Neighborhood meetings seek oil refinery comment

  Nearly four years after gaining approval of a major land use amendment for construction of an oil refinery in eastern Yuma County, Arizona Clean Fuels is starting over on the process for its new site two miles down the road.

  The first step is to meet with the proposed refinery's potential neighbors to find out what they think of the project.

  "We've sent notices out," said Anne Eichberger, manager of long-range planning for the Yuma County Department of Development Services. "But we've not had any feedback on the new site for the refinery. We're looking for input. We just want to hear from the public."

  To that end, the department has scheduled two neighborhood meetings this week. County planning staff will give a presentation on the project and the process Arizona Clean Fuels will need to go through to change the land use designation for its new site.

  Arizona Clean Fuels representatives also will be present to answer questions. And input from those attending the meetings will be gathered.

  The neighborhood meetings are not public hearings, Eichberger said, but less formal gatherings to begin hearing comments and concerns.

  The first neighborhood meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Antelope Union High School, 9168 S. Avenue 36E. The second meeting will be held in Yuma at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Aldrich Hall in the west side of the Yuma County Department of Development Services, 2351 W. 26th St.

  The neighborhood meetings will be followed by a public hearing in front of the Yuma County Planning and Zoning Commission at 5 p.m. Oct. 6. The Yuma County Board of Supervisors will then have a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27 and act on the application.

  Arizona Clean Fuels had been granted approval in 2004 for its application of a major amendment to the 2010 Comprehensive Plan for its original site east of Tacna on former federal land it purchased from Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District.

  However, the company decided this year to relocate to an alternate site two miles to the east between Avenues 48E and 50E north of Interstate 8 because of a court challenge by the Quechan Indian Tribe. The tribe alleged in its lawsuit that agencies involved in the land transfer of the original site did not adequately address the environmental impact of a refinery.

  While a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in February, Arizona Clean Fuels decided on the alternate site, citing the uncertainty of how much longer the case might be tied up in court.

  A major amendment to the land use plan is required before Arizona Clean Fuels can pursue rezoning, Eichberger said. The earliest a rezoning application could be filed would be 30 days after the Oct. 27 supervisors' meeting if the board approves the major amendment.

  Arizona Clean Fuels also is having to refile for an air quality permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality because of the new location, said Glenn McGinnis, CEO. He said work is nearly completed on the new application and expects to submit it soon, with public hearings on it to be held this fall in the Yuma area.

  As part of the new permitting process, he said, additional emission controls have been included so the permit will be for even lower emissions than the original.

  The new permit also has recalculations of air modeling, a new requirement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Air modeling takes a look at wind patterns, terrain and other factors to determine emissions from the site, McGinnis explained.

  While the proposed refinery received a setback with the relocation and the regulatory process it needs to repeat, McGinnis said the project isn't entirely back to square one.

  "We're building on the work we've done already. The preliminary work we did will take us to the next step. It will be the same concept, same configuration, in a new location."

  For more information about the neighborhood meetings or the major amendment process, call Eichberger at 817-5175 or Fernando Villegas, long-range planner, at 817-5181.

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OTHER MAJOR AMENDMENT APPLICATIONS

  •Donald W. Kelland - for 103 acres at the southeast corner of Avenue 39E and County 8th Street to change the land use designation from suburban density residential to low density residential to allow up to six dwelling units per acre in a planned subdivision.

  •Yuma Development One - to change the land use designation of 240 acres from agricultural rural preservation to heavy industrial at Avenue 47E along County 6th Street; no specific project indicated.

  •Timothy E. Dunn Trust - to change the land use designation for 29 acres west of Avenue B along County 13th Street from agriculture to suburban density residential to develop a subdivision.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.