Administrative Law Judge proposed decision supports Pacific Pipeline application.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 1996--Pacific Pipeline's plan to construct and operate a common carrier crude oil pipeline moved a step closer to reality Monday with the proposed decision by California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Administrative Law Judge Victor J. Ryerson recommending that the application be approved by the Commission.

This comes on the heels of an announcement last week by the Angeles National Forest that it would grant Pacific Pipeline a right-of-way to build, operate and maintain a crude oil pipeline and related appurtenances on forest service lands.

Pacific Pipeline wants to build a 132-mile, insulated steel pipeline from southern Kern County to refineries in southern Los Angeles County. The CPUC is the lead agency for the California Environmental Quality Review (CEQA) review process.

"The preparation of this environmental document (the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental Environmental Impact Report)," Ryerson states in his March 11 proposed decision, "represents the conduct of essentially a second full environmental review, with an attendant opportunity for full public participation and comment."

Ryerson's recommendation noted that more than four years of time have been consumed principally "with the task of environmental review of plans for the physical development and operation of the pipeline.

"Under these circumstances," the ALJ decision states, "we have no difficulty finding that the final EIS/SEIR is the comprehensive informational tool that it is intended to be, and that the quality of the information is such that we can be confident of its accuracy."

Ryerson's proposed decision also finds the Pacific Pipeline project "to be in the public interest." Facts cited as examples of benefit to the public include commitments to reduce reliance on marine tankers, unit trains and tanker trucks; increased safety by use of a state-of-the-art pipeline; and significant air-quality benefits.

Pacific Pipeline Vice President Jim Shamas said he expects the Commission to act on Ryerson's proposed decision at its April 10 meeting. If the project is approved and the EIR certified at that time, Shamas said, it is possible that all necessary approvals by local jurisdictions can be completed in time to allow construction to begin by late summer this year.

The owners of Pacific Pipeline are: The Anschutz Co., Chevron Corp., Texaco and Unocal.

CONTACT: Thomas D. Walker, 213/613-4224