Laserfiche WebLink
CRAPTERTHREE Enuironmem~ll Consequences <br />Pipeline Corridor • <br />The types of impacts would be similaz to those under the Proposed Action; however, potential <br />adverse impacts should be rr i, nimi~ed. <br />The Pipeline Plan of Development includes construction specifications for w:iterbody crossings; <br />a reclamation plan identifying erosion control methods such as gabions, wate:rbazs, sediment <br />barriers, mulch, etc., and a pipeline spill contingency plan to detect and respond to accidental <br />leaks or a pipeline breach. Should a leak or rupture occur, there would be ad~rerse effects to soil, <br />vegetation and surface waters. The extent of the impact would depend on the amount of material <br />spilled and the location of the spill. If product entered a stream, Utere would be adverse effects <br />on aquatic organisms, and it would likely kill fish and contaminate the stream bottom with <br />precipitated sodium bicazbonate. Clean-up and reclamation efforts would be developed in <br />consultation with the BLM, other federal agencies, the State of Colorado, ancUor private <br />landowner. <br />The U.S: Army Corps of Engineers has issued a Section 404 permit for pipeline crossings of <br />surface drainages. Nationwide Permit 12 (Utility Line discharges) specifies conditions to protect <br />and restore the affected drainages (Attachment 5 of the plan). <br />Parachute Site <br />The types of impacts would be similaz to those under the Proposed Action; however, potential <br />adverse impacts should be minimised. <br />The preliminary Response Plan addresses accidental spills and other emergency situations at the <br />Parachute Site. Included in the plan is a preliminary stormwater management plan prepared for <br />the stormwater discharge permit to be obtained from CDPHE. The plan identifies BMPs to <br />control and monitor the quality of stormwater runoff dischazging off site to Parachute Creek. <br />Additional information has been obtained regazding the water to be withdrawn from the <br />Colorado River and alluvial groundwater wells. American Soda purchased water rights from <br />Unocal as part of its purchase of the Parachute Site. These water rights aze decreed, for industrial <br />and irrigation/augmentation purposes. During operation of its oil shale facility fiom 1983 to <br />1991, Unocal's consumptive use of water was approximately 3.5 cubic feet I~er second (cfs). <br />Since the facility closed, a portion of the water rights has been used for irrigation purposes. The <br />consumptive use for the Yankee Gulch Project is 1.6 cfs, less than half the a,nount formerly <br />consumed by Unocal. The water rights being purchased are sufficient to support both the <br />proposed industrial use and existing irrigation in the Parachute Creek Valley. <br />The consumptive use would contribute to slightly reduced flows in the Colorado River. The <br />average daily discharge in the Colorado River near DeBeque (USGS station 09093700) <br />according to the USGS flow records from 1966 to 1996 is 3,800 cfs. The l.ti cfs proposed <br />depletion would represent only 0.04 percent of the average daily flow in the Colorado River. As <br />discussed in the Draft EIS, the proposed depletions are being evaluated by tl~e USFWS under <br />Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (refer to Appendix L). <br />Flow in Parachute Creek may also be slightly depleted by withdrawal from the alluvial wells. • <br />The average daily flow in Parachute Creek at Pazachute (USGS station 09093500), which is <br />3-4 Surface Water and Surface Water Drainages <br />