PACIFIC PIPELINE PROJECT MITIGATION MONITORING,
COMPLIANCE, AND REPORTING PROGRAM
MARCH 1998 - MONTHLY REPORT

 

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

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 March are presented in Table 1. No non-compliance events occurred on Segment 1 during March.

During March, the bore at Gorman Creek (MP 32.40) was completed. During the first two weeks of March traffic control was monitored daily by a Los Angeles County inspector. On March 6, the main strand of the San Andreas fault zone was trenched. Aspen’s technical expert for geology was on-site to document crossing. The directional drill of Gorman Slide commenced in March. Leakages of drilling mud through the substrate to the surface (frac-outs), occurred and were contained. Biological clearance surveys were performed in the San Joaquin Valley (EMP 5.0 to 14.0) and on the Tejon Ranch (EMP 16.55 to 19.83) in accordance with Mitigation Measure B-W-1. Stream crossing #22 was completed. Rain limited construction activities on March 25, 26, and 27.

Table 1. Construction Activities for Segment 11

Activity

Milepost (approximate)

Pot-hole

21.45 (no progress)

Trench

24.89 to 27.09

Bending

24.94 to 27.15

Lower-In

24.94 to 27.09

NDT (x-ray)

24.98 to 26.41

Coating

24.98 to 27.15

Conduit

25.00 to 26.63

Backfill

25.00 to 26.63

Directional Drill (Gorman Slide)

25.94

Bore (Gorman Creek) - Completed

32.40

Bore (Copco Road) - Completed

32.71

Valve Site (Copco Road) - Completed

32.81

1. Construction progress from March 2 through March 29.

 

Segment 2A (ANF) Construction: Construction within the ANF began on June 27, 1997 and was completed to Templin Highway on November 9, with the exception of some revegetation requirements. Implementation of ANF approved, repair activities was not conducted by PPSI during March due to excessive rainfall and access constraints. As requested by the ANF, on March 5 PPSI provided an explanation on the use of the unapproved fiber optic conduit that was installed on ANF lands. Remaining construction within the ANF, from the Templin Highway to the southern ANF boundary is scheduled to commence on May 11, 1998.

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

During March, traffic control was monitored daily by a Los Angeles County inspector. A one-day restriction-of-construction-hours test was enacted by the Los Angeles County inspector to determine if restricted times eased traffic congestion in the construction area. On March 7, a small PVC gas line was broken during trenching. The line was mis-marked and repairs were made immediately. The 8-hour hydrotest of the Santa Clara River pipe section was successfully completed during the first week of March. On March 10, a slurry truck sub-contracted to the contractor hit a utility pole when leaving the job site. All necessary notifications were made and no service was lost to customers. The valve at Santa Clara River (EMP 63.15) was installed during the third week of March. Rain limited construction activities on March 13 and 25.

Table 2. Construction Activities for Segment 2B1

Activity

Milepost (approximate)

Pot-hole

59.14 to 63.33

Trench

59.14 to 63.10

Lower-In

59.30 to 62.66

Conduit

59.31 to 62.35

Coating

59.33 to 62.55

Backfill

59.31 to 62.35

Paving

59.41 to 62.28

Directional Drill (Castaic Creek)

Completed

61.12

Valve (Santa Clara River) - Completed

63.15

Directional Drill (Santa Clara River) Completed

64.02

1. Construction progress from March 2 to March 29.

Segment 3 Construction: Segment 3 runs from Sylmar to Dodger Stadium. Construction within the City of San Fernando, between Wolfskill and Jessie Streets (approximately 190 feet), began on September 30 and was completed on October 7. Construction of the remaining portions of Segment 3 (referred to as Segment 3B) commenced on October 28. On February 5, a mini-crew began work on Segment 3 in the vicinity of Los Feliz (referred to as Segment 3C). Primary activities during the month of March are presented in Table 3. Table 4 presents the non-compliance events that occurred on Segment 3 during March.

Segment 3B (north) - During March, bores were completed at Arvilla Avenue and Buena Vista Avenue. The directional drill at the Burbank Crossing commenced the first week of March, but the drilling equipment broke down on March 14. As a result, the drill-pipe became stuck. Crews worked the third and fourth weeks of March to free the drill-pipe. After freeing the drill-pipe, on March 26, crews began working 24-hour days, Monday through Sunday, to complete the directional drill (Variance Request #58 was approved to allow this construction - see Table 7). On March 26, heavy rains washed out a trench wall, leading to the collapse of part of one of the north-bound lanes of San Fernando Road (EMP 86.43 to 86.59).

Segment 3C (Los Feliz) - During March, boring operations were completed at Casitas Street (this bore is for Glendale Boulevard). Mainline construction activities continued at the StorItAll facility (EMP 93.14 to 93.75).

Rain limited construction activities on both Segments 3B and 3C on March 25, 26, and 27.

Table 3. Construction Activities for Segment 31

Segment

Activity

Milepost (approximate)

Wolfskill to Jessie Streets Cased bore

78.52 (completed)

  Pipeline/conduit installation

78.37 to 78.57 (completed)

3B

(north)

Trench

85.00 to 86.91, 88.84 to 88.86

  Lowering-In

84.97 to 86.90

  NDT (x-ray)

84.91 to 86.87

  Coating

84.86 to 86.87

  Conduit

84.86 to 86.72

  Backfill

84.83 to 86.60

  Bore (Paxton Street) - Completed

79.11

  Bore (Pierce Avenue) - Completed

79.93

  Bore (Osborne Street) - Completed

80.74

  Bore (Branford Street) - Completed

81.29

  Valve - Completed

81.48

  Bore (Sheldon Street) - Completed

82.11

  Bore (Penrose Street) - Completed

83.48

  Bore (Sunland Avenue) - Completed

84.09

  Bore (Arvilla Avenue) - Completed

85.02

  Bore (Buena Vista Avenue) - Completed

86.43

  Directional Drill (Burbank Crossing)

86.91

3C

(Los Feliz)

Trench

93.35 to 93.78

  Lower-In

93.14 to 93.78

  NDT (x-ray)

93.14 to 93.78

  Coating

93.14 to 93.78

  Conduit

93.14 to 93.78

  Backfill

93.14 to 93.78

  Valves (StorItAll)

93.48

  Bore (Glendale Blvd.) - Completed

93.78

1. Construction progress from March 2 to March 29.

Table 4. Non-Compliance Events for Segment 31

Segment

Mitigation Measure/PC

Description/

Non-Compliance Level

First

Observed

Corrected

Status

3B

A.7.2 - Two minute idling restriction. Subcontractor let lowboy idle more than 20 minutes - Level 2

3/2/98

Yes

Acceptable

1. Non-compliance reports issued from March 2 to March 29.

Segment 4 Construction: Segment 4 is being constructed by two separate crews. Construction of Segment 4A, from downtown Los Angeles to Watts Junction, began on October 20 and is being conducted from 8:00 pm to 5:30 am, Monday night through Friday night, to minimize traffic impacts. Segment 4B construction (day time),

from Watts Junction to the Chevron El Segundo Refinery, commenced on October 23. Primary activities during the month of March are presented in Table 5. No non-compliance events occurred on Segment 4 during March.

Segment 4A - On March 4, a mismarked waterline was broken during excavation and repairs were promptly made. During the second and third weeks of March, repair of a broken and sand-clogged sewer line north of Fifth Street was completed. A Los Angeles City Inspector was on-site to monitor repair activities. On March 23, the business serviced by the repaired sewer line reported problems with their service. The contractor excavated the line and found another break. Repairs were made and service was restored. During March, the contractor began removing (rather than working around) unidentified lines. The contractor is notifying the City of Los Angeles when unidentified lines are encountered.

Segment 4B - On March 11, the boring subcontractor bored through a 14-inch marked waterline under Prairie Avenue. All appropriate notices were make and Hawthorne police rerouted traffic. Repairs were completed and Prairie Avenue was reopened to traffic about 3:30 a.m. on March 12. Directional drilling operation at Aviation Boulevard commenced on March 12. Approved open-cutting of Ramona Avenue (EMP 8.22) began during the third week of March (see Variance Request #45). On March 19, an unmarked sewer line was broken. All notifications were made and repairs were completed.

Rain limited construction activities on both Segments 4A and/or 4B on March 6, 9, 12, 13, 25, 26, and 27. On March 6, 26, and 27, Segment 4B bore pits were dewatered because of rain.

Table 5. Construction Activities for Segment 41

Segment

Activity

Milepost (approximate)

4A

Pot-hole

100.73 to 102.10

  Trench

100.45 to 101.03

  Lower-In

100.17 to 100.92

  NDT (x-ray)

100.50 to 100.78

  Coating

100.17 to 100.79

  Conduit

100.16 to 100.58

  Backfill

100.17 to 100.64

4B

Bore (Van Ness Avenue)

5.92

  Bore (Crenshaw Blvd.)

6.46

  Bore (Prairie Ave.)

7.45

  Bore (York Ave.) - backfilling

7.52

  Bore (Oxford Ave.) - backfilling

7.58

  Bore ( Menlo Ave.) - backfilling

7.64

  Bore (Freeman Ave.) - backfilling

7.70

  Bore (Cedar Ave.)

7.76

  Bore (Hawthorne Blvd.) - completed

7.97

  Bore (Grevillea Ave.)

8.09

  Bore (Inglewood Ave.)

8.46

  Bore (Eucalyptus Ave.)

8.84

  Bore (Aviation Blvd.) - unsuccessful

9.61

  Bore ( Douglas Blvd) - completed

9.84

  Directional Drill (Aviation Boulevard)

9.61

  Directional Drill (Douglas & Sepulveda) - Completed

10.60

1. Construction progress from March 2 to March 29.

Segment 5 Construction: This segment involved 3 phases of operation, construction of Segment 5A (Dominguez Channel to Sepulveda Blvd. - MP 116.21 to 116.75) was completed on July 18 with the exception of a section of suspended pipe at Dominguez Channel (approximately 300 feet) and where skips between segments remain. 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. Construction of Segment 5C (remainder of Segment 5 - MP 107.95 to 116.21) commenced on August 29. Primary activities during the month of March are presented in Table 6. No non-compliance events occurred on Segment 5 during March.

During March, construction activities continued within the Alameda Corridor. On March 4, repairs were made by the owner of a fiber optic line that was damaged on February 28; service was not interrupted. On March 11, a cracked conduit for a utility line was discovered. All appropriate notifications were made and it was determined that the damage was not project-related. Rain limited construction activities on March 13, 25, 26, and 27.

Table 6 Construction Activities for Segment 51

Segment

Activity

Milepost (approximate)

5A

Completed except where skips between segments remain

115.62 to 115.87

  Dominguez Channel crossing - completed

116.21

5B

Completed except where skips between segments remain

116.75 to 117.30

5C

Pot-hole

116.72 to 116.74

  Trench

115.68 to 115.92

  Lower-In

115.85 to 115.92

  NDT (x-ray)

115.62 to 115.92

  Coating

115.62 to 115.92

  Conduit

115.64 to 115.92

  Backfill

115.64 to 115.92

  Bore (Del Amo Blvd.) - Completed

113.98

  Bore (Dominguez St.) - Completed

114.50

  Valve - Completed

116.67

1. Construction progress from March 2 through March 29.

VARIANCES

During March, the following variances were approved/denied:

Table 7. Variance Approvals/Denials

Variance #

Description

Segment(s) Variance Applies

Agency Decision

42

Relocate Dominguez Channel block and check valves.

5

Approved

46

Allow for overnight storage of construction and excavated materials within the right-of-way behind residences, businesses, and schools.

4B

Approved

48

Pipeline routing change to accommodate the Alameda Corridor Project.

5

Approved

53

Pipeline routing change along Lebec Road near I-5 crossing to accommodate bore pits.

1

Approved

55

Pipeline routing change to accommodate UPRR rail bed changes required by the approved Alameda Corridor Project alignment and improve access to Tosco Refinery.

5

Approved

56

Refueling within 0.25 miles of Dominguez Channel.

4B

Approved

57

Sunday construction at Gorman Slide directional drill and 24-hour construction during pull back operation and emergencies (stuck drill).

1

Approved

58

24-hour construction, including Sunday construction, at the "Dog Pound" directional drill.

3

Approved

 

CONSTRUCTION YARDS/STAGING AREAS

During March, the following construction yards/staging areas were approved/denied:

Table 8. Construction Yard/Staging Area Approvals/Denials

Request #

Construction Yard/Staging Area

Applicable Segment(s)

Agency Decision

28 - Amendment

45-day time extension for use of directional drill work space, City of Burbank (see Variance Request #58).

3

Approved

29

Extra work space for spoils storage between Normandie Ave. & Brighton Ave., City of Gardenia.

4

Approved

30

Two extra work space areas for spoils storage within SCE right-of-way, City of Hawthorne and El Segundo.

4

Approved

 

Compliance Documentation: 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. The remaining compliance issues that must be documented prior to or during construction on each segment relate to: (1) obtaining permits or landowner agreements from local jurisdictions and landowners, (2) completion of Traffic Control Plans and their approval by local jurisdictions, and (3) completion of the landowner, resident, and business notification processes. Because the pre-construction notification process has been completed by PPSI for all segments, future compliance activity will be limited to the three activities noted, and will be managed in the field by the Environmental Monitors.

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

Table 9 presents the current construction schedule for Pacific Pipeline.

Table 9 . Construction Segment Schedule

Segment

Original Construction Schedule

Revised Construction Start Date

Estimated Construction Completion Date2

Segment 1

July 1, 1997

Under construction since November 5, 1997

August 18, 1998

Segment 2A

June 2, 1997

June 27, 1997

Construction completed to Templin Highway November 9, 1997

Segment 2B

Mid-August, 1997

Under construction since November 6, 1997

August 11, 1998

Segment 2C1

Originally scheduled for completion as part of Segment 2A

May 15, 19983

August 4, 1998

Segment 3

July 1, 1997

Under construction since September 30, 1997

June 17, 1998

Segment 4A1

July 1, 1997

Under construction since October 20, 1997

August 14, 1998

Segment 4A2

Originally scheduled for completion as part of Segment 4A1

April 1, 19982,4

July 17, 1998

Segment 4B

August 25, 1997

Under construction since October 23, 1997

June 15, 1998

Segment 5

July 1, 1997

Under construction since July 14, 1997

May 28, 1998

Emidio Pump Station

October 1997

May 11, 19983

July 29, 1998

Grapevine Pump Station  

March 26, 19982,4

July 29, 1998

Whitaker Pressure Relief Station  

May 11, 19982

August 10, 1998

Lynwood Station  

April 10, 19982,4

June 9, 1998

El Segundo  

April 27, 19982,4

July 27, 1998

Wilmington  

May 25, 19982

August 10, 1998

Ultramar  

June 9, 19982

August 14, 1998

1. Templin Highway to ANF southern boundary.

2. Estimated construction start date per PPSI, March 9, 1998.

3. Estimated construction start date per PPSI, April 28, 1998.

4. Construction has not commenced 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 March, 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 March, 1 message was left on the hotline, and the web site received 67 hits.

Environmental Justice: As of March, 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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