Reliable Fast Charging Access for Multi-Family Housing in Northern California

2022110414

California Energy Commission

NOE - Notice of Exemption

11/18/2022

11/18/2022

Thanh Lopez

California Energy Commission

Air Pollution Specialist

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street MS-6
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 937-9427

thanh.lopez@energy.ca.gov

1) Seven Trees Shopping Center, 4060 Monterey Road, San Jose, CA 95111 2) Morgan Hill Shopping Center, 17599 Monterey St, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Categorical Exemption

§15301 Existing Facilities; §15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures; §15304 Minor Alterations to Land

Cal. Code Regs., Title 14, Sec. 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of existing or former use, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. This project involves installation of nine electric vehicle DCFC at two existing retail parking lot sites in shopping facilities in Northern California. Specifically, the charging equipment to be installed is approximately the size of a payphone. The electric vehicle charging stations will be installed on existing pavement and connected to existing electrical infrastructure in locations where customers already park their vehicles to access commercial and retail businesses. The project involves negligible or no expansion of existing or former use of the sites. Therefore, the project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. Cal. Code Regs., Title 14, Sec. 15303 provides that projects which consist of 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, are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project consists of installation of new small equipment to existing sites. Specifically, the charging equipment to be installed is approximately the size of a pay phone. All the equipment will be installed on existing pavement. Therefore, the project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. Cal. Code Regs., Title 14, Sec. 15304 provides that projects which consist of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. In this project, minor trenching and directional boring may be necessary to lay conduit from the existing or new electrical infrastructure (transformer, switchgear, etc.) to the charging equipment. The trenching/boring will take place on currently paved ground, will not involve the removal of any trees, and surface will be restored. Therefore, the project falls within section 15304 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5, and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.