Reducing Air Emissions While Restoring Dune Habitat
The Guadalupe Restoration Project has made significant progress in restoring habitat, but more work needs to be done. The current plan – approved through rigorous California Environmental Quality Act reviews in 2006 and 2012 – calls for the final 1.85 million cubic yards of non-hazardous hydrocarbon impacted soil to be disposed at the Santa Maria Regional Landfill.
Rather than truck the soil to the Santa Maria Regional Landfill, Chevron Environmental Management Company proposes to construct an 18.2-acre Soil Management Area (SMA) to manage all remaining impacted soil on-site.
Eliminated
74,100 Haul Truck Roundtrips
The SMA will eliminate about 74,100 haul truck roundtrips through the cities of Guadalupe and Santa Maria, California, and nearby communities.
Residents will benefit from significantly reduced project-related truck traffic and air emissions.
38%
Greenhouse gas emissions will be slashed 38%
28%
Fugitive dust will be decreased 28%
22%
Emissions that contribute to ground-level ozone will be reduced by 22%
15%
Diesel particulate matter (PM10) will be cut 15%
The SMA will safely manage all remaining hydrocarbon-impacted soil, significantly reduce project air emissions, and restore dune habitat for native plants and wildlife.
Constructed in a previously disturbed area of the GRP site, the SMA will comply with California Code of Regulations Title 27 requirements for solid waste management. Non-hazardous hydrocarbon-impacted soil from on site will be amended with a biodegradation-enhancing nutrient and placed on top of the SMA’s double-liner containment system. (No off-site waste will be disposed in the SMA.)
Rainwater and residual liquids within the SMA will be managed by the on-site Advanced Water Treatment System. The cleaned water will be used to irrigate habitat restoration projects.
Finally, the SMA will be enclosed underneath a top liner and an outer cover of 4-feet of clean, native soil, and habitat will be restored with native plants. The result will be an artificial dune that blends into the surrounding natural dune topography and habitat.
Chevron Environmental Management Company will be responsible for operating and maintaining the SMA for at least 30 years with regulatory oversight by San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Coast Water Board).
Rigorous Regulatory Oversight
GRP work is conducted in accordance with Cleanup and Abatement Order 98-38 issued by the Central Coast Water Board. San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District, Central Coast Water Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Coastal Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provide regulatory oversight of the project. Northern Chumash monitors help protect Native American cultural resources. A special monitor appointed by San Luis Obispo County is on site every workday to ensure the GRP complies with more than 1,200 permit conditions and provide regular reports to regulatory agencies.
In March 2021, the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission determined the SMA project would not have a significant impact on the environment approved a CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration. For more information about the MND determination please visit CEQAnet. A Release of Waste Discharge permit application is pending with Central Coast Water Board. For more information about the permit application and public participation in the permit review please visit the Central Coast Water Board.