Guide to the Collection of California Coastal Commission Liquefied Natural Gas Files
Processed by Joanna Lamb;machine-readable finding aid created by Joanna Lamb
Special Collections and Archives
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Phone: (949) 824-3947
Fax: (949) 824-2472
Email: spcoll@uci.edu
URL: http://special.lib.uci.edu
© 2009
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: California Coastal Commission Liquefied Natural Gas files
Date: 1970-1983,
Date (bulk): bulk 1977-1978
Collection Number: MS-R140
Creator:
California Coastal Commission
Extent:
3.6 linear feet
(9 boxes)
Languages: The collection is in English.
Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: The California Coastal Commission Liquefied Natural Gas files contain reports, correspondence, court records, newspaper clippings
and miscellaneous files relating to liquefied natural gas (LNG) sites proposed by several public utility companies in 1972.
The California Coastal Commission was created through the California Coastal Act to prevent the privatization of California's
beaches through the regulation of land and water use in the coast. At the time of the LNG proposals the California Coastal
Commission was the state authority for approving and permitting rights for LNG terminals.
Important Information for Researchers
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head
of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
California Coastal Commission Liquefied Natural Gas files. MS-R140. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries,
Irvine, California.
Acquisition Information
Transferred from the UCI Libraries Government Documents Division, date unknown.
Processing History
Processed by Joanna Lamb, 2008.
Historical Background
The California Coastal Commission was established by voter initiative in 1972 to identify and prevent ecological and environmental
dangers threatening California's coastal landscape and to protect coastal land from privatization. Since the California Legislature
passed the California Coastal Act of 1976, the Coastal Commission has planned and regulated the use of land and water in the
coastal zone through reviews of local and federal government programs and activities.
In the late 1960s, declining domestic natural gas reserves resulting from federal price controls on interstate gas led some
U.S. utility firms to explore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports as an alternative source of natural gas. Western LNG Terminal
Company, Pacific Gas and Electric, and El Paso Natural Gas Company proposed to build and employ LNG import facilities at multiple
California coastal sites in 1972. The Port of Los Angeles, Oxnard, and Point Conception were first identified as prospective
LNG Terminal sites; however, the three state agencies involved with siting authority: the California Coastal Commission, the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and the California Energy Commission were unable to approve the sites because
of conflicts of interest stemming from environmental and safety concerns of the Coastal Commission.
The LNG Terminal Siting Act of 1977 was passed by California legislature to prevent a stalemate and increase the likelihood
of site approval allowing for permitting of proposed LNG Terminal sites. The new law gave state siting authority for the project
to CPUC, while simultaneously acknowledging environmental concerns by granting the Coastal Commission the task of identifying
and ranking proposed sites that would mitigate environmental damage. The Coastal Commission initially evaluated 82 sites,
and found only four met the strict population density standards and other protective criteria that they had established regarding
wind and wave conditions, earthquake hazards, and soil conditions. Of these four, the Point Conception site was conditionally
approved by the CPUC despite concerns about minimal seismic risks in the area.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) (formerly the FCP) also granted conditional approval of the Point Conception
site. However, project opponents appealed FERC's approval, and the Federal courts remanded the case back to FERC for reconsideration
of seismic risk factors. Although the Point Conception site eventually regained conditional approval from FERC in 1983, the
project was ultimately abandoned. The utility companies were forced to acknowledge that the project was no longer economically
viable after Congress passed the Natural Gas Policy in 1978, which lifted price controls on domestic natural gas discovered
after 1977 and diminished the cost of domestic LNG.
Biography/Organization History
Chronology
| 1972 |
Several public utilities announce plans to import LNG |
| 1972 |
The California Coastal Commission established by voter initiative |
| 1976 |
California Legislature adopts the California Coastal Act and makes permanent the California Coastal Commission as we know
it today
|
| 1977 |
California Legislation passes the LNG Terminal Siting Act of 1977 |
| 1978 |
U.S. Congress passes Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 |
| 1983 |
FERC gives conditional approval to the Point Conception LNG Project site |
Bibliography
California Coastal Commission. California coastal commission home page. Available from http://www.coastal.ca.gov/ (accessed
December 10, 1978).
California Energy Commission, and Mignon Marks. 2003. Liquefied natural gas in California: History, risks, and siting. http://www.energy.ca.gov/reports/2003-07-17_700-03-005.PDF
(accessed December 10, 2008).
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. 2005. The need for effective and forthright communication planning
for LNG siting: A checklist for state public utility commissions. http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/oilgas/publications/lng/LNG_NARUC_communication_lngfacsiting.pdf
(accessed December 15, 2008).
Weems, Phillip R., and Kevin D. Keenan. 2002. Greenfield LNG import terminal approvals. LNG Journal (May-June 2002), http://www.kslaw.com/library/pdf/GreenfieldLNGTerminals.pdf
(accessed December 16, 2008).
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises records assembled by the California Coastal Commission and associated with proposed LNG Terminal
Site Projects in the 1970s. The bulk of this collection includes reports that were collected or created by the California
Coastal Commission. Additionally the collection includes correspondence, LNG Terminal court records, miscellaneous LNG files,
and LNG related newspaper clippings.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged in alphabetical order by material type.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
California Coastal Commission - - Archives
Coastal zone management -- California -- Archives
Liquefied natural gas -- California -- Archives
Collection Contents
LNG correspondence
1977-1978
Box : Folder 1 : 1-4
General correspondence
1977-1978
Box : Folder 1 : 5
Opposition of LNG terminal sites correspondence
1978 March-April
Box : Folder 1 : 6
Orange County work program correspondence
1978 December-August
Box : Folder 1 : 7
Miscellaneous correspondence (bound)
1978
LNG court records
1978 April-May
Box : Folder 2 : 1
Legal Brief on Behalf of Western LNG Terminal Associates
1978 May 8
Box : Folder 2 : 2-4
Public hearing transcripts
1978 April
Box : Folder 2 : 5-6
LNG terminal sites: newspaper clippings
1978
Miscellaneous LNG related files
1977-1979
Box : Folder 2 : 7
Documents and brochures (bound file)
1977-1978
Box : Folder 2 : 8
Cojo Bay magazine article and correspondence
1978
Box : Folder 2 : 9
Notes, recommendations, environmental factors and timelines
1978-1979
Box : Folder FB 42 : 7
Alternate Site Comparisons Based on Coastal Commission Ranking Criteria scrapbook
undated
Reports collected by the California Coastal Commission
1971-1978
California Advisory Commission on Marine and Coastal Resources report
Box : Folder 3 : 1
Fourth Annual Report, The California Marine Environment
1971
California Department of Fish and Game reports
1971-1978
Box : Folder 3 : 2
Fish and Wildlife Resources of Five Proposed Onshore LNG Terminal Sites
1978 March 31
Box : Folder 3 : 3
Fish and Wildlife Resources of Five Proposed Onshore LNG Terminal Sites
1978 March 30
Box : Folder 3 : 4
Fish and Wildlife in the Marine and Coastal Zone
1971 November
California Public Utilities Commission reports
1978
Box : Folder 3 : 5
Draft - Environmental Impact Report for Proposed Point Conception LNG Project
1978 February 28
Box : Folder 3 : 6
Final Environmental Impact Report for the Point Conception LNG Terminal Project, vol. I, Summary of Revision to DEIR
1978 July
Box : Folder 4 : 1
Final Environmental Impact Report for the Point Conception LNG Terminal Project, vol. II, Comments and Response
1978 July
Box : Folder 4 : 2
Final Environmental Impact Report for the Point Conception LNG Terminal Project, vol. III, Comments and Response
1978 July
Box : Folder 4 : 3
Final Environmental Impact Report for the Point Conception LNG Terminal Project, Appendices I
1978 July
Box : Folder 5 : 1
Final Environmental Impact Report for the Point Conception LNG Terminal Project, Appendices II
1978 July
Box : Folder 5 : 2
Camp Pendleton Wildlife Inventory
undated
Citizens Against the Coastal Initiative report
Box : Folder 5 : 3
The Coastal Zone Initiative (Proposition No. 20) Fact Sheet
undated
City of Oxnard (Ca.) report
Box : Folder 5 : 4
Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Oxnard LNG Facilities
undated
Coastal Zone Commission report
Box : Folder 5 : 5
Financing Coastal Zone Plan Implementation
undated
Coordinating Council for Higher Education report
Box : Folder 5 : 6
Marine Resources for California
1972 April
Department of Navigation and Ocean Development report
Box : Folder 5 : 7
Agriculture in the Coastal Zone
undated
H.J. Degenkolb & Associates report
Box : Folder 6 : 1
The Earthquake Resistant Design of Five LNG Import Terminals in California
1978 May
Box : Folder 6 : 2
Statement to California Coastal Commission: Proposed LNG Facility at Point Conception
1978 April
Madrone Associates Environmental Consultants reports
Box : Folder 6 : 3
Biological Impacts, Mitigations, and Conditions: Proposed Onshore LNG Terminal Sites
1978 April
Box : Folder 6 : 4
Draft - Biological Impact Analysis of Natural Resources Proposed Onshore LNG Terminal Sites, Mitigations and Conditions
1978 April
Marine Review Committee report
Box : Folder 6 : 5
Annual Report to the California Coastal Commission, August 1976-August 1977: Summary of the Estimated Effects on Marine Life
of Unit 1, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
1977 September
South Coast Regional Conservation Commission report
Box : Folder 6 : 6
Coastal Land Habitats in the South Coast Region
1974 January 21
South Coast Regional Commission reports
1974-1978
Box : Folder 6 : 7
County of Orange Commission Staff Summary and Recommendation
1978 October 20
Box : Folder 6 : 8
The Marine Environment in the South Coast Region
1974 May 6
Southern California Gas Company report
Box : Folder 6 : 9
A Report of a Study in Santa Barbara County
1978 April
Reports created by the California Coastal Commission
1977-1983
Box : Folder 7 : 1
Ballona Creek Wetlands - Draft Working Paper
1978 August 17
Box : Folder 7 : 2
California Offshore LNG Terminal Study
1978 February 1
Box : Folder 7 : 3
Comments by Western LNG Terminal Associates on the California Coastal Commission Staff's Recommendation of Ranking of LNG
Terminal Sites
1978 May 5
Box : Folder 7 : 4
Decision Analysis of California LNG-Draft Report
1977 December 20
Box : Folder 7 : 5
Final Report Evaluating and Ranking LNG Terminal Sites
1978 May 24
Box : Folder 7 : 6
Geotechnical Evaluation of Five Potential Mainland California LNG Import Terminal Sites
1978 April 28
Box : Folder 7:7
Initial LNG Facility Site Evaluation - Maritime Factors Relative to Onshore Mainland Sites
1978 January 18
Box : Folder 8 : 1
LNG Documents Accession List
undated
Box : Folder 8 : 2
Malibu Lagoon and Wetlands - Draft Working Paper
1978 August 17 and 18
Box : Folder 8 : 3
Marina Del Rey/ Ballona Land Use Plan (LUP), Addendum to October 7, 1983 Staff Report
1983 December 23
Box : Folder 8 : 4
Maritime Factors Analysis: Onshore LNG Facility - Draft
1978 April 18
Box : Folder 8 : 5
Maritime Factors Analysis:Onshore LNG Facility
1978 January 6
Box : Folder 8 : 6
Mitigation Appendix, MRC Doc. 80-04 (I)
1981 January- February
Box : Folder 8 : 7
Point Conception LNG Facility Design Criteria Recommendations
1978 May
Box : Folder 8 : 8
Preliminary Evaluation of Wind and Wave Effects at Potential LNG Terminal Sites
1978 January
Box : Folder 9 : 1
Preliminary Geotechnical Evaluation of Potential Island and Offshore California LNG Import Terminal Sites
1978 February 1
Box : Folder 9 : 2
Preliminary Structural Engineering Evaluation of Geotechnical Conditions at Eleven Possible LNG Terminal Sites
1978 January 16
Box : Folder 9 : 3
Responses Submitted by Western LNG Terminal Associates
1978 April 12
Box : Folder 9 : 4
Staff Recommendation on Ranking of LNG Terminal Sites
1978 May 5
Box : Folder 9 : 5
Supplement for Geotechnical Evaluation of Potential Mainland California LNG Import Terminal Sites
1978 January 16
Box : Folder 9 : 6
Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas
1977 September
