to be published
July 27, 2008

Draft Federal Part 70 Permits for the The Plains Exploration and Production Co.
Point Arguello Project Stationary Source

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has issued four (4) draft federal Part 70 permits for the Plains Exploration and Production Co. 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 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 reinjected at the platforms and the crude is transported by subsea pipeline to the Gaviota Oil Heating Facility .Crude is transported from the Gaviota Oil Heating 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 Plains Exploration and Production Co. operation currently has four combined APCD and Part 70 permits that are enforceable by the public, the APCD and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). This action is a renewal of these permits. Once issued by the APCD and the USEPA, the renewed permits will be valid for three years. No changes to facility operations or emission increases will occur as a result of this action.

Public Comment Procedures

Copies of the permit applications, the draft permits and supporting materials, are available for review from July 28, 2008 to August 28, 2008 on this website on this page, and at the following locations:

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

Santa Barbara County APCD
301 E Cook St, Suite 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 August 28, 2008. Issues relevant to the Part 70 permit raised during the comment period will be addressed in writing by the APCD as part of the final permit issuance.

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. For more information, or to request a public hearing, please contact Jim Menno at (805) 614.6787 or write to the APCD at the Santa Maria address listed above.

                                                                                                                        to be published Sunday, July 27, 2008

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