PIPELINE PROPOSAL ANALYZED FOR SAFETY.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - A proposed $4 billion floating natural gas storage unit off the Ventura County coastline that would include a pipeline connection through Santa Clarita is being analyzed by city officials for its safety and environmental impacts.

The floating vessel, dubbed the Cabrillo Port, would be docked 21 miles from Port Hueneme, and would act as a receiving facility for liquid natural gas. Three storage tanks on the facility would hold about 41,678 tons of the gas.

After it is processed to its natural state, the gas would then be transported through underwater pipeline, eventually making its way to existing pipes that run through Oxnard and Santa Clarita. Pipelines would be expanded through 7.7 miles in the city, linking it to the Southern California Gas Co.'s Honor Rancho Storage Facility in Castaic.

Officials with BHP Billiton, an Australia-based company, said Monday during a public hearing in Santa Clarita that they are aware of concerns among residents, but have proposed several mitigations for each issue, specifically safety.

Both the U.S. Coast Guard and the state Lands Commission have been named the lead agencies and will analyze the proposal and make a recommendation.

Santa Clarita city officials, however, can say little about the proposal. The public comment period will continue until Dec. 20.

``It's really not our project,'' city planner Kai Luoma said. ``It's going to depend on the city's evaluation. We may or may not do any outreach. We'll be providing a response in the next couple of weeks.''

BHP Billiton ranks among the world's top producers of petroleum products such as crude oil and natural gas. The company has operations on six continents.

The Ventura Coastline and Santa Clarita area were chosen because the infrastructure is in place, said BHP Billiton spokeswoman Kathi Hahn.

``The infrastructure is here,'' she said. ``You don't have to dig up the whole shoreline for the pipes.''

Officials with the Gas Co. said that, while the company has no position on the project, there is support for liquid natural gas coming to the state.

``The supply in the U.S. is getting tighter, and we need additional supplies,'' Gas Co. spokeswoman Denise King said. The Gas Co. favors a diverse supply of the product to increase competition among suppliers, and drive down price.

For the Santa Clarita portion of the project, the pipeline would cross the southern portion of the Santa Clara River and San Francisquito Creek either on an open girder bridge or in an open trench. The Gas Co. would install and operate the onshore natural gas pipeline, King said.

``It would be an enhancement,'' King said. ``Installing a pipeline is not new to us. It's what we've been doing for 100 years. Safety has always been our highest priority. There are a number of steps we take.''

King said the pipeline would run below ground, but there are a variety of routes still under consideration, she added.

``It would parallel our existing pipeline,'' she said. ``Our preferred route is to use existing roadways and bridges,'' minimizing any impact on the Santa Clara River.

``All new facilities follow design and construction practices and rigid testing prior to be put into service.''

Federal and state officials said there are dozens of proposed projects by other companies submitted to the Federal Regulation Commission, but few will likely meet approval.

Cabrillo Port is one of four proposed off the coast of California, including another off Ventura County, and the port of Long Beach.