REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 22, 2021
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
California Environmental Quality Act Findings for County Service Area 42 Oro Grande Reservoir Replacement Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of County Service Area 42 Oro Grande:
1. Find the County Service Area 42 Oro Grande Reservoir Replacement Project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Section 15302, Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction.
2. Authorize the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to file and post the Notice of Exemption for the County Service Area 42 Oro Grande Reservoir Replacement Project as required under the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended actions for the County Service Area 42 Oro Grande (CSA 42) Reservoir Replacement Project (Project) are administrative in nature and have minimal financial impact.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department of Public Works - Special Districts (Department) operates and maintains the water distribution system for CSA 42 located in the community of Oro Grande. Part of the water system includes an existing 250,000 gallon potable water storage steel tank. The water storage tank is supplied by four groundwater wells located within the Mojave River Basin and is fed from a single 10-inch diameter supply/return water line.
On February 24, 2017, Marine Diving Solutions provided the Department an inspection report recommending replacing the existing tank due to severe corrosions in several sections of the steel tank. The Project will involve replacing the existing water tank in-place and will provide temporary tanks for water storage until the new tank is installed and placed in service. The new potable water storage tank shall meet the current American Water Works Association standard and seismic requirements.
To fund replacement of the tank, the Department has filed a grant application with the State Water Resources Control Board under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and has received a preliminary grant approval for construction funding of the Project. In order to finalize the grant award, the Department is required to submit a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document and the final design plans.
As evidenced by the Notice of Exemption, Section 15302 of CEQA Guidelines provides categorical exemption for projects involving Class 2, replacement or reconstruction. All work involved in the Project is consistent with Class 2 exemptions, which allows for “…replacement structures of substantially the same size, purpose, and capacity.” Therefore, it is recommended that the Board of Supervisors (Board) find the Project to be categorically exempt from further review under Section 15302, Class 2, (Replacement or Reconstruction) of the CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, California Code of Regulations), as well as authorize the Clerk of the Board to file and post the Notice of Exemption. The new structure will be located on the same site and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 27, 2021; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on June 2, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 6, 2021.