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Hercules
Fill pad (looking south), December 2008.
Winter Storm Season Preparation.
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What's
New
- A Coastal Development Permit for remediation and stabilization of the fill pad slope face (FPS) was approved by the County’s Zoning Administrator in a public hearing on September 14, 2009. The project involves excavation and of PCB and mercury contaminated soil from the FPS, disposal of excavated material at an approved hazardous waste site, installation of drainage structures, construction of a temporary access road in the lower canyon, reconstruction of the FPS with clean fill, and revegetation of the affected areas. The work began in April 2010. Work was scheduled to be finished by the second week of November 2010. However, as the project could not be completed on schedule, work will be suspended until after the rainy season (4/15/2011). The site is being secured in accordance with a winterization plan to minimize erosion during the rainy season. The project will result in reduction of contaminated sediment in stormwater runoff from the site, pending resolution of final cleanup goals and containment methods.
- Shell Exploration and Production has assumed responsibility for remediation and restoration of the site from Aera Energy.
- Quarterly ground water monitoring and soil sampling is ongoing on the fill pad and in the lower canyon.
- An Ecological Risk Assessment is currently being conducted to determine remediation goals for the upper and lower canyons. The study is expected to be completed in late 2009/early 2010.
Description
This site once housed facilities for
processing natural gas produced from
subsea wells in the Molino
Offshore field . Today, the site
is designated as a State Superfund site
and is being
remediated.
Location
The AERA Gas Processing Site is located in Canada de la Huerta,
a canyon on the south flank of the Santa Ynez Mountains on the Gaviota
Coast approximately 20 miles north of the city of Santa Barbara.
The canyon runs north-south and opens to the Pacific Ocean.
Aera Location |
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Overhead View of the Aera Site
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Cleanup Activities
- Site contamination was discovered in 1986, including hydrocarbons,
mercury and PCBs.
- The site is designated as a State Superfund hazardous substances
release site by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).
- The gas plant came under ownership of Shell Western Exploration
& Production, Inc. (SWEPI) which formed CalResources Limited
Liability Corporation in 1994.
- SWEPI entered into a consent order with DTSC in 1988 to clean
up the site's contamination.
- A Remedial
Action Plan was approved in 1994 to clean up and restore the
site. Several addenda to this plan have been completed or are being reviewed.
- The County approved a conditional
use permit in 1996 for site demolition,
Cleanup and restoration activities.
These activities are ongoing under the direction of
an Interagency Workgroup Team (IWT).
- The County issued a Coastal Development
Permit in October 2005 to perform preparation
activities for winter storm seasons.
Past Activities
- Shell Oil was granted a County permit 1963 to construct and
operate a gas plant in Canada de la Huerta.
- Natural gas was produced from sub-sea wells.
- Gas was piped to the onshore facility, treated and sold to
Southern California Gas Company.
- New flowline bundles were installed in 1985 to enhance facility
operations.
- The gas plant ceased operations in 1989.
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| Aera Before Abandonment |
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Aera During Abandonment |
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| Aera After Abandonment |
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