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Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website
for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the
proposed construction of Lodi Gas Storage LLC's Kirby Hills Natural
Gas Storage Facility and proposed additional facilities. An application
for construction of the original project was submitted to the CPUC
on July 25, 2005 (Application A.05-07-018). The CPUC published
a final Mitigated Negative Declaration
(MND) in February 2006 and the project was approved on March 2,
2006. A subsequent application for the construction and operation
of additional facilities was submitted to the CPUC on May 8, 2007
(Application A.07-05-009). This site provides access to public documents
and information relevant to the CEQA environmental reviews conducted
for each project. Information regarding the original application
is provided below (identified as Phase I) followed by information
regarding the subsequent application (identified as Phase II).
Phase I
Project Documents Available
Background
Lodi Gas Storage LLC (LGS) is proposing to use a depleted natural
gas reservoir in the Kirby Hills gas field as a storage facility
for natural gas transported to the site by its customers. The total
storage capacity of the reservoir is approximately 7 billion cubic
feet (BCF) and the project will have a maximum injection and withdrawal
capability of 100 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/day) of natural
gas. Project operations would involve tapping into the PG&E
400 pipeline near mile 286.65, constructing facilities to convey
natural gas from the PG&E 400 pipeline approximately seven miles
to the Kirby Hills gas field, storing the gas in the existing natural
reservoir, withdrawing the stored gas on demand from LGS customers,
and conveying the withdrawn gas to the PG&E 400 pipeline for
delivery to those customers.
The proposed project is comprised the following six primary components
(see Project Facilities Map):
- Metering station
- Gas pipeline
- Compressor station
- Flow line
- Injection/withdrawal wells
- Temporary gas injection system
In accordance with Public Utilities Code Section 1001, LGS received
a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the
CPUC to construct and operate the project on March 2, 2006.
Project Location
The project site is located in a rural agricultural area in the
Montezuma Hills of southeastern Solano County, California, immediately
north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The site is approximately
six miles west of Rio Vista and eight miles southeast of Fairfield
(see Regional Location Map).
The proposed project contains two major component locations, connected
by an approximately six-mile east-west pipeline corridor (see Project
Location Map). The eastern project component is a natural gas
receiving/metering station site, located west of Bird's Landing
Road, one mile south of its intersection with State Route 12.
The western project component is the natural gas storage/withdrawal
site located in the Kirby Hills between Montezuma/Nurse Slough on
the west and Shiloh road on the east. The western portion of the
project area is also located within the Suisun Marsh Secondary Management
Area.
CPUC's Application Review
The CPUC is responsible for the review and approval of any natural
gas storage facility in California. In proposals such as this, the
CPUC has a two-part review process to evaluate economic and environmental
impacts. The CPUC conducts a legal proceeding before an administrative
law judge to examine the economic and public utility issues, including
impacts to utility ratepayers. At the same time, the CPUC conducts
an environmental review consistent with CEQA. The ultimate result
of the two reviews is a decision by the Commission whether to grant
a CPCN for the project.
Mitigated Negative Declaration
The CPUC published a final Mitigated Negative
Declaration (MND) in February 2006. The Draft MND underwent
a 30-day public comment period between January 17 and February 16,
2006.
CPUC Actions After Final MND Publication
The CPUC adopted the Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance
with CEQA and granted a Certification of Public Convenience and
Necessity (CPCN) on March 2, 2006.
The CPUC is now implementing the Mitigation Monitoring Plan as
presented in Section C of the MND. This plan ensures that the approved
project is constructed as defined, and that all adopted mitigation
measures and Applicant Proposed Measures are implemented in order
that effects on the environment do not exceed those described in
the MND. Notices to Proceed have been issued by CPUC for construction
of the Kirby Hills Project. Project construction started on May 22,
2006, and is being monitored by a CPUC Environmental Monitor. Weekly
reports are being prepared that document construction and compliance
activities. Construction is scheduled to be completed in January
2007.
Further information about this document is available from CPUC
Project Manager Junaid Rahman at (415) 355-5492.
Phase II
Project Documents Available
Background
LGS is proposing to construct and operate Kirby Hills II in the
northern portion of the existing property. The underground storage
reservoir and proposed additional associated surface infrastructure
would be located primarily on the Kirby Property. The total storage
capacity of the reservoir is approximately 12 bcf and the project
would have a maximum injection and withdrawal capability of 350
MMcf per day of natural gas.
The surface infrastructure associated with Kirby Hills II would
consist of the following five components (see Project
Facilities map):
- Three new well pad sites containing 15 injection and withdrawal
wells
- Conversion of four abandoned wells to observation wells
- A 12-inch-diameter, approximately 3,700-foot pipeline (flow
line) connecting the wells to the existing compressor station
- A new compressor enclosure and additional dehydration equipment
at the existing compressor station site
- An expanded PG&E interconnection at the existing meter station.
Project Location
The project site is located in a rural agricultural area in the
Montezuma Hills of southeastern Solano County, California, immediately
north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The site is
approximately six miles west of Rio Vista and 16 miles southeast
of Fairfield (see Regional Location
Map).
The proposed project contains two major component locations, connected
by an existing approximately six-mile east-west pipeline corridor
(see Project Location Map).
The eastern project component is an expanded pipeline interconnection
at the existing natural gas receiving/metering station site, located
west of Bird's Landing Road, one mile south of its intersection
with State Route 12. The western project component is the natural
gas storage/withdrawal site located in the Kirby Hills between Montezuma/Nurse
Slough on the west and Shiloh Road on the east. The western portion
of the project area is also located within the Suisun Marsh Secondary
Management Area.
CPUC's Application Review
The CPUC is responsible for the review and approval of any natural
gas storage facility in California. In proposals such as this, the
CPUC has a two-part review process to evaluate economic and environmental
impacts. The CPUC conducts a legal proceeding before an administrative
law judge to examine the economic and public utility issues, including
impacts to utility ratepayers. At the same time, the CPUC conducts
an environmental review consistent with CEQA. The ultimate result
of the two reviews is a decision by the Commission whether to grant
a CPCN for the project.
Mitigated Negative Declaration
The CPUC published a Draft Subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration
(MND) in August 2007. The Draft MND is undergoing a 30-day public
comment period (beginning August 24, 2007 and ending September 24,
2007).
Public Comment
You may leave a message on the project voicemail line at (707)
402-6528, email us at kirbyhills@aspeneg.com,
or send written comments by U.S. mail to:
Junaid Rahman, Regulatory Analyst, CPUC
c/o Aspen Environmental Group
8801 Folsom Boulevard, Suite 290
Sacramento, CA 95826-3250
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