Demolition cleanup begins at petroleum storage facility
Demolition and cleanup at the site of Equilon Enterprises, LLC, dba Shell Oil Products US (SOPUS) petroleum tank farm has begun following an agreement reached in 2017 with the Port of West Sacramento on the disposition of the facility at 1509 South River Road in Pioneer Bluff.
The deal outlines a creative public-private transaction that allowed for the phase-out of operations at the facility over the course of four years. The demolition and clean-up of the six-acre facility, which has been in operation since the 1940s, reflects the Port’s broad economic development mission and is another example of the transition of the Pioneer Bluff district from legacy industrial operations to future riverfront mixed-use development.
“This transaction is a big step in the planned de-industrialization of West Sacramento’s Pioneer Bluff District,” Oscar Villegas, Yolo County supervisor and Port Commission chairman, said. “We would like to thank SOPUS for their partnership, professionalism, and commitment to remediation of this fuel terminal. The Port of West Sacramento looks forward to taking ownership after its clean-up and working with the City of West Sacramento on its future development.”
Mayor Martha Guerrero believes the release of this keystone property will help West Sacramento implement its waterfront vision.
“The closure, demolition, and remediation of this fuel storage and distribution facility represents a very meaningful transition on several levels. There is so much potential for life on the river, and this is an important next step in creating great attractions for the region and neighborhoods that embrace our beautiful waterfront,” Mayor Pro Tem and Port Commissioner, Chris Ledesma, said.
“This property transaction is a good example of how the Port can facilitate important public infrastructure projects in West Sacramento in collaboration with the City and for the benefit of the community.”
The phase-out of operations and cleanup of the property has been a collaborative effort, under the supervision of the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The agreement secures a strategic cornerstone parcel that will facilitate the construction of future infrastructure projects including a new Broadway Bridge over the Sacramento River and an extension of West Sacramento’s River Walk trail.