Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Action
Pipeline Corridor – Jefferson County
Approximately 30 Acres at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
November 3, 2016

I.       Executive Summary: GT Logistics, LLC (GT) requests an easement for a pipeline corridor across the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for the installation of up to six (6) refined petrochemical product pipelines, each up to 24” inches in diameter.

II.     Discussion: Acquisition of the land that now makes up the J.D. Murphree WMA began in 1959. The 24,498-acre WMA, located on the Chenier plains and marshes of the southeast Texas coast, protects a vast mosaic of freshwater, intermediate and tidal wetlands, including lakes, bayous and marshes. Located close to the Sabine Ship Channel and within a couple miles of extensive petrochemical refining and bulk transfer facilities, the WMA has regularly found itself in the path of industry-related infrastructure development, especially pipelines.

GT has acquired a bulk petrochemical transfer and storage facility immediately east of the north end of the WMA, and a dock facility on the ship channel a few miles away (both by 99-year lease). The most efficient way to get products from the storage facility to the dock facility is by pipelines, and due to existing development, including a water supply reservoir for the Valero/Premcor refining facility, the only feasible and prudent route for the proposed pipeline corridor is through the WMA. The length of the corridor requested is approximately 6,500 feet long by up to 150 feet wide. Staff have worked with GT’s consultants to identify construction and restoration methods that will minimize short and long-term impacts to the WMA.

III.    Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Commission adopt the following motion:

"The TPW Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A."

Attachments – 4

  1. Exhibit A – Resolution
  2. Exhibit B – Location Map
  3. Exhibit C – Vicinity Map
  4. Exhibit D – Site Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the Granting of an Easement for a Pipeline Corridor Covering Approximately 30 Acres of Real Property in Jefferson County

Resolution

Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for a variety of recreation and conservation values, including restoration and management of coastal prairies, marshes, bayous and ponds that serve as significant habitat for a number of resident and migratory species, including waterfowl and wading birds; and,

Whereas, GT Logistics, LLC (GT) has acquired leases for bulk liquid storage facilities (tank farm) and industrial dock facilities near the WMA; and,

Whereas, GT desires to connect the tank farm and the dock facilities with a corridor for six (6) pipelines of up to 24” in diameter to transport refined liquid hydrocarbon products between the two facilities; and,

Whereas, GT has conducted appropriate analyses of alternate routes for such a pipeline corridor, and has demonstrated that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to a route that crosses the WMA; and,

Whereas, GT has worked with staff of TPWD to identify construction and remediation methodologies that will minimize harm to the land, and to WMA operations; and,

Whereas, GT requests that the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Commission authorize the Executive Director to issue a pipeline corridor easement consistent with the terms and conditions of this resolution; and,

Whereas, the TPW Commission finds that as required by Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation which are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the WMA in which such newspapers are published (the Beaumont Enterprise in Jefferson County), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing; and,

Whereas, the TPW Commission finds, in accordance with Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of such land (Easement);  (2) the program or project that requires the use or taking of land (Easement) includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land (Easement); and,

Whereas, the TPW Commission finds, in accordance with Section 13.009 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code that conveyance of the Easement subject to conditions that will minimize the overall impacts of the Easement on the WMA is in the best interest of TPWD; and,

Now, therefore, the TPW Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to negotiate terms and conditions under which an Easement may be granted, and to grant an Easement to GT Logistics, LLC for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approving this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 3rd day of November, 2016.


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T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman

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Ralph H. Duggins, Vice-Chairman

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Anna B. Galo, Member

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Bill Jones, Member

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Jeanne W. Latimer, Member


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James H. Lee, Member

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S. Reed Morian, Member

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Dick Scott, Member

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Kelcy L. Warren, Member

 



Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit B

Location Map for JD Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County

Location Map for JD Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County


Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map for JD Murphree WMA – 5 Miles South of Port Arthur

Vicinity Map for JD Murphree WMA – 5 Miles South of Port Arthur


Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit D

Site Map for Subject Pipeline Corridor Easement
WMA Outlined in Orange
Requested Easement Shown in White

Site Map for Subject Pipeline Corridor Easement - WMA Outlined in Orange - Requested Easement Shown in White