Chevron Decommissioning and Remediation of the Carpinteria Oil and Gas Facilities

In what appears to be a huge gain for environmental and coast organizations locally, on Monday, May 5, 2025, the City of Carpinteria Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the inconspicuously titled, “Project 21-2128-DP/CDP” – a Development Plan and a Coastal Development Permit to decommission and remediate the Carpinteria Oil and Gas Processing Facilities under the provisions of the Coastal Dependent Industry (M-CD) and Recreation (REC) Zone Districts; and to certify the Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse No. 2022080026) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. Included in the particulars is the City of Carpinteria’s involvement in monitoring of all project activities within 1,000 feet of the harbor seal rookery, and a requirement that Chevron submit all regulatory permits and approvals to the city before the start of any work. 

The area targeted for decommissioning and remediation was built in the 1950s for offshore production from the Summerland oil field, inactive since 2017. The location of the project is Carpinteria Avenue and Dump Road, in Carpinteria, CA.

The decommission and remediation project, pending since October 2021, “…proposes to demolish and remove the Facility including, but not limited to, the onshore portions of the Facility (Onshore Facility), and Slate Waters Offshore Pipelines and complete remediation of impacted soils and groundwater at the Facility. Remediation is proposed to comply with levels established in a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) that will be reviewed by the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Environmental Health Services (SBCEHS), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The Project proposal assumes the most stringent clean up levels for the purpose of determining soil excavation and truck trip estimates and therefore a maximum amount of remediation activities (e.g., truck trips, site activities). The Applicant states remediation efforts will be performed along with preservation of existing site resources, including mature trees and bluffs, and in coordination with site constraints including buffer zones adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way. The most stringent clean up levels would also result in greater flexibility for development on the site meeting the most rigorous standards (e.g., unrestricted land use).”

How this will impact the Harbor Seal Rookery and the walking path adjacent to the rookery while it is being implemented is a consideration. Additionally, up for review and inclusion in the project by Chevron are the Hilda and Hazel Platforms and Pipelines removal.

The environmental impacts are erosion, contaminated soil, human remains, storm water pollution, odor control, asbestos, marine, wildlife, plants species, vegetation, tree inventory, wetlands, traffic control for workers, demolition and truck routes, noise levels, and related considerations.

According to the final April 2025 Environment Impact Report of the project, it is slated:

“To remediate the environmental impacts of the legacy oil and gas facilities on the Project site. More specifically, the Project’s purpose is to demolish and remove surface and subsurface facilities and subsequent remediation of any impacted soils connected to activities from the Onshore Facility to accommodate the site’s potential future redevelopment. Any residually impacted soils at the Onshore Facility will be remediated to an unrestricted land use standard consistent with the approvals from the SBCEHS, RWQCB, and U.S. EPA to facilitate reuse of the property for land use acceptable under the City’s current Draft General Plan/Local Coastal Plan (General Plan) Update (anticipated to be Planned Unit Development and Open Space/Recreation). The State Waters Offshore Pipelines will also be removed.”

The project objectives are: 

1. Idling and removal of existing surface and subsurface equipment, piping, pipeline segments and structures associated with the Facility, including removal of concrete foundations, asphalt, oil spray, and road base within the Facility.

2. Pig and flush pipelines in preparation for removal of State Waters Offshore Pipelines out to the three nautical mile state waters limit.

3. Excavation/remediation of any impacted soils within the Facility and restoration of the affected portions of the Project Site in accordance with the agency approved Remedial Action Plan.

4. Complete removal of State Waters Offshore Pipelines.

5. Recycling/disposal of all materials removed from the Project Sites.

The people in charge of the project are City of Carpinteria Community Development Director Nick Bobroff, Chevron West Coast Decommissioning Program Regulatory Affairs Manager Rebecca Trujillo, and Director of the Chevron West Coast Decommissioning Program Walid Masri.

To view documents on the project, including the Final Environmental Impact Report dated April 2025, check the 411.

411: https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/2022080026/4
https://www.chevron.com/newsroom/2020/q3/west-coast-decommissioning-program