Southern California Express Corridor Project (REVISED)
Southern California Express Corridor Project (REVISED)
Summary
SCH Number
2018078002
Lead Agency
Energy Commission
(California Energy Commission)
Document Title
Southern California Express Corridor Project (REVISED)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/2/2018
Document Description
The project will deploy nine electric vehicle charging stations (consisting of five direct current fast chargers and four level 2 electric vehicle charging stations) at four sites wheeler ridge and Santa Clarita on Interstate 5. This project will help strengthen the existing, but limited fast charge network to extend the range of plug-in electric vehicle miles driven, further support the adoption and growth of plug-in electric vehicles in California, and to help meet the near-term goal of the Governor's Executive Order B-16-12 specifying infrastructure be built to support the fueling of 1 million zero-emission vehicles by 2020.
Dennis McCathy Drive, Frazier Mountain Park Road, Sloan Canyon Road, The Old Road
Other Location Info
Varies
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15303, 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15301 provides that projects which consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. This project involves installation of five electric vehicle direct current fast charging stations and four level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at four existing facilities. Specifically, the fast charging equipment to be installed is approximately the size of a payphone and the level two charging equipment is approximately the size of a parking meter. The existing facilities include two hotels, one shopping center and one fast food restaurant all commercially zoned to serve the public. At all four existing sites, the electric vehicle charging stations will be installed on existing paved parking lots and connect to existing electrical panels. Therefore, the project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303 provides that projects which consist of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project consists of installation of new small equipment to the existing site. Specifically, the fast charging equipment to be installed is approximately the size of a pay phone and the level two charging equipment is the site of the parking meter. All the equipment will be installed in existing, paved parking lots. Therefore, the project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15304 provides that projects which consist of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. In this project, minor trenching may be necessary to lay two-inch conduit from the existing electrical panel to the charging equipment, totaling approximately 2 cubic feet per foot of distance from the electrical panel, to connect the proposed new electric vehicle charging station equipment to an existing electrical supply panel. The trenching will take place on currently paved ground, will not involve the removal of any trees, and surface will be restored. Therefore, the project falls within section 15304 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
