4.10 LAND USE ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

Transcription

1 4.10 LAND USE ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The proposed Project consists of construction and operation of two 8-inch crude oil pipelines (within one trench) and equipment for storage and pumping from the Cantin Tank Battery in the Cat Canyon oil field. Crude oil would be transported in the pipeline from the Cantin Tank Battery approximately half a mile northwest of the town of Sisquoc and seven miles east of the City of Santa Maria, to the Phillips 66 Sisquoc Pipeline north of Santa Maria Mesa Road near the town of Garey (see Figure ). The proposed pipeline would cross four roads and five ephemeral drainages that are tributary to the Sisquoc River. The pipeline route travels through rural areas including the town of Garey which, according to the 2010 Census, had a population of 68 people. The pipeline is approximately 700 feet from the nearest school property (Benjamin Foxen Elementary School at 4949 Foxen Canyon Road) while the Cantin Tank Battery is approximately 2,900 feet from the school. The pipeline route also travels through low-density residential areas along Foxen Canyon Road, Stewart Street and Andrew Avenue. The proposed pipeline route would run approximately 1.9 miles north along Foxen Canyon Road (along the eastern shoulder), 732 feet along Stewart Street, 365 feet along Andrew Avenue, and across Santa Maria Mesa Road for a total distance of approximately 2.9 miles (see Figures to at the end of this EIR Section). Approximately 70% of the pipeline route would be located within public rights-of-way (ROW). The remainder of the route would traverse private land which is currently used for row crops, cattle grazing, and oil production. Surrounding land uses include agricultural, commercial, and residential uses. The Project would be located on or near parcels zoned AG-I-10, AG-II-100, 7-R-1, CN, or M-1 with land use designations of Agriculture I, Agriculture II, Residential, Neighborhood Commercial, and Light Industry, respectively. The County s land use designations and zoning for affected properties are summarized by Assessor parcel number (APN) in Table Expansion of the Cantin Tank Battery would occur entirely within APN on a previously disturbed pad at an existing tank battery. Equipment for the Phillips 66 Sisquoc Pipeline tie-in would be constructed on APN and would occupy approximately 2,600 square feet of land currently in agricultural production. A portion of the buried pipeline would traverse APN to the connection to the Phillips 66 pipeline. Regional access to the Cantin Tank Battery is provided by Foxen Canyon Road. Local access to portions of the proposed pipelines which are not located in the public road right-of-way would be provided by existing interior oil field/farm roads. The Project is proposed to be located along existing or historic road routes where feasible in order to minimize the need for new grading and disturbance of native habitats

2 Table : Land Use Designations and Zoning of Pipeline Route Parcels Assessor s Parcel Number Land Use Designation Zone District AC (Commercial Agriculture) AG-II A-I-10 (Agriculture) AG-I AC AG-II Res-4.6 (Residential) 7-R Res R Res R Res R Neighborhood Commercial CN Res R AC A-II A-I-10 AG-I A-II-100 AG-II A-I-10 AG-I Light Industry M Res-4.6 AG-I A-II-100 AG-II A-II-100 AG-II A-II-100 AG-II AC AG-II AC AG-II LAND USE REGULATORY SETTING Local Regulations Santa Barbara County Comprehensive Plan Santa Barbara County's Comprehensive Plan consists of the following elements: Circulation Element: Identifies the general location and extent of existing and proposed major roads, transit routes, terminals, and public utilities and facilities. Conservation Element: Addresses the conservation, development, and use of natural resources including water, forests, soils, rivers, and mineral deposits. Land Use Element: Lays out the general patterns of development throughout the County, including the distribution of real estate, open space and agricultural land, mineral resources, recreational facilities, schools, and waste facilities. This is one of the broadest elements of the Comprehensive Plan, and includes the following four fundamental goals: Environment: Environmental policies on development shall be respected. Economic and population growth shall proceed at a rate that can be sustained by available resources

3 SISQUOC Figure : Proposed Foxen Petroleum Pipeline Route

4 Urbanization: In order for the County to sustain a healthy economy in the urbanized areas and to allow for growth within its resources and within its ability to pay for necessary services, the County shall encourage infill, prevent scattered urban development, and encourage a balance between housing and jobs. Agriculture: In the rural areas, cultivated agriculture shall be preserved and, where conditions allow, expansion and intensification should be supported. Lands with both prime and non-prime soils shall be reserved for agricultural uses. Open Lands: Certain areas may be unsuited for agricultural uses due to poor or unstable soil conditions, steep slopes, flooding or lack of adequate water. These open lands have importance as grazing, watershed, wildlife habitat, mineral resources, recreation, and scenic qualities. These lands are usually located so that they are not necessary or desirable for urban uses. There is no basis for the proposition that all land, no matter where situated or whatever the need, must be planned for urban purposes if they cannot be put to some other profitable economic use. Noise Element: Identifies and appraises noise problems within the community and influences the distribution of land uses. Open Space Element: Details plans and measures for preserving open space for natural resources, outdoor recreation, public health and safety, and agriculture. Seismic Safety & Safety Element: Establishes policies to protect the community from natural and manmade hazards (e.g. seismic, geologic, flood, wildfire, and toxic materials hazards). Safety Supplement: Amends the Seismic Safety & Safety Element and addresses facilities that handle acutely hazardous materials and are fixed in location to a single site; and gas pipelines which are considered to be fixed in location to a corridor. Agricultural Element: Addresses the future use of agricultural lands and resources, and includes goals and policies applicable to projects that affect agricultural resources. Energy Element: Contains long-range planning guidelines and strategies to encourage energy efficiency and alternative energy sources in Santa Barbara County. Environmental Resource Management Element: Summarizes the various environmental factors analyzed in the Seismic Safety and Safety, Conservation, and Open Space Elements, and identifies policies which define whether development is appropriate given the severity of constraints. Hazardous Waste Element: Includes goals, policies and siting criteria that must be evaluated for proposed hazardous waste facilities. Scenic Highways Element: Presents the County's scenic highway goals, evaluation standards, preservation measures and procedures for obtaining official "Scenic Highway" designation for state and county roads. Land Use and Development Code The Santa Barbara County Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) constitutes a portion of Chapter 35 of the Santa Barbara County Code. The LUDC carries out the policies of the Santa

5 Barbara County Comprehensive Plan and Local Coastal Program by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within the County, consistent with these plans. The LUDC is adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of residents and businesses in the County (Section Purpose of LUDC). Oil development projects are permitted uses in the AG-I and AG-II zone districts (LUDC Section , Agricultural, Mining, Energy Facilities) subject to the requirements of the LUDC (Chapter 35 of the County Code). Petroleum Ordinance (County Code Chapter 25) The purpose of the County Petroleum Ordinance is, among other things, to protect the health, safety, public welfare, physical environment and natural resources of the County through regulation of onshore petroleum facilities and operations. The purpose of permit review under the Petroleum Ordinance is to ensure that the operation complies with adopted codes, regulations and standards, including but not limited to the California Building Code, Electric Code, and Fire Code; the ASME Pressure Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code; the National Board Inspection Code; the American Petroleum Institute (API) standards; and other applicable California codes, statutes and regulations. Petroleum pipelines and associated equipment are subject to the requirements of the Petroleum Ordinance COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLDS The County Thresholds and Guidelines Manual contains no specific thresholds for land use. Generally, a potentially significant impact can occur if a project as proposed is potentially inconsistent with policies and standards adopted by an agency for the purposes of environmental protection or would result in substantial growth inducing effects. In addition, the County Environmental Thresholds and Guidelines Manual includes Quality of Life Guidelines. These Guidelines offer five examples of quality of life issues, of which two could potentially be applicable to this project, as follows: Nuisance noise levels (not exceeding noise thresholds); Increased traffic in quiet neighborhoods (not exceeding traffic thresholds); The Guidelines stipulate that if a substantial physical impact to the quality of the human environment is demonstrated, the impact on quality of life shall be considered significant IMPACT ASSESSMENT The Project would not result in the development of structures and/or the introduction of land uses which are incompatible with the existing land use. The Project site is located primarily along public roadways and within a state-designated oilfield (Cat Canyon) which has been occupied with active or idle oil and gas facilities for over one hundred years. As a result, the proposed development of equipment which is associated with ongoing petroleum activities is consistent with the established land use patterns in the area. The Project does not include the development of any habitable structures or other activities that

6 would result in the induction of substantial growth or concentration of population. The Project does not include the construction of sewer trunk lines or access roads, the demolition, conversion, or removal of existing habitable structures, or displacement of any existing housing or habitable structures and thus would not result in the displacement any County residents. The Project site is not located within an adopted airport safety zone. Mitigation measures included in Section 4.1 (Aesthetics/Visual Resources) and 4.11 (Noise) would ensure that the project s temporary (during construction) and ongoing impacts to surrounding residences would be less than significant and compatible with existing land uses. Increased traffic in quiet neighborhoods. The Project would not conflict with applicable County plans, policies or regulations (see Section 8.0, Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies). Applicable County plans, policies, and ordinances relating to traffic do not include standards or restrictions on traffic on private roads. Potential project impacts on Transportation/Circulation for public roadways are analyzed in EIR Section Temporary construction traffic impacts are considered potentially significant, but will be rendered to less than significant by implementation of a required Traffic Control Plan (mitigation measure Trans- 1, EIR Section 4.14). This Plan would include requirements for maintenance of access to affected properties, traffic control when lanes are closed, closing/covering of the trench during non-work hours, advance notification to residents and businesses of the construction schedule, and repairs to the roadway if necessary after the pipeline is installed. Because of the temporary nature of the traffic-related impacts and with implementation of the Traffic Control Plan, the increased traffic associated with construction of the pipeline would not significantly degrade quality of life for area residents. Nuisance noise levels The County Comprehensive Plan Noise Element and County Environmental Thresholds and Guidelines Manual consider 65 dba (CNEL) to be the maximum day-night average exterior noise level to which residential and other sensitive uses should be exposed. Noise below this threshold may be considered significant if it results in a substantial physical impact to the quality of the human environment. Several residences in the town of Garey would be temporarily exposed to construction noise during the 90-day construction phase of the Project. The potential noise and vibration impacts are analyzed in EIR Section 4.11 (Noise). This analysis found that without mitigation, construction noise could exceed County thresholds. Mitigation measure Noise-2 describes the requirements of a Construction Noise Reduction Plan for the Project. These requirements include implementation of noise reduction practices and installation of noise barriers in to reduce construction levels at sensitive receptors. Because the noise generated by construction would be short-term, temporary and mitigated to less than significant levels, project-related noise will not constitute a substantial physical impact to the quality of the human environment CUMULATIVE IMPACTS The development and operation of the Project would be consistent with existing development in this region of the County, specifically, the Cat Canyon oilfield. The project site is located in the rural area and predominantly surrounded by agriculturally zoned parcels which are developed with agricultural uses including grazing land, row crops and oil production. A portion of the Project pipeline traverses residential and commercial areas in the town of North Garey, however temporary impacts during the 90-day construction period would be reduced to less than significant with

7 mitigation (see Section 4.11 Noise, Section 4.14 Transportation, and Section 4.13 Recreation). Section 3.0 (Cumulative Development) identifies currently proposed, pending, approved, under construction and built projects within Santa Maria Valley, Orcutt, and San Antonio Creek areas. Additionally, oil and gas projects within a five-mile radius of the project site are included in the cumulative projects table. The County reviews projects for consistency with zoning requirements that regulate permitted uses, development density, building heights, site and building design, transportation demand, and neighborhood compatibility, and imposes development standards and conditions as part of the project review and the approval process. In the agricultural zone districts, oil and gas development is considered a compatible use permissible with a Land Use Permit, Oil Development Production Plan, or Development Plan depending on certain criteria contained in LUDC Section Implementation of the proposed Project, with incorporation of identified mitigation measures, is not anticipated to result in a substantial change to the site s conformance with the County Comprehensive Plan, or with other environmentally protective County policies and standards. The proposed Project would not result in a cumulatively considerable adverse effect on land use in the area; thus cumulative land use impacts would be less than significant

8 Figure : Foxen Petroleum Pipeline Photo Points

9 Figure : Photo #1 looking west toward existing Cantin facilities Figure : Photo #1A looking west toward existing Cantin facilities

10 Figure Photo #2 looking east across Cantin lease along pipeline route Figure : Photo #3 looking east across Cantin lease along pipeline route

11 Figure : Photo #4 looking south along pipeline route on eastern border of Cantin lease Figure : Photo #5 looking east along pipeline route on upper GWP lease

12 Figure : Photo #6 looking northeast up pipeline route beside historic road Figure : Photo #7 looking northeast along pipeline route beside historic road and well pad

13 Figure : Photo #8 looking northeast along pipeline route beside historic road Figure : Photo #9 looking northeast along pipeline route beside historic road

14 Figure : Photo #10 looking north along pipeline route beside historic road Figure : Photo #11 looking north along pipeline route beside historic road

15 Figure : Photo # 12 looking northwest along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road Figure : Photo #13 looking southeast towards Cantin entrance along pipeline route

16 Figure : Photo #14 looking northwest along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road Figure : Photo # 15 looking northwest along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road

17 Figure : Photo #16 looking east along pipeline route beside Ruiz Adobe Figure : Photo #17 looking northwest along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road

18 Figure : Photo #18 looking southeast along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road Figure : Photo # 19 looking north along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road

19 Figure : Photo #20 looking south along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road Figure : Photo #21 looking north along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road

20 Figure : Photo #22 looking south along pipeline route beside Foxen Canyon Road Figure : Photo #23 Pipeline route beside Stewart Street looking east

21 Figure : Photo #24 looking west along pipeline route beside Stewart Street Figure : Photo #25 looking south along pipeline route beside Andrew Street

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