PACIFIC PIPELINE PROJECT MITIGATION MONITORING,

COMPLIANCE, AND REPORTING PROGRAM

 

OCTOBER 1998 - MONTHLY REPORT

The following constitutes the October 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 site 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 October are presented in Table 1. Table 2 presents the non-compliance events that occurred on Segment 1 during October.

During October, the pipe was successfully pulled through the horizontal directional drill at Cuddy Creek (EMP 25.15 to 25.52) and the fiber optic drill was also completed. Work was conducted at the following bores: Aqueduct Access Road B (EMP 6.00), Stream Crossing #4 (EMP 9.03), Tecuya Creek/Interstate 5 (I-5) (EMP 9.88), the Wheeler Ridge Road (EMP 10.63), California Aqueduct (EMP 12.22), Grapevine/I-5 bore (EMP 14.62), and the SCE tower (EMP 20.22) in the Tejon wetland. In addition, work was conducted at the California Aqueduct block valve (EMP 12.02). A sizing pig was run from EMP 25.48 to 33.34 during the last week of October in preparation of hydrotesting.

At Emidio Pump Station (EMP 0.00), framing for the interior walls of the office and installation of the heating/cooling system were conducted, while electrical and pipe fitting work in the station continued throughout the month. At Grapevine Pump Station (EMP 15.57), foundation and electrical work were conducted, and the retaining wall and framework for pipe and pump supports were completed.

Table 1. Construction Activities for Segment 1¹

1. Construction progress from September 28 through November 1.

Table 2. Non-Compliance Events for Segment 1¹

1. Non-compliance reports issued from September 28 through November 1.

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, with the exception of some erosion repair, revegetation, valve, and conduit requirements. This follow-up work commenced in June 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. Construction of both Segment 2A and 2C (ANF portions) was required by the ANF to be completed by October 3, 1998. Primary activities during the month of October are presented in Table 3. No non-compliance events occurred on Segments 2A or 2C during October.

Table 3. Construction Activities for Segment 2A/C¹

1. Construction progress from September 28 through November 1.

Segment 2A - During October, supplemental construction activities were completed on Segment 2A such as road repairs, revegetation, completion of valve installations, installation of fiber optic cable, and hydro testing.

Segment 2C - The majority of Segment 2C work on ANF lands was completed by the October 3, 1998 deadline. The pipe from Templin Highway to Whitaker Station and from Whitaker Station to the ANF southern boundary was successfully tested with no anomalies recorded. The Whitaker Station was also essentially completed, with minor electrical work remaining.

During October, crews also worked on non-ANF portions of Segment 2C near Stream Crossing #46 (EMP 52.77 to 53.30), west of the I-5 bore (EMP 53.48), from EMP 54.09 to 54.79, and at the detour around an SCE tower (EMP 55.46 to 56.06).

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 October are presented in Table 4. Table 5 presents the non-compliance events that occurred on Segment 2B during October.

During October, pipeline installation at Sunshine Canyon Road was slow due to contaminated soils and water that were encountered. Contaminated water was pumped into a storage tank for transfer and disposal at an approved disposal site. Contaminated soils were stored in lined roll-away bins, also for disposal at an approved disposal site. By the end of the month, contaminated soil and water were no longer being encountered during trenching and the fabricated pipe was installed and tie-in was completed. Segment 2B crews also repaired road subsidence at Constitution Avenue. Fiber optic cable was installed at the Newhall Ranch and Farming property north of McBean Parkway.

Table 4. Construction Activities for Segment 2B¹

1. Construction progress from September 28 through November 1.

Table 5. Non-Compliance Events for Segment 2B¹

1. Non-compliance reports issued from September 28 through November 1.

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. Primary activities during the month of October are presented in Table 6. Table 7 presents the non-compliance events that occurred on Segment 3 during October.

Table 6. Construction Activities for Segment 3¹

1. Construction progress from September 28 through November 1.

Table 7. Non-Compliance Events for Segment 3¹

1. Non-compliance reports issued from September 28 through November 1.

Segment 3A - During October, Segment 3A mainline construction was completed with the exception of a few skipped areas (such as engineered crossings as bridges and washes). Installation of pipe at the Colorado Street overcrossing was completed, and backfill and slurry was completed at the Los Feliz overcrossing. Segment 3A crews also completed construction of the concrete enclosure at the Fletcher Street overpass. A crew at Verdugo Wash excavated and bored the upper concrete channel in preparation for installing the bridge crossing. Night crews began installing pipe hangers at the San Fernando Road bridge crossing and began preparation of the excavation for the Hollywood Way Bridge crossing.

Segment 3B - During October, pipe installation on the Downey Street Bridge over the Los Angeles River was completed. Excavation for tie-in between Segment 3 and Segment 4 occurred at the south end of Cornfield Yard. A utility vault was also installed in Midway Yard. Crews did not work on site on October 26, 27, and 28.

Segment 3C - During October, pipe north of Hubbard Street (EMP 76.96 to 77.04) was excavated and pipe with the correct wall thickness was installed. The roadway open-cuts were completed at Bledsoe Street (EMP 75.96) and Polk Street (EMP 76.51), in accordance with approved Variance Requests #71 and 72, respectively. Crews also built and began installing forms for the concrete enclosure over the California Aqueduct (EMP 74.00).

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, 1997, and is being 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 4B construction (daytime), from Watts Junction to the Chevron El Segundo Refinery, commenced on October 23, 1997. Primary activities during the month of October are presented in Table 8. Table 9 presents the non-compliance events that occurred on Segment 4 during October.

Table 8. Construction Activities for Segment 4¹

1. Construction progress from September 28 through November 1.

Table 9. Non-Compliance Events for Segment 4¹

1. Non-compliance reports issued from September 28 through November 1.

Segment 4A (nights) - During October, mainline construction of Segment 4A was completed, including clean up, and the pipeline was hydrotested (Lynwood to Cornfield Yard) on October 31, 1998.

Segment 4B - During October, crews continued to install fiber optic cable and backfill bore pits. Tie-ins were also conducted at the Central Avenue vault site and Crenshaw. General construction activities were conducted at the Lynwood and El Segundo Stations, including compaction, pipe fabrication, form building, trenching for footings, and tie-ins with mainline construction. At the El Segundo Station, crew began boring operations.

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 in September 1998 with the exception of the directional drill of Auto Drive South/Highway 91, which commenced in October. During October, crews at Wilmington Station finished excavating the bore pit and began preparing the casing pipe. No non-compliance events occurred on Segment 5C during October.

VARIANCES

During October, the following variances were approved/denied:

Table 10. Variance Approvals/Denials

CONSTRUCTION YARDS/STAGING AREAS

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

Table 11. Construction Yard/Staging Area Approvals/Denials

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.

With pipeline operations projected by PPSI to start by years end, numerous submittals for pre-operation compliance mitigation measures are currently under review, including the following:

• Mitigation Measure SS-9: Internal corrosion procedure.

• Mitigation Measure SS-9: Establishment of a cooperative organization of pipeline operators to facilitate oil spill response.

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

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

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

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

• Mitigation Measure SS-22: Preparation of a Fire Protection Plan for pipeline operations.

• Mitigation Measure SS-32: Aerial and on-ground pipeline leak and hazard detection.

• Mitigation Measure SS-45: Cathodic protection.

• Mitigation Measure A-19: Reduction of fugitive losses from flanges, valves, and seals.

• Mitigation Measure ML-4: Landscaping plans.

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 12 presents the current construction schedule for Pacific Pipeline.

Table 12. 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.

5. USFS, ANF, required completion of construction within the ANF by October 3, 1998.

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 October, 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 October, no messages were left on the hotline, and the web site received 164 hits.

Environmental Justice: As of October, 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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