On August 15, 2022, Phillips 66 Company (Phillips 66) applied to the County of San Luis Obispo for approval of a Development Plan and Coastal Development Permit (DP/CDP) to demolish the Santa Maria Refinery (SMR) facility and restore the site located at 2555 Willow Road in Arroyo Grande, California.
The County application, C-DRC2022-00048 Phillips 66 SMR Demolition and Remediation Project (SMR Project), was accepted for processing on March 15, 2023, initiating and environmental review process as required under the California Environmental Quality Act. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared for the project.
Project Updates
Background
The SMR Project site covers an approximately 245-acre footprint defined by a fenced boundary within 1,650 acres of contiguous property held by Phillips 66. The property is south of, and takes access from, Willow Road, surrounded by Oceano Dunes State Park to the west, agriculture uses to the south, Woodlands Village Reserve (Monarch Dunes) to the east, and Callendar-Garrett Village Reserve and agriculture use to the north. The SMR property is within the Coastal Zone; parcel Land Use designations include Industrial, Open Space, and Agriculture.
The Santa Maria Refinery has been in operations since in 1955 producing semi-refined liquid petroleum, as well as petroleum coke and granular sulfur which are by-products of refining. The crude oil was delivered primarily from offshore platforms along the California coast and oil fields in and near the Santa Maria Valley. The majority of crude oil was delivered to the SMR by pipeline. The remainder, which was approximately 2,000 barrels per day of petroleum-based products, was delivered by truck. Semi-refined liquid products from the SMR were transported by pipeline as feedstocks to the Rodeo Refinery in Contra Costa County, California, for upgrading into finished petroleum products. The petroleum coke was shipped to off-site market destinations by rail and truck and the granular sulfur was shipped to off-site market destinations by truck.
Phillips 66 recently obtained approval to transform the Rodeo Refinery, located in the community of Rodeo, in Contra Costa County, into a repurposed facility that will process renewable feedstocks into renewable diesel fuel, renewable components for blending with other transportation fuels, and renewable fuel gas. Because the Rodeo Renewed Project will discontinue the processing of crude oil at the Rodeo Refinery, the SMR is no longer necessary to provide feedstock to the Rodeo Refinery. Consequently, Phillips 66 ceased operations of the SMR in January 2023.
Notice of Preparation
Notice of Preparation
On May 4, 2023, the County issued a Notice of Preparation, which is a notice for soliciting agency, organization, and public input and initiation of scoping for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Phillips 66 Santa Maria Refinery Demolition and Remediation Project. The Notice of Preparation can be accessed here:
2023-05-04 Final P66 SMR NOP FIN.pdf
The County will hold three (3) EIR scoping meetings, two virtual meetings and one in-person meeting, to enable agencies, organizations, and interested members of the public to obtain information about the project, ask questions, and provide oral comments on the scope and content of the EIR. The meeting times and login details are as follows:
Scoping Meeting Schedule
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Saturday May 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m..
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Wednesday May 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
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Zoom link:
https://swca.zoom.us/j/98440487828
or by Phone: (669) 900-6833
then enter Webinar ID: 984 4048 7828
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Zoom link:
https://swca.zoom.us/j/93248269924
or by Phone: (669) 900-6833
then enter Webinar ID: 932 4826 9924
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Wednesday May 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
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In person
Black Lake Golf Course Banquet Room
1490 Golf Course Lane, Nipomo
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NOTE: Each meeting will include the same presentation of project information.
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Written Scoping comments are due by 5:00 p.m., June 5, 2023. Comments may be submitted via email to: [email protected], or via USPS mail to: County of San Luis Obispo Planning & Building, Room 300, Attention: Susan Strachan, 976 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408.
Project Timeline
The graphic below is of the EIR process and timeline. It is anticipated that the Draft EIR will be available for public review in October 2023..png?width=700&height=330)