Last Update: October 2024

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review and monitoring of Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)'s Ventura Compressor Station Modernization Project (the Proposed Project). The CPUC is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Proposed Project and is therefore responsible for evaluating the Proposed Project’s potential environmental impacts.

CPUC Review Process

Following receipt of a complete application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), the CPUC conducts two parallel processes when considering development proposed by a regulated utility: an application process, in which the CPUC reviews the utility’s proposal and considers whether the project is needed and is in the public interest; and an environmental review process pursuant to CEQA. The CPCN application process focuses on utility ratepayer and public benefit issues and is undertaken by the CPUC’s Administrative Law Judges Division. The CEQA process for utility applications is led by the CPUC’s Energy Division. The CPUC will use the CEQA document in conjunction with other information prepared for the CPUC’s formal record to act on SoCalGas’s application.

Click here for more information about the CPUC’s decision and review process for natural gas infrastructure.

Click here for information and documents associated with the CPUC’s Proceeding for the project.

Project Overview

The Proposed Project would modernize the Ventura Compressor Station, located at 1555 North Olive Street in the City of Ventura. The scope of the Proposed Project includes:

(1) replacing three existing 1,100 horsepower (HP) natural-gas-driven compressors (natural gas compressors) with two new 1,900 HP natural gas compressors, equipped with state-of-the art emission control technology to meet Best Available Control Technology (BACT) standards, and two new 2,500 nominal HP (estimated horsepower), electric-motor-driven compressors (electric compressors), with zero nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, resulting in a “hybrid” compressor station;

(2) erecting a new 10,458-square-foot compressor building;

(3) erecting a new 4,641-square-foot permanent office building;

(4) erecting a new 5,459-square-foot warehouse;

(5) installing a new 8-foot-tall perimeter block wall to replace the existing west and south chain-link fence/block wall; and

(6) implementing other ancillary site improvements, such as piping interconnection and storage tanks.

The existing compressor equipment and temporary office facilities would be decommissioned approximately one year after the new facility has become fully operational.

Proponent's Environmental Assessment

A Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA) was submitted by SoCalGas concurrently with the application (A.23-08-019), dated August 24, 2023.

CPUC Staff Review of PEA

CPUC General Order (GO) 177 for Gas Infrastructure requires the CPUC Energy Division CEQA Unit Staff to determine if the PEA meets the requirements of GO 177, which are defined in the CPUC’s 2019 Guidelines for Energy Project Applications Requiring CEQA Compliance: Pre-filing and Proponent’s Environmental Assessments, including a PEA Checklist. CEQA Unit Staff and contractor, Aspen Environmental Group reviewed the PEA and identified deficiencies in two reports. If necessary, the CPUC will issue additional data requests and post them here.

The CPUC Energy Division CEQA staff found the PEA to be complete on October 30, 2024.