HomeMy WebLinkAboutEQCB Min 2005-01-26
" --"
.~
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
.23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
.45
46
CITY OF SEAL BEACH
Environmental Quality Control Board
Minutes of January 26, 2005
Chairperson Voce called the Environmental Quality Control Board (EQCB) meeting of
January 26, 2005 to order at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was held in the City Council
Chambers and began with the salute to the flag.
Roll Call
Present: Chairperson Voce, Members Barton, Hurley, O'Malley, and Vineyard
Absent: None
Also
Present: Department of Development Services
Lee Whittenberg, Director
Christy Teague, AICP, Senior Planner
II Approval of Agenda
MOTION by O'Malley; SECOND by Hurley to approve the Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
5-0-0
Voce, Barton, Hurley, O'Malley, and Vineyard
None
None
III Oral Communications
None.
IV Consent Calendar
1. RECEIVE AND FILE - Planning Department Memorandum Re: Seal Beach
Naval Weapons Station - Installation Restoration Program - Status Report Re:
RAB Project Update, January 13, 2005.
MOTION by Hurley; SECOND by O'Malley to approve the Consent Calendar as
presented.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
5-0-0
Voce, Barton, Hurley, O'Malley, and Vineyard
None
None
Page 1 of 4
.~
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
.23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
.45
46
City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 26, 2005
V Scheduled Matters
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 12, 2005.
Recommendation: Approve Minutes subject to any corrections determined
appropriate.
A correction was noted for Page 5, Line 2 of the minutes. Text to read "right-of-way
along the golf course," instead of "driveways into golf course."
Members Barton and Hurley indicated they would abstain from voting, as they were not
in attendance at the meeting of January 12, 2005.
MOTION by O'Malley; SECOND by Vineyard to approve the Meeting Minutes of
January 12, 2006 as amended.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
3-0-2
Voce, O'Malley, and Vineyard
None
None
Barton and Hurley
3. Public Meeting To Review Document and Provide Board Comments and
Receive Public Comments Re: Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration 05-1
- Hellman Ranch Tank Farm Replacement Program.
Recommendation: Board conduct a meeting to elicit public comments and
Board comments regarding Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration 05-1 to
assist the City Council in determining that the IS/MND will reduce identified
environmental effects to less than significant. Receive and File Staff Report.
Director Whittenberg presented an overview of the Hellman Ranch Tank Farm
Replacement Program, indicating the current and proposed locations of these facilities.
He then provided an overview of the public review process for Mitigated Negative
Declaration 05-1, indicating that public comment meetings are also scheduled before
the Archaeological Advisory Committee and Planning Commission on February 7 and 9,
respectively. Staff will then prepare a "Responses to Comments" document that will
respond to all comments received during the public comment period and that document
will be provided to all commenting parties at least 10 days prior to City Council
consideration of the Negative Declaration.
Mr. Whittenberg then reviewed the general areas of concern, as discussed within the
document, indicating that based on the evaluation there are no areas of environmental
concern that cannot be reduced to a less than significant level with the Mitigation
Measures that are set forth in Section 4 of the document and asked for any questions or
comments from the Board.
Page 2 of 4
.~
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
.23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
.45
46
City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 26, 2005
Chairman Voce asked if there were any Board questions.
Member Barton stated her concern regarding noise impacts and clarification of the old
tank farm status. Mr. Whittenberg reviewed the noise analysis presented in the
document at pages 59 through 64 indicating that construction noise will be a temporary
impact, but with the nearest homes being approximately 1,200 feet away and
anticipated noise levels of between 60 and 64 dBA, are not felt to be significant. He
also reviewed the allowable hours for construction activity pursuant to the provisions of
the Municipal Code. He further indicated that at this time the existing tank farm facilities
will remain and that, at the time of wetland restoration planning for the current oil
production property, that issue will be evaluated.
Member O'Malley inquired about the transfer of oil production facilities and the removal
of existing pipes. Mr. Whittenberg indicated that some existing pipelines will be
removed and new lines will be installed to service the relocated tank farm facility, and
that is the major concern discussed in the "Cultural Resources" portion of the Negative
Declaration. Mr. Whittenberg indicated he was not sure as to the actual transfer
functions that will occur from the abandoned service pipelines to the new pipelines.
Member Hurley referred to page 46 of the Hellman Ranch IS/MND document and
insisted that further explanation to the public of earthquake risks for a possible collapse
of this type of a facility within Seismic Zone 4 is necessary. He referred to Figure 5-22
on Page 5-92 in the Hellman Ranch Specific Plan EIR document and suggested that
Figure 9 in the Negative Declaration document be revised to add the Seal Beach Fault
Line. Member Hurley then asked that an explanation be added to Page 46 for the
adequacy of the retaining wall and the sealed pits to hold the approximately 7 thousand
barrels of liquid from the ruptured tanks (Page 16). He also inquired if the production
wells stop pumping automatically during an earthquake. Member Hurley asked for
additional information on noise and the dBA levels and the length of time for earth-
moving activities, which will generate the most noise. He further inquired about source
of information for Table 5 and decried the inclusion of useless information (e.g. dBA
readings at 1,000 feet and 1,500 feet, but not at a more relevant distance of 1,200 feet).
Chairperson Voce expressed his concern with the liability of leakage onto land to be
dedicated for wetlands. He stated concerns with liability to the city in the case of oil
spills.
Dave Bartlett, representative of Hellman Properties, explained that the site is a working
oil field with approximately 60 wells. He noted oil operations get loud, but that there
was no new activity proposed, only a replacement of existing facilities. He noted the
relocated facilities are outside the identified fault zone for the Newport-Inglewood Fault.
In response to a question from the board, Mr. Bartlett explained that the oil field is still
producing, and it was unclear how long it would operate as an oil field in the future.
There being no other comments, Chairman Voce declared the public comment session
closed.
Page 3 of 4
~ - ")
.~
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
.23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
.
City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 26, 2005
VI Staff Concerns
Mr. Whittenberg reported that the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the San
Gabriel River project is expected to be available for review by mid-February. He
indicated that Staff would keep the Board updated on the status of this matter.
He then stated that Staff had just received notification of a potential offshore dump site
located in the ocean near Newport Coast that is being proposed by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. He indicated this matter will be reviewed by staff and findings
shared with the Board.
VII Board Concerns
Member Hurley asked whether the Board has been provided with the latest Seal Beach
CEQA Guidelines. Mr. Whittenberg stated the City now uses the state CEQA
Guidelines.
VIII Adjournment
Chairperson Voce adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m. to the adjourned meeting of
February 16, 2005, and cancelled the regular meeting of February 23, 2005, due to a
conflict with the regular Planning Commission meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
~~~
Carmen Alvarez, Executive Secretary
Department of Development Services
The Board on February 16, 2005, approved the Minutes of the Environmental Quality
Control Board of Wednesday, January 26, 2005. ~ .
Page 4 of 4