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PROPOSED OIL PROJECT ~~ PRESS ~~ TAKE ACTION ~~ CONTACT ~~ PROJECT BACKGROUND
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Proposed TAR Project Background
Brief Chronological history of Project:
Oil "Seep" Found to be Leaking Oil Well in Huasna Valley Huasna Residents concerned about potential groundwater pollution
Huasna Valley, CA — May 17, 2010. The Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) returned to the Huasna Valley today to begin cleanup of an oil seep from an oil well that had been plugged and abandoned in 1958, but has been leaking for years. This cleanup comes on the heels of DOGGR's three-month effort to plug and abandon six other old oil wells, which were deserted in 1985. The site of the deserted and leaking oil wells on the Mankins Ranch has hosted several failed attempts during the 1930's, 1960's and 1980's to extract thick, tar-like oil from the hills surrounding the Huasna Valley. The last operator deserted the site in 1985 without plugging the existing wells or cleaning up equipment, tanks, pipelines, and hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. The Mankins Ranch site is currently the target of yet another attempt to produce oil, this time by Excelaron, LLC, who is currently preparing an environmental Impact Report for their proposed project.
Huasna residents have expressed concern that documented rusted well casings, wells open to the atmosphere for 24 years, hydrocarbon contaminated soils, and a surface pool of oil and water from this leaking well and potentially others may have polluted the community's groundwater. "The Huasna aquifer is already fragile. The 400+ residents in the Huasna Area can't drink oil and we can't use polluted groundwater to irrigate our crops and earn our livelihood from agriculture," said Huasna farmer and HVA coordinator Ron Skinner. For more information contact: www.HuasnaValley.org or Ron Skinner, Coordinator (805) 473-3827. To download a LARGER copy of the above image - click here DOGGR: Pat Abel, DOGGR Santa Maria office (805) 937-7246 or Don Drysdale, Dept. of Conservation Public Affairs (916) 323-1886. (Well file #079-00675 has photos of the seep taken on 10/19/02). Oil Seep: http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/planning/environmental/EnvironmentalNotices/excelaron/09-24-09Submittal.htm (Especially file "Huasna Field ESA 9-23-09.pdf" which includes photos of the site). The county scoping meeting on January 14th and the public input meeting on March 29th were both important milestones for the community of Huasna Valley. About 90 concerned neighbors attended and many spoke at the meeting! Read what they said by clicking on the subject below.
March 29th Public Input Meeting Site Clean-up ---- Liquefaction ---- Noise ---- Portable Toilet Produced Water Disposal ---- Field Development ---- Field Development Slide Water Import ---- Water Monitoring ---- Cannon Report ---- EIR Studies ---- AG Preserve Huasna Grade ---- Temperature Inversion ---- Groundwater Generator ---- Applicant Funded Studies ---- Fire January 14th County Scoping Meeting Introduction ---- Hot Water Use ---- Water Supply ---- Request for Site Visit Produced Water Disposal ---- Pipeline ---- Oil Production ---- Number of Wells Noise ---- Huasna Road ---- Haul Route ---- Fire ---- Energy Alternative Ag Preserve ---- Access Road Public comment was also presented to the AG Committee: Description ---- Table 2 ---- Facility ---- Traffic
This video clip is public information available on the county website, featuring Baback Naficy, Environmental and Land Use Attorney speaking at the Jan. 14th, 2010 County Planning Commission Scoping Meeting. Mr. Naficy refers to a letter from the applicant's attorney -
that
letter was sent to the
county from Excelaron's attorney two days before the meeting. Latest Excelaron / Mankins Project Application Project Background Documents, Reports, Studies
Explanations of process: Scoping Meeting The scoping meeting on January 14, 2010 is an opportunity for concerned citizens, groups and agencies to participate in the public process and comment about the level of detail and contents of the Environmental Impact Report. Examples of the type of issue that may be raised include the following: How significant is the noise impact and how and to what extend it can and should be mitigated; what are the potential traffic/circulation impacts and how can traffic impacts be decreased; what are the potential impacts on waters supplies and what safeguards needed for protecting our water source. What are the alternatives to the proposed project, for example using a pipeline instead of trucking the oil out of Huasna Valley; how can our clean air be affected and what can be done about air pollution? Is this project compatible with our community character and standards, or the General Plan?
The Main purposes of the EIR include: Evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the project. This includes an analysis of the project’s consistency with County General Plan goals and policies.
Develop feasible alternatives that meet most of the basic objectives of the project and can potentially eliminate significant impacts cause by the project.
Develop mitigation measures that can reduce the level of significance of impacts associated with the project and the alternatives.
The County has requested bids from companies that prepare EIR’s. Three companies have bid for the job. The bids ranged from $250,000, $350,000 and $500,000. The County has stated they are “leaning” towards one bid, but won’t confirm yet who it is. Excelaron is to pay for the cost.
The EIR includes the below areas: Aesthetics Agricultural Resources Air Quality Noise Biological Resources Cultural Resources Geology and soils Hazards and Hazardous materials Population and housing Public Services/Utilities Transportation/circulation Water wells and Waste Water Land Use
Excelaron Withdraws 1st Application to Drill for Tar in the Huasna Valley
Huasna Valley, CA — March 25, 2009, The Huasna Valley
Association (HVA) has learned that today Excelaron, LLC has withdrawn their
application to drill for tar in the Huasna Valley. At this time, the HVA has
no additional Ron Skinner, Coordinator for the Huasna Valley Association said “Today’s project withdrawal demonstrates that the democratic process, when driven by concerned citizens, can have a positive impact on any community and its priorities. The Huasna Valley Association continues to be committed to securing the long term sustainability of our rural agricultural community, by building on our community organization to obtain the regional distinction as an Advisory Council for the Huasna Valley and surrounding area; and by proposing certain land use designation changes to help protect our pristine environment and community”. Excelaron's Formal Withdraw, March 25, 2009
HVA speaks at County Supervisor Meeting during Public Comment Period - Video - April 7, 2009 Text of HVA Comments - April 7, 2009
HVA speaks on the Dave Congalton Show - April 3, 2009
HVA speaks at County Planning Commission Meeting during Public Comment (starting at minute 37) , March 26, 2009
The HVA is dedicated to making sure that
County officials hear public input on what the community feels this EIR must
include and address. Some of the questions which need to be addressed
include:
Executive Summary Huasna Valley Association Request for Review, dated 2/19/09
Energy calculations based on the applicant's project description data show that this proposed energy resource development project may not result in a significant net energy gain for the United States and may result in a net energy loss. An analysis of the cash flow benefit to the County and Public has not been conducted. No consideration has been given to county-wide cumulative effects of expanded oil production or alternatives such as a pipeline for transportation of extracted oil and grid-based or renewable electric power.
This project is much too complex and has far too many unknown impacts to be approved using the Mitigated Negative Declaration CUP process. There are serious unanswered questions remaining regarding potential scope of the project and potential piecemeal approaches, disposal of produced water and other fluids, produced natural gas and other hazardous emissions, reuse of existing orphaned wells, and transport of hazardous materials on local unstable roadways.
The Mitigated Negative Declaration is defective, under the California Environmental Qualities Act (CEQA) for the following reasons:
The evidence, analysis, and testimony in the record, including the comments and expert analysis presented here, support a "fair argument" that the proposed project, despite the inclusion of the proposed mitigation measures, may result in significant environmental impacts, especially pertaining to protection of the freshwater supply and air quality. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be prepared so that the County, the Community, and the State can review and critique the many real and potential impacts of this proposed project.
County Mitigated Negative Declaration (Excelaron/Mankins) 02/05/09 Developers Statement dated 1/26/09
Huasna Valley Association - Request for Review 2/19/09 >> Acoustic Report I - 2/17/09 >> Acoustic Report II - 3/19/09 >> Energy Calculations 2/19/09 >> Hydrology / Geology Report 2/15/09
ECO SLO - Request for Review 2/19/09 Los Padres Forest Watch - Request for Review 2/18/09 HVA Community Presentation 3/1/09
2007 Excelaron Application Project Background Documents, Reports, Studies
Operating and Assignment Agreements Operating and Assignment Agreement dated Nov. 20, 1985
Original Project Application 6/5/07 (PDF) > Huasna Oil Production Plan > Attachments
Supplemental Information to Original Application 3/26/08 (PDF) > County Hold Letter > Exhibits: Photos > Attachments
Re-submittal Package 5/21/08 (PDF) > County Documents > Site Plan Maps:
Revised Application 9/2/08 (PDF) > Agency Referral Check List > Vicinity Map – Site Plan
> Attachments
Reports
Traffic > Report 9/15/08 prepared for Excelaron > Report/Analysis 10/27/08 prepared for Excelaron > Supporting files for 10/27/08 report follows: >> HWY 166 ADT and Truck Traffic Caltrans
Air Emissions > Report 9/22/08 prepared for Excelaron > Report 11/5/08 prepared for Excelaron > Report 12/8/08 prepared for Excelaron
Water Quality > CA Regional Water Quality Control Board Response 06/06/08
Acoustic > Acoustic study by D. Dubbink for Excelaron 3/14/08
Botanical > Report prepared for Excelaron
Biological > Report 10/16/08 prepared for Excelaron / Sage Institute Inc David Wolf re: Red Legged Frog
Archeological
County Agencies Response / Comments
Planning > Ag Preserve Review Committee Meeting Minutes 5/19/08 > Ag Preserve Review Committee Staff Report 5/19/08
Public Works > Public Works Comment 9/15/08 > Huasna Road Bridges Report 7/28/08 > Location of Huasna Road Bridges Map
Environmental Health > Site Inspection Report 7/3/08 > Site Inspection Report 7/10/08
Agricultural Commissioner > AG Commissioner Response 9/11/08
Air Pollution Control District (APCD) > Excelaron Response to APCD Comment Letter 7/30/08 (see revised application 9/2/08) > Report - APCD San Luis Obispo County date 1/5/09
Sheriff
Cal Fire > Agency Response to Project 7/27/08 > Agency Response to Porter Ranch Access 9/2/08
San Luis Obispo APCD
Santa Barbara APCD
State Agencies / Federal Agencies / Other Agencies
Cal Trans > Cal Trans memo dated 11/19/08
RWQCB
California Water Quality Board
California Fish and Game
Santa Barbara County > SB Co. Planning Dept 9/18/08
Division of Oil and Gas > Agency Response Regarding Primacy for Class 2 Injection Wells 9/11/08
City of Arroyo Grande > City Letter to the County 7/24/08 > City Letter to the County 9/23/08
Other Agencies
DOGGR Huasna Oilfield Well Files > DOGGR Letter to Ron Skinner Regarding Feasibility of Hot Water Injection 8/4/08 > Citizen Letters Written to County > USGS Map Showing Porter Ranch Haul Route > Australian Oil Company - 2008 Annual Report 10/26/08 > Hot Water vs. Steam email from County to Excelaron
If you have questions for the applicant of this oil production project, you may want to contact their land-use consultants at OASIS ASSOCIATES in San Luis Obispo.
The Huasna Valley Association is a group of concerned residents of the Huasna Valley and neighboring communities. You may want to ask us questions about why this project may not make sense unless examined by an Environmental Impact Report, please feel free to contact ron@huasnavalley.org and attend any of the meeting arranged by the HVA.
Oil drilling history in Huasna
Oil
exploration has occurred in the Huasna Valley since the late 1800’s. There have
been 46 oil wells drilled, but only three wells have produced significant oil.
These wells are located in the meridian anticline, which is a geological
structure forming the ridge to the west of the Huasna Valley. Although the
extent of oil in the meridian anticline is
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An
inspection in 2002 by DOGGR showed evidence of well casings open to the
atmosphere and a pool of sulfur-smelling tar and water, but nothing was done
to clean up the site until a number of Huasna Valley residents complained to
the county last year. "This is yet another example of the lack of
responsible regulation of the oil industry that has haunted the US for
generations. Isn't it about time for a change?" questioned Ron Skinner, HVA
coordinator. In June, 2009, DOGGR issued an order to plug and abandon the
existing wells, 24 years after they were deserted.
not well mapped, it is considered a discrete field and the fact that there is oil in
the meridian anticline does not mean that there is oil in the Huasna Valley.
Oil contained in the meridian anticline (also known as the Huasna Oilfield) is
extremely viscous and tar-like. Due to the economics of extracting this type of
oil, the Huasna Oilfield has never been put into production. As oil becomes
more expensive and extraction techniques improve, marginal oilfields like the
Huasna Oilfield MAY be developed.
