Robson, S.G. and Banta, E.R., 1995, USGS Hydrologic Investigations Atlas 730-C,
Groundwater Atlas of the United States, Segment 2, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah,
32 p.
• Shroba R.R., and Scott, R.B., 2001, Geologic Map of the Silt Quadrangle, Garfield County,
Colorado, scale 1:24,000, USGS Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF -2331 Version 1.0,
pamphlet accompanies map
• Topper, R., Spray, K. L., Bellis, W.H., Hamilton, J.L., Barkman, P.E., Ground Water Atlas of
Colorado, Colorado Geologic Survey, 2003, Special Publication 53, 210 p.
• Tweto, 0., Moench, R.H., Reed, J.C., Jr., 1978, Geologic Map of the Leadville 1° x 2°
Quadrangle, Northwestern Colorado, USGS 1-999
Online References
• Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission http://cogcc.state.co.us/
• Natural Resources Conservation Service - Soil Survey http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
Slope Hazards: http://garfield-county.com/geographic-information-
systems/documents/6439291200422slopehaz.pdf
Tax Assessor parcel information http://garfieldco.mygisonline.com
Soil Hazards: http://garfield-county.com/geographic-information-
systems/documents/64335291200423soilhaz.pdf
Surficial Geology of Garfield County: http://garfield-county.com/geographic-information-
systems/documents/geologic-hazards/24surfgeo.pdf
• Colorado Geological Survey: http://geosurvey.state.co.us/hazards
• Colorado Geological Survey: http://geosurvey.state.us/land/Pages/Professional Geologist
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: http://co-
radon.info/CO radon map.html
Geologic Hazard Report
Encana K19NE Storage Yard
Garfield County, Colorado
11
Olsson Associates
Golden, Colorado
February 2015
FIGURES
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC
PARCEL NO. 217919300128
K1 9NE STORAGE YARD
SITE LOCATION
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
Wasatch Surveying Associates
906 Main Street Evanston, Wyoming 82930
Phone No. (307) 789-4545 Fax (307) 789-5722
v
0
N
Scale in Feet
K19NE Storage Yard Vicinity Map
SECTION 19, T6S, R92W, 6th, P.M.
GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
VICINITY MAP
PROJECT No. 14-04-12
DATE: 8/22/2014
SCALE: 1:48,000
Subject Parcel 0 K19NE Storage Yard
Parcels
3 Mile Buffer
Perennial Stream
PROJECT NO: 014-2797
DRAWN BY:
DATE:
JWH
11/25/2014
VICINITY MAP
K19NE STORAGE YARD
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
0.‘ OLSSON ®
ASSOCIATES
760 HORIZON DR.,
SUITE 102
GRAND JUNCTION,
CO 81506
TEL 970.263.7800
FAX 970.263.7456
FIGURE
V-1
O K19NE Storage Yard
n K19NE Storage Yard Boundary
Subject Parcel
W Y E
PROJECT NO: 014-2797
DRAWN BY: JWH
DATE: 11/25/2014
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
K19NE STORAGE YARD
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
0/St' OLSSON
ASSOCIATES
760 HORIZON DR.,
SUITE 102
GRAND JUNCTION,
CO 81506
TEL 970.263.7800
FAX 970.263.7456
FIGURE
T- 1
Qa Modern alluvium
,Qg Gravels and
alluviums (Pinedale
and Bull Lake age)4
INS
Qg Gravels and
alluviums (Pinedale
and Bull Lake age)
Two Wasatch Formation
(including Fort
II
of Union equivalent
at base) and Ohio
Creek Formation
Qg Gravels and -
alluviums (Pinedale
and Bull Lake age)
0 K19NE Storage Yard
Subject Parcel
T1 K19NE Storage Yard Boundary Perennial Stream
W Y E
s
PROJECT NO: 014-2797
DRAWN BY: JWH
DATE: 11/25/2014
GEOLOGY MAP
K19NE STORAGE YARD
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
O.‘ OLSSON
ASSOCIATES
760 HORIZON DR.,
SUITE 102
GRAND JUNCTION,
CO 81506
TEL 970.263.7800
FAX 970.263.7456
FIGURE
G-1
0 K19NE Storage Yard
Subject Parcel
n K19NE Storage Yard Boundary Perennial Stream
S
E
PROJECT NO: 014-2797
DRAWN BY: JWH
DATE: 11/25/2014
SOILS MAP
K19NE STORAGE YARD
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
O.‘ OLSSON
ASSOCIATES
760 HORIZON DR.,
SUITE 102
GRAND JUNCTION,
CO 81506
TEL 970.263.7800
FAX 970.263.7456
FIGURE
S-1
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03
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26
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Subject
30
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PROJECT NO: 014-2797
FLOODPLAIN MAP
K19NE STORAGE YARD
ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
760 HORIZON DR.,
0.‘ OLSSON GRAND JUNCT® NDUN02
R ION,
CO 81506
ASSOCIATES TEL 9702637800
FAX 970263.7456
FIGURE
DRAWN BY: JWH
F-1
DATE: 11/25/2014