Central Valley Project (CVP) Water Service Contract Conversion
Summary
SCH Number
2020020582
Public Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
Central Valley Project (CVP) Water Service Contract Conversion
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/28/2020
Document Description
The original water service contract between SMUD and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation was for delivery of up to 75,000 acre-feet of water per year through CVP facilities. That contract was authorized prior to the passage of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and relied upon conveyance facilities previously constructed or built in connection therewith. The water was formerly used for the now-decommissioned Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Facility and has been used at Rancho Seco Lake and the Rancho Seco property's Cosumnes Power Plant for 45 and 15 years respectively. SMUD's current interim CVP water service contract is for delivery of up to 30,000 acre-feet of water per year and, pursuant to authority delegated under SMUD Board of Directors Resolution NO. 12-12-15, will be amended and restated on essentially the same terms and conditions except that the contract will continue in effect as long SMUD pays applicable rates and charges. The place of use under the contract is the Rancho Seco property, and this contract change will not result in the foreseeable modification to or change in operation of any SMUD facility at that location.
Contact Information
Name
Kim Crawford
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Herald
Other Location Info
Rancho Seco Lake 14960 Twin Cities Road & Cosumnes Power Plant 14295 Clay East Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
The approved project will not trigger changes in the operations of the CVP or the delivery of water and will not trigger changes in the operation or configuration of SMUD facilities. The proposed action does not include any direct or indirect physical impacts on the environment. Under CEQA Guidelines § 15062, a lead agency must identify the rationale for making the determination that a project is exempt under CEQA. Some aspects of the approved project (Rancho Seco Lake, CVP conveyance facilities, delivery of water to and use of water at the location) were approved prior to November 23, 1970 and therefore are subject to the ongoing project exemption, CEQA Guidelines § 15261. Other aspects of the approved project (Cosumnes Power Plant) were built pursuant to an approval in compliance with CEQA and are subject to the existing facilities exemption, CEOA Guidelines § 15301. In addition, the proposed action would not involve a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical impact on the environment and would not satisfy the definition of a "project" under Pub. Res. Code§ 21065; CEQA Guidelines§ 15378. Therefore, SMUD has determined the proposed action is exempt under CEQA Guidelines § 15060.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA PRC §21083, Reference: CEQA - PRC §21102 and §21150; CEQA Guidelines §15261 Ongoing Project
Reasons for Exemption
The approved project will not trigger changes in the operations of the CVP or the delivery of water and will not trigger changes in the operation or configuration of SMUD facilities. The proposed action does not include any direct or indirect physical impacts on the environment. Under CEQA Guidelines § 15062, a lead agency must identify the rationale for making the determination that a project is exempt under CEQA. Some aspects of the approved project (Rancho Seco Lake, CVP conveyance facilities, delivery of water to and use of water at the location) were approved prior to November 23, 1970 and therefore are subject to the ongoing project exemption, CEQA Guidelines § 15261. Other aspects of the approved project (Cosumnes Power Plant) were built pursuant to an approval in compliance with CEQA and are subject to the existing facilities exemption, CEOA Guidelines § 15301. In addition, the proposed action would not involve a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical impact on the environment and would not satisfy the definition of a "project" under Pub. Res. Code§ 21065; CEQA Guidelines§ 15378. Therefore, SMUD has determined the proposed action is exempt under CEQA Guidelines § 15060.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA PRC§ 21065; CEQA Guidelines §15378 and - §15060
Reasons for Exemption
The approved project will not trigger changes in the operations of the CVP or the delivery of water and will not trigger changes in the operation or configuration of SMUD facilities. The proposed action does not include any direct or indirect physical impacts on the environment. Under CEQA Guidelines § 15062, a lead agency must identify the rationale for making the determination that a project is exempt under CEQA. Some aspects of the approved project (Rancho Seco Lake, CVP conveyance facilities, delivery of water to and use of water at the location) were approved prior to November 23, 1970 and therefore are subject to the ongoing project exemption, CEQA Guidelines § 15261. Other aspects of the approved project (Cosumnes Power Plant) were built pursuant to an approval in compliance with CEQA and are subject to the existing facilities exemption, CEOA Guidelines § 15301. In addition, the proposed action would not involve a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical impact on the environment and would not satisfy the definition of a "project" under Pub. Res. Code§ 21065; CEQA Guidelines§ 15378. Therefore, SMUD has determined the proposed action is exempt under CEQA Guidelines § 15060.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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