Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline Partners currently transports approximately 350,000 barrels per day of petroleum products to markets in the San Diego area, the Inland Empire (Riverside/San Bernardino), Las Vegas, Nevada (via the CalNev pipeline, owned and operated by CalNev Pipeline Co.), and the Phoenix, Arizona area (via the Phoenix-West Pipeline system, owned by SFPP). SFPP ships products on behalf of refiners in the Carson and Wilmington area of Los Angeles, which are gathered at the Watson Station from a variety of shippers. Due to expected increases in demand in the destination markets, SFPP proposes to increase its capacity to ship refined petroleum products by about 190,000 barrels per day by constructing the proposed project.
SFPP proposes to build and operate a new 16-inch petroleum products pipeline extending from SFPP’s existing Watson Station in Carson to the existing SFPP station at Norwalk, California (approximately 13 miles). The general location of the proposed pipeline route and the location of existing pump and terminal stations that require minor modifications are shown on Figure 2-1 (in the PEA). A detailed map showing the proposed and alternative pipeline routes between the Watson and Norwalk stations is shown on Figure 2-2 (in the PEA). At Norwalk, the new pipeline will connect to an existing under-utilized 16-inch pipeline to allow increased shipments of products to SFPP’s Colton terminal. At Colton, the product will be separated and used for local and non-local markets, including out-of-state markets. The new pipeline will transport unleaded gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel. The throughput of the new line will average 190,000 barrels per day; the products shipped will consist of 56% gasoline, 19% jet fuel and 25% diesel. The maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) will be 1,440 psi. Product temperature will be approximately 72 F (ambient).
Destinations. When the expected increases in demand occur for the destination markets to the point where the new pipeline is operating at full capacity (190,000 BPD), petroleum products from the pipeline are expected to be delivered to the following destinations:
• Las Vegas, Nevada via CalNev pipeline: increased from about 100,000 BPD currently to 152,000 BPD
• Phoenix, Arizona area via Phoenix-West Pipeline: increased from 128,000 BPD currently to 200,000 BPD
• Inland Empire retail markets via tank trucks: increased from about 87,000 BPD to 133,000 BPD.
The proposed project includes an expansion of SFPP’s existing pipeline system between the Watson Station in Carson and Colton Station in Rialto, California. The expansion will result in an increase in throughput from 350,000 BPD to 520,000 BPD between Carson and Colton. This expansion includes construction and operation of approximately 13 miles of 16-inch diameter steel pipeline. The proposed pipeline will supplement SFPP’s existing 20/24-inch and its existing 16-inch pipeline that also connect these two stations. The pipeline route traverses an urban area where land uses include industrial facilities, commercial development, and both multi- and single-family residential.
The proposed pipeline route travels east from SFPP’s Watson Station in Carson through parts of the cities of Carson, Long Beach, Bellflower, Cerritos and Norwalk, as well as some Los Angeles County land. The pipeline route traverses an urban area where land uses include industrial facilities, commercial development, and both multi- and single-family residential. It would be in portions of the streets and jurisdictions shown in Table 1 below.
The exact location of the pipeline in streets may change as a result of research into other underground structures and pipelines. If substructure research shows that the north side of 166th Street cannot accommodate another pipeline, portions of the pipeline could be moved to the south side of 166th Street, which is in the City of Artesia.
Table 1 Pipeline Route
| Jurisdiction | Streets Proposed to be Used |
| City of Carson | Del Amo Boulevard |
| Los Angeles County (Rancho Dominguez) | Rancho Way, Laurel Park Road, East Victoria Street |
| City of Long Beach | De Forest Avenue, South Street, Paramount Boulevard, Artesia Boulevard |
| City of Bellflower | Artesia Boulevard |
| City of Cerritos | Artesia Boulevard, Studebaker Road |
| City of Norwalk | 166th Street (if north of centerline), Norwalk Boulevard. |
| City of Artesia | 166th Street (if south of centerline) |
Three waterways will be crossed by this proposed pipeline project: the Los Angeles River, Compton Creek, and San Gabriel River. Each of these waterways is a major improved storm water conveyance channel in the project area. The pipeline will be bored to cross beneath the Los Angeles River. Open cut construction will be used at the Compton Creek crossing, requiring a trench to be cut across Compton Creek from bank to bank. In order to cross the San Gabriel River, the pipeline will be placed on an existing bridge or bored beneath the channel (depending on engineering factors such as the capacity of the bridge and the space available for boring equipment).
Mainline block valves will be installed on each side of Compton Creek, Los Angeles River, and San Gabriel River. These valves will provide an additional safety feature to the system by allowing the flow of product to be stopped on either side of these waterways in the event of an emergency.
8.3 Proposed Facility Modifications
SFPP plans to modify several existing facilities as a part of the proposed expansion project. All terminal-related modifications will occur within the boundaries and easements of the existing facilities. Following are the facilities that will be modified, and a brief description of the proposed changes.
• Watson Station (in Carson): This station is where the pipeline will start. It will be modified by adding new electric pumps (two 2,000 hp and one 900 hp) and new metering equipment within the existing station boundaries. In addition, vapor recovery systems will be added to 3 existing tanks; one tank will be converted from diesel to multi-product use; and a new scraper-launching facility will be installed.
• Norwalk Station (in Norwalk): Piping modifications will be made to connect the new pipeline to SFPP’s existing 16-inch pipeline to Colton.
• Industry Station (City of Industry): New electric pumps (two 1,750 hp) will be added at SFPP’s Industry Station to boost the pressure in the existing pipeline, allowing shipment of higher volumes of products.
• Colton Station (in Colton, San Bernardino County): Piping modifications will occur at this station.
These modifications would require special construction crews of approximately 10 to 20 workers over a two- to nine-month construction period.