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The company's risk assessment explicitly looked at the potential for weld problems such as what caused the spill near Corinne, Utah (see status reports below). Chevron is re-examining old internal inspection records and other information to ascertain if similar conditions might exist elsewhere in the system. This illustrates how Chevron's risk management process incorporates lessons learned from operating experience and incidents to improve the quality of its risk analysis and improve pipeline safety.

Chevron Pipe Line In-Situ Burn:

May 12, 2000

Chevron Pipe Line Company successfully completed the in-situ, or controlled, burn at Milepost 68 on March 10th. (In-situ burning is the term given to the process of burning oil slicks at or close to the site of an oil spill.) This controlled burn was designed to remove hydrocarbons on the soil, plant and water surfaces from the marsh area on Bureau of Land Management property near Corinne, Utah where a release had occurred earlier on the Salt Lake Products System. See the news item below "Chevron Reports Spill on Salt Lake Products System" for additional information about the spill.

Prior to conducting the burn, careful consideration was given to developing a remediation plan that would best address the nature of the marsh, coupled with access difficulties and, most important, the impending arrival of migratory waterfowl. CPL developed a burn plan, which involved notifying all local agencies, including the Box Elder County Fire Marshall. Chevron also incorporated provisions into the burn plan for preserving cultural and archaeological resources associated with the site and to restore any impacts which might occur as a result of emergency response or site remediation activities.

Heavier product concentrations were burned, using a helitorch, within the boundaries of the spill. Other areas within the spill boundary burned with light gray smoke, suggesting no hydrocarbons. Engineering teams were on site to assess the burn and collect post burn samples. A detailed survey had been made of the area to look for pockets of material that may not have been burned. Under CPL's direction, the County Fire Marshall conducted a smaller follow-up burn on April 21, 2000. It is CPL's assessment that the remedial action was greater than 95% effective.

A water curtain was deployed and manned during the burn to prevent damage to the historic railroad trestle. There was no damage to the trestle and no other known cultural resources were impacted. The CPL Incident Command System was implemented and the operation was completed without injury or any safety incidents.

The success of this effort was dependent on the combined efforts of many individuals and organizations, including the volunteers from the Box Elder County and local municipal fire departments who were on the front lines during the burn.

CPL is performing the necessary post burn sampling, monitoring and reclamation activities.

Geological Hazards Program for Salt Lake Products System:

February 16, 2000

Chevron has completed a comprehensive geological hazard review and identification for the Salt Lake to Boise portion of its system. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, a broad spectrum of geologic data has been overlaid upon pipeline system maps. Key features of the system include the location of nearby faults, history and magnitude of nearby seismic events, hydrological features near the line that will be used to identify sites where flooding or erosion might occur, potential landslide hazard areas, and location of mine sites near the line. Chevron's goal is to better understand the potential for geological hazards to impact the pipeline. Chevron will use this new information as part of a comprehensive assessment of pipeline system risks later this year.

Chevron Reports Spill on Salt Lake Products System:

February 10, 2000

Approximately thirty to forty barrels of diesel was released on Friday, January 21 near Corinne, Utah (in Box Elder County) from Chevron Pipe Line Company's Salt Lake Products System. The release occurred on a circumferential weld joint of the pipeline, in a marsh area on Bureau of Land Management property. The spill was contained with booms, and absorbent pads have been used to remove a portion of the product on the water's surface. Clean up activities are continuing, under the guidance of the appropriate government authorities, including the Utah Division of Wildlife. Preliminary field assessments indicate no significant impact on wildlife or waterfowl. Environmental sampling and analysis are being performed to assess the impact on water quality and soil, and to guide the remaining remediation work.

This segment of the pipeline has been cut out and replaced with new pipe. There was no visual evidence of pipeline corrosion in the vicinity of the leak.

Chevron Removes Deep Creek Drain Valve:

August 25, 1999

A section of the Salt Lake Products Pipeline System located near Deep Creek (between Buhl and Hagerman, Idaho) contained a valve to assist in draining the pipeline contents should that be required for certain maintenance activities. This valve was no longer used and had been welded shut to prevent leaks. However, Chevron's risk analysts and field personnel were concerned that corrosion over a long period of time could result in a leak through this valve. To prevent this occurrence, Chevron personnel cut out the portion of the line containing the valve and replaced it with new pipe, thus eliminating this potential problem.

Boise and Twin Falls Emergency Responder Meetings:

August  5, 1999

Chevron personnel met with Local Emergency Planning Councils (LEPCs) and emergency responders in Twin Falls and Boise, Idaho on August 4 and 5, respectively. A diverse group attended each session, including hospital representatives, sheriffs' departments, and civil defense/hazmat personnel. Chevron's presentations provided an overview of its Risk Management Program, its Demonstration Project, and the mapping of the Salt Lake Products System using Geographic Information System technology. Chevron intends to meet with LEPCs in the Salt Lake City area in the near future.

Chevron Demonstration Project Approved:

February 23, 1999

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater announced in a February 23rd press release that Chevron Pipe Line Company will participate in the OPS Risk Management Demonstration Program. On February 17, 1999, Richard Felder, the Associate Administrator for the Office of Pipeline Safety, signed the Order authorizing Chevron to initiate its risk management demonstration project. This project involves the portion of Chevron's Salt Lake Products Pipeline System which transports refined petroleum products from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Boise, Idaho.

Additional information on the Chevron demonstration project can be found in the risk management demonstration project revised application and work plan, which are attached to the order.

Federal Register Notice of Approval and Finding of No Significant Impact:

February 23, 1999

Chevron Pipe Line Company's proposed Risk Management Demonstration Project has been approved by the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). As part of the OPS demonstration project review process, an Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared for the Chevron project. The EA was published in the Federal Register on December 24, 1998 for public comment. OPS did not receive any comments on the EA or its conclusions. OPS has determined that there are no significant environmental impacts from approving the Chevron demonstration project. Therefore, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued and published in the Federal Register on February 23, 1999.

Chevron Work Plan Revision:

February 1999

Chevron has submitted a revised work plan to OPS delineating the key activities and milestones associated with their risk management demonstration project. This work plan updates the information that was provided in their initial plan, which was prepared well before the project approval date. The new plan is now consistent with an expected project initiation in February.

Federal Register Notice / Environmental Assessment Available:

December 24, 1998

A Federal Register Notice of the Office of Pipeline Safety's intent to approve the Chevron Pipe Line Company as a participant in the Pipeline Risk Management Demonstration Program was issued on December 24, 1998. This notice also provided an environmental assessment of Chevron's proposed demonstration project.

The notice explained OPS's rationale for approving this project, and summarized the demonstration project provisions (including affected locations and risk control and monitoring activities) that would go into effect once OPS issued an order approving Chevron as a Demonstration Program participant.

OPS seeks public comment on the proposed demonstration project on or before February 8, 1999, so that it can consider and address any comments before approving the project. You can view the official public record of the published Chevron Federal Register Notice by visiting the DOT Dockets Search Page and from there following the steps to search for docket number 4450 to view the public record for the Chevron FRN.

A Prospectus describing the Chevron Risk Management Demonstration Project has been prepared and distributed to interested parties, including local stakeholders. Individuals who have not received a copy of the Prospectus and would like to receive one can request a copy by E-mail using the Feedback button below. In your message, state that you would like to receive a copy of the Chevron Prospectus and include your name and mailing address.

The Prospectus can also be downloaded from PRIMIS and read using Adobe Acrobat.

Chevron Application:

July  6, 1998

In early July, Chevron submitted a final, signed demonstration Project Application to OPS for review and approval. The Application provides an overview of Chevron’s proposed Risk Management Demonstration Project, including a Work Plan, Performance Measures, and Communications Plan. The Application can be downloaded and read using Adobe Acrobat.

Because the time required to publish the Federal Register Notice recommending project approval has taken longer than expected, some of the milestones in this Application have been revised to reflect a new project start date. This revised Application is posted on PRIMIS.

Chevron Demonstration Project Consultations:

February - May 1998

OPS established a Project Review team (PRT) for the Chevron Risk Management Demonstration Project and conducted consultations with the company. Chevron and OPS held an initial consultation meeting to discuss Chevron’s proposed risk management demonstration project in the OPS Western Region office on February 24, 1998. During this meeting, the PRT reviewed Chevron’s risk management program and the content of its proposed Demonstration Project. Subsequent meetings were held on March 19 and May 27, 1998 at the Chevron Pipe Line Company Offices in Salt Lake City to follow up on items discussed at the initial consultation meeting. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss Chevron’s corrosion program, the results of the Salt Lake Products Pipeline System risk assessments and preparation of Chevron’s Demonstration Project Application, Work Plan, Performance Monitoring Plan, and Communications Plan.

Photos of Different Salt Lake Products Pipeline System Facilities:

The following photographs illustrate different pipeline system facilities along Chevron's Salt Lake Products Pipeline System.