Notice of Public Review and Request for Comments 

Draft Federal Part 70 Permits for the Point Arguello Companies Point Arguello Project Stationary Source

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has issued four draft federal Part 70 permits for the Point Arguello Companies facilities that are part of the Point Arguello Project Stationary Source.

The Point Arguello Project Stationary Source has been in operation since 1989 and consists of the Gaviota Oil Heating Facility (Gaviota Facility) located in Gaviota, California, and three offshore platforms (Harvest, Hermosa, Hidalgo) located approximately ten miles from Point Arguello on the Outer Continental Shelf. Crude oil and gas are produced at the platforms. Gas production is re-injected at the platforms and the crude oil is transported by sub-sea pipeline to the Gaviota Facility. Crude oil is then transported from the Gaviota Facility by pipeline to refineries for further processing. The Point Arguello Project Stationary Source is considered a major source for emissions of reactive organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and carbon monoxide.

Permitting Action
This action is the renewal of the four federal Part 70 permits for the Gaviota Facility and three platforms noted above. No changes to facility productions, processing, or emissions will occur as a result of this action. Once issued by the APCD and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the four permits will be valid for three years. All permits are enforceable by the USEPA, APCD, and the public.

Public Comment Procedures
Copies of the permit application, the draft permits and supporting materials will be available for review from April 11, 2005 to May 26, 2005 on this website on this page and at the following locations:

Santa Barbara County APCD
260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Santa Barbara County APCD
301 E. Cook St. Ste. “L”
Santa Maria, CA 93454

Only the federally enforceable conditions in Sections 9.A through 9.C of these permits are subject to public comment. Comments on these sections should be submitted, in writing, to the APCD (Attn: Jim Menno). All comments must be received by May 26, 2005. The APCD will consider scheduling a hearing for public comments on the draft permits, if requested in writing, within two weeks after publication of this notice. To request a public hearing, please send correspondence to Jim Menno at the Santa Maria address listed above.

Issues raised during the comment period will be addressed, in writing, by the APCD as part of the final permit issuance. For more information, please contact Jim Menno at (805) 614.6787 or write to the APCD at the Santa Maria address listed above.

Published Sunday, April 10, 2005