Emergency Sebastopol Road Well Activation Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022030339
Public Agency
Sonoma County Water Agency
Document Title
Emergency Sebastopol Road Well Activation Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/11/2022
Document Description
The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is proposing a drought emergency project to bring an existing groundwater well at the Sebastopol Road Well Station (Well Station) into operation and to increase regional and community drought resiliency. The Well Station is located along the Russian River-Cotati Intertie Aqueduct (underground pipeline). The purpose of the project is to provide supplemental water from the existing well to support agriculture and public water retailers (cities and water districts) during the drought emergency. The project will consist of installing additional piping and associated equipment from the well to the underground pipeline to ensure chlorine contact time regulatory requirements are met for potable water use. The new piping and appurtenances would be installed primarily beneath the existing graveled hardscape and disturbed areas adjacent to the Aqueduct and well. Approximately 250 feet of 36-inch-diameter pipe would be installed. In addition, a discharge pipe would be installed from two new holding tanks to a permanent connection to the existing underground recycled pipeline located approximately 15 feet from the Well Station fence line. The holding tanks are primarily used for chlorine analyzer discharge and well operations flush water, which will be de-chlorinated prior to discharge to the underground recycled pipeline. Project activities would be contained within the 0.13-acre work area and 0.12-acre staging area. All disturbed areas would be returned to pre-existing conditions. The proposed project would not change the existing capacity of the Aqueduct or impact mature trees or native vegetation.
Contact Information
Name
Dave Cook
Agency Name
Sonoma County Water Agency
Job Title
Senior Environmental Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Santa Rosa
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Statewide
Cross Streets
5590 Sebastopol Road, 0.4 mile west of Llano Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed action is statutorily exempt under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statute 21080(b)(4), which provides that specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency are exempt from CEQA; categorically exempt from CEQA under the State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(b)(f); and under Section 6b of Governor's April 21, 2021, emergency drought proclamation for the Russian River Watershed.
On March 5, 2021, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture designated 50 California counties, including Sonoma County, as primary natural disaster areas due to drought. This Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency. On April 21, 2021, Governor Newsom issued a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in Sonoma and Mendocino counties due to drought conditions in the Russian River Watershed (Governor's Drought Proclamation). The Governor has continued that proclamation for Sonoma and Mendocino counties through further drought proclamations on May 10, July 8, and October 19, 2021. On April 27, 2021, the Board of Supervisors for the County of Sonoma proclaimed a local emergency for the Sonoma County Operational Area due to drought conditions, which was most recently continued on March 1, 2022. On June 16, 2021, the General Manager of Sonoma Water determined that due to drought conditions, an emergency exists that poses a clear and imminent danger, requiring immediate action to prevent or mitigate the loss or impairment of life, health, property, or essential public services, necessitating immediate action pursuant to the authority of the County of Sonoma Resolution #06-0649. On June 18, 2021, the Sonoma Water Board of Directors adopted a resolution ratifying the General Manager’s emergency determination and declaring the need to do emergency work related to drought and that such projects are exempt for the requirements of CEQA. The Board of Directors has since continuously renewed the emergency determination every two weeks.
Sonoma Water staff are proposing work necessary to bring an existing groundwater well at the Sebastopol Road Well Station into operation and to increase regional and community drought resiliency. CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 provides, generally, that the operation of existing facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination is categorically exempt from CEQA. Item b exempts existing facilities, including public utility services. Item f, specifies that health protection devices for use in existing facilities are exempt under CEQA. The proposed project would add chlorination to provide safe potable water that meets chlorine contact time regulatory requirements.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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