U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Angeles National Forest
701 N. Santa Anita Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91006-2725
(818) 574-1613
FAX (818) 574-5233 - TTY (818) 574-5209

File Code: 2720 Pacific Pipeline

Second Amended Variance Request No. 9

Date: August 22, 1997

Dean Shauers, Project Manager
Pacific Pipeline System, Inc.
12201 E. Arapahoe Road, C10
Englewood, CO 80112

Via FAX 303-792-0227

Dear Mr. Shauers:

This letter will approve second amended Variance Request No. 9 from Kenneth J. Lord, dated August 20, 1997, regarding the modification of the ANF Transportation Management Plan to allow for additional construction vehicles to travel on the Old Ridge Route. Don Caswell's August 21, 1997 letter to Rich Borden and Charles Lambert's August 21, 1997 letter to Don Caswell are incorporated as part of the above variance request. Because the Old Ridge Route is on the National Register of Historic Places, this variance has been discussed with Hans Kreutzgerg, SHPO, and Mike McIntyre, ANF who verbally concurred. In addition Martha Sullivan, CPUC was notified.

This approval is subject to the following conditions:

All previously damaged portions of the Old Ridge Route between Old Ridge Route mileposts 14.4 and 11.6 shall be steel plated. ANF approval of subject plating shall be required prior to commencement of construction vehicle travel on the Old Ridge Route as specified in second amended Variance Request #9. Steel plated areas on the Old Ridge Route shall be padded with dirt or plated with rubberized steel plates to reduce impact to the Old Ridge Route from plating.

PPSI and ANF personnel shall determine the areas requiring plates in the 2.8-mile section.

The historic vehicle tracks I the original concrete between Old Ridge Route mileposts 14.4 and 11.60 shall be protected with steel plates. All steel plates shall be padded or bedded with sand or screened dirt. Plates and sand shall be brought in via 8N01/8N05 and installed from north to south. After all of the equipment move arounds are completed, the sand shall be removed in such a manner as to assure that there is no damage to the Old Ridge Route.

Asphalt transitions shall be placed from the steel plates to the road surface. All traces of asphalt shall be removed following the completion of equipment movement in such a manner as to assure that there is no damage to the Old Ridge Route. A plan for asphalt removal shall be submitted to the ANF for review and approval, prior to the commencement of asphalt removal activities.

The tracked equipment shall be moved on 7-axle lowboy rigs with tire pressures reduced as identified in the Old Ridge Route Management Plan, Attachment A-2 (Reduced Inflation Pressure Limits), in accordance with manufacturers recommendations for low speed operations, or tire sizes will be changed to sizes compatible with such guideline (approximate per-axle-load of 14,000 pounds for the 7-axle lowboy). If additional axles will further reduce the weight impacts and the lowboys can negotiate the turns, they shall be used.

Speed limits for the 7-axle (and/or 9-axle, if used) lowboys shall be set at 10 mph for the movement of equipment along the Old Ridge Route. Empty lowboys can travel at 15 mph maximum.

PPSI monitors shall accompany lowboy movements to assure compliance with the mitigation restrictions and to stop equipment transport if any damage to the Old Ridge Route becomes visible. In addition, ANF personnel and/or ANF/CPUC Environmental Monitors shall accompany lowboy movements on a random basis.

The 2.8-mile segment of the Old Ridge Route used shall be videotaped in its entirety immediately before and after equipment transfers are completed. The tape and a written assessment of any impact shall be provided to ANF.

PPSI shall provide to ANF a $15,000 budget to be used at ANF’s discretion for repairs or restoration of the Old Ridge Route. This work shall be performed according to ANF’s direction.

PPSI shall donate a traffic counter to ANF for the purposes of monitoring PPSI construction activities and to aid in future management decisions of the Old Ridge Route.

Shauna L. Batista for

MIKE WICKMAN
District Ranger
 
cc: M. Sullivan, 415-703-1184
H. Rastegar, 818-597-8001
R. Borden, 818-574-5233
H. Sarkissian, 818-556-2749
K. Lord 714-540-4881

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