PACIFIC PIPELINE PROJECT MITIGATION MONITORING,

COMPLIANCE, AND REPORTING PROGRAM

 

DECEMBER 1998 - MONTHLY REPORT

 

The following constitutes the December 1998 Monthly Report for the Pacific Pipeline Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Program (MMCRP). It should be noted that since the start of construction, daily and weekly reports summarizing monitoring activities have been posted on the project web site.

CONSTRUCTION MONITORING

Segment 1 Construction: Segment 1 runs from the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley at Emidio, through the Tejon Pass, to the northern boundary of the ANF in Los Angeles County. Construction of Segment 1 commenced on November 5, 1997. Primary activities during the month of December are presented in Table 1. Table 2 presents the non-compliance events that occurred on Segment 1 during December.

During December, work was conducted at the following bore sites: Highway 166 (EMP 1.18), Stream Crossing #4 (EMP 9.03), Tecuya Creek/Interstate 5 (I-5) bore (EMP 9.84) California Aqueduct (EMP 12.22), Stream Crossing #9 (EMP 15.35), I-5 truck ramp (16.49), and Cuddy Creek Tributary (EMP 25.47). Progress was slow during the first half of the month due to rain. Cleaning pigs were run and the pipeline was hydrotested between Emidio Pump Station (EMP 0.00) and the north side of the California Aqueduct (EMP 12.20). Due to numerous non-compliances during December (see Table 2), the California Public Utilities Commission notified PPSI on December 30, 1998, that the Commission expected PPSI to be in full compliance with the established project mitigation measures by 5:00 p.m. PST on January 3, 1999.

At Emidio Pump Station (EMP 0.00), office equipment was installed, pump equipment was calibrated, and commissioning of the station commenced during December. Electrical work was completed at the Grapevine Station (EMP 15.57) and commissioning commenced.

Table 1. Construction Activities for Segment 1¹

Table 2. Non-Compliance Events for Segment 1¹

Mitigation Measure/PC	Description/ Non-Compliance Level	First Observed	Corrected	Status
A-2.1 - Confine construction vehicles/ equipment to the ROW.	Vehicles parked off ROW - Level 3	12/10/98	12/11/98	Acceptable
A-2.1 - Confine construction vehicles/ equipment to the ROW and B-W-3.1 - conditions for construction in San Joaquin Kit Fox Habitat.	Use of unauthorized access road in San Joaquin Kit Fox habitat - Level 3	12/28/98	12/30/98	Acceptable
B-AQ-3.1 - Maintain erosion control devices.	Silt fence not maintained - Level 2	12/29/89	12/31/98	Acceptable
B-AQ-3.1 - Install erosion control devices at Tributary to Cuddy Creek.	No erosion control devices and spoil entering Tributary to Cuddy Creek - Level 2	½/99	1/4/99	Acceptable

1. Non-compliance reports issued from November 30 through January 3.

Segment 2A/C (ANF) Construction: Construction within the ANF (Segment 2A) began on June 27, 1997 and was completed to Templin Highway on November 9, 1997, with the exception of some erosion repair, revegetation, valve, and conduit requirements. This follow-up work commenced in June 1998 and was completed on October 15, 1998. Construction of Segment 2C, Templin Highway to Castaic (several miles south of the southern ANF boundary) commenced on June 22, 1998; portions of Segment 2C also traverse private lands. With the exception of revegetation, Segment 2C was completed, including the Whitaker Pressure Relief Station, during the third week of November 1998; revegetation was completed on December 23, 1998.

Segment 2B (Non-ANF) Construction: Segment 2B runs from Castaic to Sylmar, paralleling I-5. Construction of Segment 2B commenced on November 6, 1997. Primary activities during the month of December are presented in Table 3. No non-compliance events occurred on Segment 2B during December.

During December, the majority of Segment 2B construction was completed, with the exception of limited clean-up and conduit laying for the tie-in of the Santa Susanna vault. The directional drill for fiber optic conduit under Santa Clara River was completed. Damaged pipe at Sagecrest Circle was replaced.

Table 3. Construction Activities for Segment 2B¹

Segment 3 Construction: Segment 3 runs from Sylmar to Dodger Stadium, primarily within MTA right-of-way. Construction within the City of San Fernando, between Wolfskill and Jessie Streets (approximately 190 feet), began on September 30, 1997, and was completed on October 7, 1997. Construction of the remaining portions of Segment 3 commenced on October 28. 1997. On February 5, 1998, a mini-crew began work on Segment 3 in the vicinity of Los Feliz (referred to as "Los Feliz" crew). This crew worked primarily at the StorItAll facility and the Glendale Boulevard bore which were completed during April 1998. In April 1998, Segment 3 construction was divided into two spreads (Segment 3A which runs from San Fernando to south of Taylor Yard, and Segment 3B which runs from Taylor Yard to Alameda Street). A Segment 3C crew (San Fernando north to Sylmar) was added the second week of September 1998. Segment 3B was completed the first week of November, with the exception of hydrotesting which was completed in December. Table 4 presents the non-compliance events that occurred on Segment 3 during December.

Segment 3A - During December, the final Segment 3A bore was completed (Tuxford Street - EMP 83.21). The tie-in at Pacoima Wash was also completed. General clean-up along the right-of-way was conducted.

Segment 3B - Segment 3B was hydrotested during December.

Segment 3C - During December, work at the California High Speed Aqueduct Channel continued. Backfill at Hubbard Street and fiber optic cable installation were also conducted. Work was slowed during the second week of December due to work stoppage because of high winds. The hydrotest at Balboa Boulevard was completed. General clean-up along the right-of-way was conducted.

Table 4. Non-Compliance Events for Segment 3B¹

Segment 4 Construction: Segment 4 was constructed by two separate crews. Construction of Segment 4A, from downtown Los Angeles to Watts Junction, began on October 20, 1997, and was conducted from 7:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Monday night through Friday night, to minimize traffic impacts. A Segment 4A-day crew was added the end of June through August, 1998. Segment 4A was completed on October 31, 1998. Segment 4B construction (daytime), from Watts Junction to the Chevron El Segundo Refinery, commenced on October 23, 1997 and was completed on November 23, 1998 with the exception of station work (Lynwood and El Segundo Stations). No non-compliance events occurred on Segment 4 during December.

Work continued at Lynwood Station (ESMP 0.00) and El Segundo Station (ESMP 10.78) through December including electrical work, concrete pouring, and pipe fitting. Construction of a block wall around the Lynwood Station was also conducted during December. At El Segundo Station, the hydrotest was completed and commissioning of the station began.

Segment 5 Construction: This segment involved three phases of construction: 1) Construction of Segment 5A (Dominguez Channel to Sepulveda Blvd. - MP 116.21 to 116.75) has been completed, 2) construction of Segment 5B (along Alameda Street south of Sepulveda Blvd. and south along Henry Ford to Anaheim Street - MP 116.75 to 118.83) was completed during September 1997, and 3) construction of Segment 5C (remainder of Segment 5 - MP 107.95 to 116.21) commenced on August 29, 1997 and was completed on December 11,1998 with the exception of the Wilmington Station, and Edison Pipeline Terminal Company and Huntway Refinery tie-ins (in accordance with approved Variance Requests #101 and 109, respectively). During December, the metering turbines at the Wilmington Station were removed after it was discovered that they had rusted. Electrical work, tie-ins, and fiber optic cable installation were also conducted at the station. Potholing and excavation of the bore pit for tie-in to Edison also commenced during December. No non-compliance events occurred on Segment 5C during December.

VARIANCES

During December, the following variances were approved:

Table 5. Variance Approvals/Denials

CONSTRUCTION YARDS/STAGING AREAS

During December, no construction yards/staging areas were approved:

PPSI’s general plans and reports have been submitted and approved by the CPUC and ANF. Outstanding plan issues relate only to proposed revisions to approved plans (submitted by PPSI as variance requests, documented above) or updated plans.

With pipeline operations projected by PPSI to start January/February 1999, numerous submittals for pre-operation compliance mitigation measures were reviewed during December, including the following:

• Mitigation Measure SS-6.3: Valve inspection program.

• Mitigation Measure SS-7: Internal corrosion procedure.

• Mitigation Measure S-13: Preparation of an Oil Spill Contingency Plan.

• Mitigation Measures SS-18/40/51: Preparation of a Hazard and Operability Study, including SCADA system and Off-Site Consequence Analysis

• Mitigation Measure SS-20: Regional response capabilities.

• Mitigation Measures SS-33: Station inspection/maintenance procedures.

• Mitigation Measure SS-45: Cathodic protection.

• Mitigation Measure ML-4: Landscaping plans.

Compliance with the following pre-operation measures was approved by CPUC in December:

• Mitigation Measures SS-13/ML-7: Storage locations for oil spill response equipment.

• Mitigation Measure SS-20b*/SS-55**: Contract with clean-up cooperative.

• Mitigation Measure SS-21: Fire fighting equipment at pump stations.

Decisions by the Lead Agencies as to the adequacy of each pre-operation compliance submittal will be required prior to the commencement of pipeline operations.

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

Table 6 presents the current construction schedule for Pacific Pipeline.

Table 6. Construction Segment Schedule

1. Estimated construction schedule per PPSI, October 26, 1998.

2. Initial construction completed from June 27 through November 9, 1997.

3. Templin Highway to ANF southern boundary.

4. Construction has not been completed as planned.

PUBLIC ACCESS PROGRAM

• Due to the lack of public interest in visiting the MMCRP Walk-In Sites (that was in operation from July 1997 through February 1998), our Student Interns no longer staff the Valley Family Center site in San Fernando, and the Parents of Watts site in Watts on a scheduled basis. However, project documents and PPSI computers remain at the sites for public use, and MMCRP Student Interns available on an as-needed basis (i.e., by appointment). The project information hotline and project newsletter, provide information on how to make an appointment for the Walk-In Sites

• During December, no members of the public made appointments to visit the MMCRP Walk-In sites in San Fernando and Watts.

• The hotline message and project web site continue to be updated as the project progresses. During December, no messages were left on the hotline, and the web site received 37 hits.

Environmental Justice: As of December, PPSI is in compliance with all construction-related aspects of the mitigation measures applicable to minority populations and low-income populations. These measures include: ML-1 (Community Outreach and Communications Program), ML-2 (Community Partnership Program), ML-3 (Local Community and MBE Hiring Program), and ML-6 (implementation of the BIMP).

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