Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility Enclosed Flare Station Installation Project

The Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility Enclosed Flare Station Installation Project involves the construction of a permanent enclosed low-nitrogen oxide flare station to serve as a backup landfill gas collection and destruction device for the existing onsite landfill gas collection system and Landfill Gas to Energy plant. Located at 605 Dimeo Lane in Santa Cruz, California, the facility is designed to ensure continuous methane gas collection and combustion in compliance with state law, resource recovery facility permits, and Monterey Bay Air Resources District regulatory provisions, particularly during temporary plant shutdowns. The project is managed by the City of Santa Cruz Public Works Department and is categorized as exempt under CEQA Section 15301 for minor alterations to existing public utility facilities. The scope of work includes the construction of a 3,600-square-foot flare station on a concrete pad, featuring a three-foot tall concrete retaining wall on the northern boundary and a six-foot-high chain link fence with access gates for security. Key equipment to be installed includes an enclosed flare stack, an air compressor, three blowers, a condensate management system, and an equipment control panel. Infrastructure requirements encompass the installation of approximately 200 linear feet of landfill gas header pipe to connect the station to the existing plant, tie-ins for air and condensate management lines, and comprehensive electrical work including trenching, wiring, and conduits. The project aims to replace a temporary flare system, which must be removed by July 2026.