The Pacific Pipeline Project Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Program Quarterly Newsletter - No.1 May 1997

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this newsletter is to inform communities affected by the Pacific Pipeline construction about the status of the implementation of adopted mitigation measures and the progress of the project. While not yet built, the Pacific Pipeline Project consists of the construction and operation of a 132-mile crude oil pipeline from southern Kern County to Los Angeles area refineries in El Segundo, Carson, and Wilmington. After the completion of a comprehensive environmental document (FEIS/SEIR), the project was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as the State Lead Agency on April 10, 1996. The project was also approved by the U.S. Forest Service, Angeles National Forest (ANF) as the Federal Lead Agency in a Record of Decision dated March 7, 1996. After a series of court challenges and negotiations with affected cities, pipeline construction is planned to start in June of 1997.

Commonly Used Acronyms/Abbreviations

ANF - The U.S. Forest Service, Angeles National Forest

Aspen - Aspen Environmental Group

CPUC - California Public Utilities Commission

FEIR - Final Environmental Impact Report

FEIS/SEIR - Final Environmental Impact Statement/

Subsequent Environmental Impact Report

MMCRP - Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and

Reporting Program

PPSI - Pacific Pipeline System, Inc.

WHAT IS THE MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM?

Through a competitive process, the Lead Agencies (CPUC and ANF) selected Aspen Environmental Group (Aspen) to implement a Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Program (MMCRP) for Pacific Pipeline construction. The purpose of this Monitoring Program is to ensure that Pacific Pipeline System, Inc. (PPSI), the pipeline owner, complies with the mitigation measures that were adopted by the CPUC and ANF as part of project approval. These measures were adopted to reduce the potential impacts of the project.

Most of the mitigation measures that will be implemented by PPSI and monitored through the Monitoring Program were developed in the Pacific Pipeline Project environmental documents, the 1993 FEIR and the 1996 FEIS/SEIR. In addition, measures which were proposed by PPSI and assumed to be part of the project will also be monitored. The mitigation measures were adopted by the CPUC and ANF in conjunction with their project approvals. Aspen has developed a plan to conduct this Monitoring Program. This plan, referred to as the Implementation Plan, includes all of the mitigation measures, applicant-proposed measures, and detailed monitoring criteria to be used by Aspen's field monitors. The Implementation Plan also includes a list of permits issued by local jurisdictions. PPSI has already received some of the permits required for pipeline construction from various affected government agencies, and other agencies are in the process of reviewing PPSI's permit applications. The Implementation Plan can be reviewed at the project information centers or on our MMCRP Web Site (see following).

MONITORING PROGRAM STATUS

In order for Pacific Pipeline construction to start, PPSI must comply with all of the project's pre-construction requirements. This includes plans for hydrology, geotechnical, erosion control, and fire protection, and implementation of a Community Outreach and Communications Program to inform the public about project construction.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Pacific Pipeline construction will take place in five different segments. These are from (north to south):

Emidio (southern Kern County) to the northern boundary of Angeles National Forest

Northern boundary of Angeles National Forest to Sylmar

Sylmar to downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles to Watts Junction, including the El Segundo Branch which extends to the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo

Watts Junction to Wilmington.

There will be some overlapping construction occurring at all five segments. Construction of the pipeline in the Angeles National Forest is scheduled to start on June 2, 1997. Construction of the remaining four segments would commence in early July. The location of construction segments are shown on the map insert in this newsletter.

PUBLIC ACCESS PROGRAM

The CPUC and ANF have developed a Public Access Program for the Monitoring Program to provide easy public access to project and construction progress information, and to the status of monitoring activities. The Public Access Program features a number of public outreach methods, including The Monitor quarterly newsletter, a Hotline, an Internet Web Site, and Walk-In Sites where you can obtain information about CPUC and ANF monitoring activities.

TELEPHONE INFORMATION HOTLINE

A 24-hour multi-lingual Monitoring Program telephone hotline provides information on construction progress and ways to obtain project information. You can call 1-888-776-8444 toll free from the Kern and Los Angeles County areas.

INTERNET WEB SITE

A n Internet Web Site for the Monitoring Program provides project information. You can access the Web Site at http://www.AspenEG.com/PP-MMCRP/ on a 24-hour basis. The following information can be found on the Web Site:

A description of the Pacific Pipeline Project and the Monitoring Program

Construction status and progress including daily, weekly, and previous reports from field monitors

The roles of the CPUC, ANF (the State and Federal Lead Agencies), and PPSI (the Pipeline Owner)

Project documents such as back issues and current issue of summarized versions of the FEIR and FEIS/SEIR The Monitor, the Implementation Plan, and

Links to the CPUC Web Site and PPSI's Web Site.

Hotline: (888) 776-8444 (toll free)

WALK-IN SITES

Walk-in sites have been set up by the CPUC and ANF at two easily accessible locations along the pipeline route where you can view project information, access the Web Site, and/or ask questions regarding the project or construction activities. Monitoring Program staff will be available to answer questions about construction monitoring beginning on June 2. These sites are located at:

Each Walk-In Site has:

A telephone for access to the Information Hotline

A computer for access to the user-friendly Web Site and other Web Sites

Project documents.

PROJECT DOCUMENTS

Libraries located near construction locations have been established as information centers where you can review project-related documents such as the 1993 and 1996 environmental documents (FEIR and FEIS/SEIR), the CPUC's certification decision and decision on re-hearing, the ANF's Record of Decision, a copy of the Implementation Plan, and The Monitor. These libraries also have access to the Internet, where the public can use computers to access the Web Site. Project documents will become available for review on June 2, 1997. The locations and hours of libraries along the pipeline route are listed below.