Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PIPELINE INTEGRITY PROJECT BEING UNDERTAKEN BY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
On August 1, 2019, the initial meeting was held between Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and the City of Carson in order to discuss a proposed pipeline integrity project that has a compliance deadline of December 31, 2019, that would significantly impact traffic near the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street (the “Project”).
Given the need to accommodate certain unrelated construction work that has been underway near Wilmington and the 405, and the need of SoCalGas to meet its compliance deadline, Council is allowing SoCalGas to work 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to complete the Project so that the street can be reopened by the end of the calendar year.
The City must impose additional permit requirements, in addition to its standard construction permit requirements, to ensure that the Project proceeds as efficiently as possible.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
APPROVE the proposed additional permit requirements, as set forth in Exhibit No. 1, for the City to impose on SoCalGas in connection with the Project.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
1. DO NOT APPROVE the proposed additional permit requirements.
2. TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate, consistent with the requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
On August 1, 2019, the initial meeting was held between SoCalGas and the City to discuss their pipeline integrity project. Since 2016, the City of Carson has routinely held Utility Coordination Meetings in order to improve communication with all utility companies. These meetings serve as an open forum to discuss current and recently completed projects, projects in design and construction, and future planned construction projects within the City of Carson. It provides as an opportunity to identify potential conflicts, take advantage of economies of scale, and exchange pertinent contact and plan information. Participants are asked to provide a schedule of projects that their respective agencies are planning to undertake within the City of Carson over a two year period. The most recent Utility Coordination meetings were held in October 2018, March 2019 and November 2019. SoCalGas is a regular attendee, but did not take advantage of this opportunity to raise this pending project.
SoCalGas has 300 feet of existing 10” gas pipeline located south of the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street which serves the Marathon Refinery. SoCalGas is required to inspect the line every seven years, and its upcoming compliance deadline is December 31, 2019. The Project will entail SoCalGas conducting (or providing for a third party to conduct) an inspection of the pipeline, and subsequently immediately performing repairs based on the analysis of the inspection data, as necessary to meet its compliance deadline.
At the November 5, 2019 Council meeting, Council emphasized that SoCalGas could begin notifying the surrounding businesses and residents of the upcoming work, but that the Project could only begin after the successful completion of the cutover associated with City Project 919 (405 at Wilmington) which is scheduled for November 16th. Council advised that once the City permit was issued, SoCalGas could work on its project 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Council also directed staff to work with SoCalGas on the details of an agreement and bring this item back to the November 19, 2019 Council meeting for further consideration.
Based on meetings that have occurred since the November 5th Council meeting, City staff and SoCalGas have determined that in lieu of a reimbursement agreement, additional permit requirements, as set forth in Exhibit No. 1, should be attached to the construction/excavation permit for the Project in order to meet the parties’ objectives. These proposed permit requirements would be in addition to the City’s standard construction permit requirements, to the extent the standard requirements do not conflict with the proposed additional requirements or the rights accorded to SoCalGas under its City Franchise Agreement (Ordinance No. 58). SoCalGas has agreed to the proposed additional permit requirements as set forth in Exhibit No. 1.
Additionally, SoCalGas has produced a revised timeline that takes into account a 24/7 schedule, such that the work will now begin on November 20, 2019, and conclude on December 30, 2019 (Exhibit No. 2).
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None. SoCalGas will be paying for all inspection and repair services associated with the Project.
VI. EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. 1: Permit Requirements - Final Revision (pg. 4)
Exhibit No. 2: SoCalGas Project Timeline (pg. 5)
Prepared by: Dr. Maria Williams-Slaughter, Director of Public Works