Notice of Public Review and Request for Comments 

Draft Federal Part 70 Renewal Permits for Venoco Ellwood Stationary Source

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has issued four draft federal Part 70 renewal permits for Venoco Inc.’s Ellwood Onshore Facility, Beachfront Lease, Platform Holly, and Seep Containment Device facilities. Venoco and prior owners have operated these facilities in Goleta coastal and offshore areas since the 1960s.

Platform Holly produces oil and gas, and after preliminary processing, pipes both to Ellwood Onshore Facility. The Ellwood Onshore Facility further processes the oil and gas, and transmits the oil to a nearby marine terminal, and the gas to the utility pipeline system. The Beachfront Lease currently consists of a non-producing wellhead and some miscellaneous equipment. The Seep Containment Device captures ocean floor seep gas and pipes the gas to the Ellwood Onshore Facility. All four operations constitute one stationary source, considered a major source for emissions of volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.

Permitting Action
This action is for the second renewal of the four federal Part 70 permits, and includes revisions to monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements. No changes to facility operations or emissions will occur as a result of this action. Once issued by the APCD and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the federal permits will be valid for three years.

Public Comment Procedures
Copies of the permit application, the draft permits, and support materials are available for review from October 10, 2005 to November 25, 2005 on the APCD website on this page, and at the following location:

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

Only the federally enforceable conditions in Sections 9.A through 9.C of these permits are subject to public review. Comments on these sections should be submitted, in writing, to the APCD by November 25, 2005. 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. For more information or copies of the permit, please contact Sanjib Mukherji, APCD at (805) 961-8814 or at MukherjiS@sbcapcd.org. 

The APCD will consider scheduling a hearing for public comments on the draft permit, if requested in writing, within two-weeks after publication of this notice. To request a public hearing, please send correspondence to Sanjib Mukherji, APCD at the above address.

Published Sunday, October 9, 2005