Conservation, Department of
(Department of Conservation)
Document Title
Chevron 4 Wells
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Document Description
The proposed project consists of drilling four new cyclic steam wells as part of existing Underground Injection Control Projects no. 15000033 and 15000056 in the Coalinga Oil Field in Fresno County. The proposed wells are located within a parcel under active oil production, and is consistent with Fresno County's General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
The basis for the Division's determination that the project is exempt from the requirements of CEQA is provided in the brief explanation below.
1561(6) - Ongoing Project: The Division has determined that the project is statutorily exempt under the Ongoing Project (14 CCR 15261(b)) exemption per the CEQA guidelines because the Division identified the Coalinga oil field and issued permits in this oil field pre-CEQA (prior to April 5, 1973). Additional permits issued in the densely-developed areas of the Coalinga Oil Field are considered part of an ongoing project and exempt from further CEQA reviews.
Class 4 - Minor Alterations to Land: The Division has determined that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under the "Class 4" (14 CCR 15304) exemption per CEQA guidelines and per DOGGR regulations (14 CCR 1684.2) because the proposed project is located on previously graded or otherwise disturbed land within a densely developed oil field.
Exceptions of Exemptions: The Division further finds that there are no exceptions to the otherwise-applicable categorical exemptions (PRC S21084; 14 CCR 15300.2(c)). There is no substantial evidence that there are any "unusual circumstances" associated with the proposed project that create a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment, and that there is no significant "cumulative impacts" resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place.
