Research and Information Gathering for the Proposed La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan

2022020344

Los Angeles County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

8/23/2022

8/23/2022

Dawn McDivitt

Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

Chief Deputy Director

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007

(213) 763-3303

dmcdivitt@nhm.org

90036

5508016902

5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Categorical Exemption

Section 15304, Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land); Section 15306, Class 6 (Information Collection)

See Attachment 1. The project would not: (1) be located in a particularly sensitive environment; (2) have a significant cumulative impact; (3) have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances; (4) result in damage to scenic resources; (5) be located on a site included on any list compiled pursuant to state law; and (6) cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Additionally, there is no other evidence that the project could result in a significant environmental impact. Therefore, the proposed activities would not meet any of the exceptions for using categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. Additional CEQA exemption background documentation for the research and information gathering for the proposed La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan is available upon request at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History, located at 900 W. Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007.

Statutory Exemption

Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies)

See Attachment 1. The proposed activities are statutorily exempt under CEQA Section 15262, Feasibility and Planning Studies, because the goal of the activities is to collect data in support of preparing feasibility studies for the La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan project. The proposed activities involve only the planning studies that are needed for a possible future action, which has not yet been approved, adopted, or funded. The goal of the activities proposed is to collect geotechnical, methane, and archaeological data to support the planning and design of the of the proposed La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan Project. The proposed activities do not apply to the adoption of the La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan, for which an EIR is being prepared. The proposed activities are considered exempt under Section 15262 because they involve only feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions which the agency, board, or commission has not approved, adopted, or funded does not require the preparation of an EIR or Negative Declaration but does require consideration of environmental factors. The geological, methane, and archaeological data collection would have a negligible effect on the environment, would not be permanent, and would not result in any significant impacts to environmental resources. All field explorations would be overseen by qualified engineers, scientists, and archeologists, equipped with the training and expertise required to ensure no significant impacts to the project site would occur during subsurface explorations. All minor alterations to the land would be restored to pre-surface conditions. The results of the proposed activities would not compel the County to move forward with the La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan and would not prevent the County from conditioning, changing, or failing to recommend approval of a proposed project at the La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan project site. Therefore, further review under CEQA is not required.