Public Notice

Preliminary Decision to Approve Emission Reduction Credits for Point Arguello Companies and
Notice of Availability of Draft Negative Declaration

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has made a preliminary decision to approve emission reduction credits for Point Arguello Companies. An emission reduction credit is earned by a company when it reduces air emissions beyond what is required by permits and rules. It is an asset that can be used by its owner or sold to companies that need emission offsets.

Emission reduction credit amounts to be approved for Point Arguello Companies are as follows:
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) 38.065 tons per year

Point Arguello Companies plans to create these emission reduction credits by installing a separate selective catalytic reduction emission control device on the Turbine Compressors A, B, and C located on Platform Harvest in the Outer Continental Shelf 10 miles off Point Conception. The APCD is the only local agency with permit jurisdiction over this project.

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the APCD, as the lead agency, has prepared a Proposed Negative Declaration for this project. The Proposed Negative Declaration examined the potential adverse impacts of the proposed project. Based on our analysis, the APCD has determined that there are no significant adverse impacts associated with the proposed selective catalytic reduction system and the project does not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report.

Files for these applications are available for review at the APCD, 260 North San Antonio Road, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA. The APCD’s Preliminary Decision of Issuance for this project is available on this page. The Proposed Negative Declaration (PDF file) can be downloaded by clicking on this file: Arguello-Harvest-ND-3-06.pdf . Both can also be obtained by contacting us at the address and phone number listed below.

The APCD invites written comments on the proposed Negative Declaration and the Decision to issue emission reduction credits. Written comments must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., April 19, 2006 to: Lisa Kiehl, Santa Barbara County APCD, 260 North San Antonio Road, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. For more information, call 805.961.8898

                                                                                                                           Published Sunday, March 19, 2006