Adoption of the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 and Approval of Repair, Maintenance and Pre-Construction Activities

Summary

SCH Number
2022040624
Public Agency
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA)
Document Title
Adoption of the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 and Approval of Repair, Maintenance and Pre-Construction Activities
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/28/2022
Document Description
Adoption of the annual budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (the “Budget”), which includes funding for nine projects to maintain or replace existing equipment, purchase small equipment, create new pipeline maps, and complete pre-construction activities associated with the Replenish Big Bear Project (“Budget”). The nine potential projects include: 1) rehabilitating the monitoring wells, 2) replacing a CSA flow meter, 3) rehabilitating the North Shore Pump Station 3, 4) replacing a VFD for Interceptor Station 3, 5) replacing a laboratory BOD incubator, 6) replacing 3 pumps, 7) replacing headers and check valves, 8) creating new pipeline maps, and 9) performing engineering, environmental and other pre-construction activities related to Replenish Big Bear (“RBB”) (collectively, “Proposed Approvals”). The Budget also determines a rate adjustment tied to RBB, along with current operations and impact of RBB on the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency’s expenses and rates.

Contact Information

Name
David Lawrence
Agency Name
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Big Bear Lake
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Citywide
Other Information
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency service area

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
State CEQA Guidelines sections 15378, 15273, 15301, 15302, 15303, 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The April 27, 2022 approval of the Budget and Proposed Approvals is not a CEQA “project,” because the Budget and Proposed Approvals will not result in any direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect environmental impacts under State CEQA Guidelines § 15378. Further, the Budget and Proposed Approvals are not subject to CEQA review, because it can be seen with certainty that they have no potential to impact the environment under State CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3). Additionally, and even if the Budget and the Proposed Approvals are a CEQA “project,” they are still categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15301, 15302, 15303, and 15311 because the Budget and the Proposed Approvals involve: • the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment that will result in negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing today pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines §15301; • the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities, which will be located on the same site have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure or facility replaced pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines § 15302; • the 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 pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines § 15303. Finally, none of the “exceptions” to the categorical exemptions apply under State CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2. Lastly, the Budget is exempt from under State CEQA Guidelines § 15273 since the Budget includes rate adjustments to assist in funding the RBB to maintain service within existing service areas.
County Clerk
San Bernardino

Attachments

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