HomeMy WebLinkAbout20171623.tiffHEARING CERTIFICATION
DOCKET NO. 2017-40
RE: A SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW PERMIT,
USR17-0015, FOR A GREATER THAN 12 -INCH HIGH PRESSURE NATURAL GAS
PIPELINE APPROXIMATELY FOUR (4.1) MILES LONG, FOUR (4) TEMPORARY USE
AREAS USED FOR STORAGE AND STAGING OF BORING EQUIPMENT AND
NATURAL GAS PIPE, CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND LAYDOWN FOR NATURAL
GAS SEGMENTS, A REGULATOR STATION AND SEVEN (7) BUILDINGS TO HOUSE
COMPONENTS OF THE REGULATOR STATION IN THE A (AGRICULTURAL) ZONE
DISTRICT - PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO (PSCO), DBA XCEL
ENERGY
A public hearing was conducted on May 31, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., with the following present:
Commissioner Julie A. Cozad, Chair
Commissioner Steve Moreno, Pro -Tern
Commissioner Sean P. Conway
Commissioner Mike Freeman
Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer
Also present:
Acting Clerk to the Board, Tisa Juanicorena
Assistant County Attorney, Bob Choate
Planning Services Department representative, Kim Ogle
Public Works Department representative, Evan Pinkham
Planning Services Engineer representative, Hayley Balzano
Health Department representative, Lauren Light
The following business was transacted:
El I hereby certify that pursuant to a notice dated April 13, 2017, and duly published
April 19, 2017, in the Greeley Tribune, a public hearing was conducted to consider the request of
Public Service Company of Colorado, dba Xcel Energy, for a Site Specific Development Plan and
Use by Special Review Permit, USR17-0015, for a greater than 12 -inch high pressure natural gas
pipeline approximately four (4.1) miles long, four (4) Temporary Use Areas used for storage and
staging of boring equipment and natural gas pipe, construction equipment and laydown for natural
gas segments, a regulator station and four (4) buildings to house components of the regulator
station in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Bob Choate, Assistant County Attorney, made this a
matter of record.
ta Kim Ogle, Department of Planning Services, presented a brief summary of the proposal and
described the proposed route of the pipeline, approximate length, requirements regarding
easements and road crossings. He stated the pipeline is located within the three (3) mile referral
area of the City of Fort Lupton and he reviewed the comments of the referral response. Mr. Ogle
explained the pipeline route is constructed in a way to limit the environmental surface impact and
noted it does cross under the Tri-State Generation High Voltage Transmission Line permitted
under USR14-0067 and USR12-0033. He reviewed the agency referral responses and explained
the applicant's proposed mitigation to include a Gas Emergency Plan and a Community Meeting,
which was held January 26, 2017, in which eight (8) of the surrounding property owners (SPOs)
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attended to express concerns to include: alignment, easement, operating, timeline, ownership,
service area and maintenance. Mr. Ogle stated staff sent 18 referrals and received six (6)
responses. He reported no correspondence or phone calls were received regarding the proposal.
He displayed images of the site and surrounding views and entered the favorable
recommendation of the Planning Commission into the record as written. In response to
Commissioner Conway, Mr. Ogle clarified the applicant is in the process of acquiring permission
to cross relevant properties.
• Evan Pinkham, Public Works Department representative, provided a brief overview of the
transportation plans and requirements, stating an Access Permit, AP#17-00194, has been
approved which stipulates to utilize the existing accesses. He clarified an additional Access Permit
will need to be applied for, which will allow the pipeline to cross CRs 18 and 20, and a
Right -of -Way (ROW) Use Permit will also be needed for occupying, excavating or constructing in
a public right-of-way. Mr. Pinkham reviewed the average daily vehicle counts and truck
percentages and stated the Department of Public Works will determine the need for tracking
control at the time of the ROW Permit and an Improvements Agreement will not be required at
this time. In response to Chair Cozad, Mr. Pinkham stated the additional permits have not been
applied for due to the applicant's need to assess the exact location.
Hayley Balzano, Planning Services Engineer representative, presented the drainage and
grading requirements, stating the drainage narrative meets two (2) exceptions and she reviewed
the relevant Conditions of Approval and Development Standards specific to Engineering.
• Lauren Light, Department of Public Health and Environment, reviewed the water and sewer
provisions, stating portable toilets are acceptable to use along the construction route and the
applicant may need an Air Emissions Permit. Ms. Light stated Development Standards (DS) #4-10
address Environmental Health items.
• Randy Blank, applicant, stated he is with Xcel Energy, which is the holding company for the
Public Service Company of Colorado. He is an engineer and the Project Manager for this proposal
and he stated he has 31 years of experience with Xcel Energy and Public Service Company of
Colorado. Mr. Blank stated the purpose is to get another feed source into their gas transmission
system from the Anadarko Lancaster Plant. He produced a vicinity map to display the entire
4.1 -mile route of the proposed pipeline and stated this feed source from Anadarko will provide a
more reinforced gas system to the entire northern front range which includes many towns in Weld
County. He also described the proposed regulator station to assist with pressure variances and
up to seven (7) small buildings to house components of the regulator station, gas quality
monitoring equipment, in -line inspection tool launcher, a metering station and pipeline equipment.
Mr. Blank reviewed the pipeline safety design that meets and exceeds federal and state
regulations to include third party inspections, corrosion prevention system, hydrostatic pressure
testing, and internal inspections to mitigate alternating current by eliminating induced current from
nearby Tri-State and Xcel Energy electric lines due to parallel construction. He further reviewed
the abandonment process, continuous remote monitoring 24/7 and on -site inspections processes.
Mr. Blank reviewed the route selection based on the environment, public input, economics, land
use, engineering needs, and distance to residential buildings. He stated they hope to begin
construction Fall of 2017, with reclamation in 2018. He reported providing outreach to 51 property
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owners, having a community meeting January 26, 2017, with eight (8) property owners in
attendance. He further provided contact information for the team to include phone numbers,
website, email and customer care line. In response to Commissioner Conway, Mr. Blank reported
all the easements are in hand, other than Kerr-McGee/Anadarko, due to modifications.
el No public testimony was offered concerning this matter.
• In response to Commissioner Conway, Mr. Blank stated this would be another feed source
from another location and will not need additional upgrades in the future.
• In response to Commissioner Moreno, Mr. Blank reviewed the safety inspection processes
and the timeline for inspections.
el In response to Commissioner Kirkmeyer, Mr. Blank stated there were eight (8) land owners
who attended the community meeting. He estimated the percentage of gas service to Weld
County and explained they have transmission lines all over the state, some of which have been
in operation for decades. He clarified information regarding number of buildings, proposed
lighting, noise limitation and boring under County Roads.
• In response to Chair Cozad, Mr. Blank confirmed the monitoring is constant by use of a
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. He mentioned the alarm system that
is triggered by metrics that indicate a problem and the ability to shut valves. He further stated they
will be meeting with the Fire District.
• In response to Commissioner Kirkmeyer, Mr. Ogle clarified the noise standard for the
Kerr-McGee Facility. Ms. Light stated the noise limitation for the Industrial Zone District as
provided by the Colorado Revised Statutes.
Commissioner Kirkmeyer suggested a new Development Standard stipulating all road
crossings would be bored. She further suggested identifying the Fort Lupton Fire District on
Condition of Approval (COA) #6.A and DS #3. Commissioner Kirkmeyer amended the number of
buildings to seven (7) per the applicant's presentation, and stated she would like to add a new
DS #12 to reflect the Industrial Zone District noise statute. The Board agreed to the changes.
• Mr. Choate stated a correction to the Code reference to be reflected throughout the Findings
of Criteria by the Board of County Commissioners and to change "regular" to "regulator"
throughout the document.
Chair Cozad reviewed the changes. Mr. Choate reminded the Board to include the
stipulation to bore under the roads, which the Board agreed to create a new DS #15 to state, "All
road crossings must be bored."
• In response to Chair Cozad, Mr. Blank indicated they have reviewed, and agree to abide
by, the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards, as amended.
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Commissioner Kirkmeyer moved to approve the request of Public Services Company of
Colorado, dba Xcel Energy, for a Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review
Permit, USR17-0015, fora greater than 12 -inch high pressure natural gas pipeline approximately
four (4.1) miles long, four (4) Temporary Use Areas used for storage and staging of boring
equipment and natural gas pipe, construction equipment and laydown for natural gas segments,
a regulator station and seven (7) buildings to house components of the regulator station in the
A (Agricultural) Zone District, based on the recommendations of Planning staff and the Planning
Commission, with the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards as amended and
entered into the record. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Conway, and it carried
unanimously. There being no further discussion, the hearing was completed at 11:16 a.m.
This Certification was approved on the 5th day of June, 2017.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COU,JVTY, COLO,PADO
ATTEST: ddrAtA) addel e4,
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY C� 6
y Clerk to the Board
APPROVED AS
County Attorney
Date of signature: -7/10 ((
2 r?
uu ie A. Cozad, Chair
Steve Moreno, Pro-Tem
Sean P. Conway
Mike Freeman
yer
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