Replenish Big Bear Piloting Study Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022120335
Public Agency
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency
(BBARWA)
Document Title
Replenish Big Bear Piloting Study Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/14/2022
Document Description
The Replenish Big Bear Piloting Study Project is intended to demonstrate process performance of the proposed treatment process for the upgraded BBAWRA WWTP, which includes upflow denitrification, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection, advanced oxidation with sodium hypochlorite, and brine minimization. Piloting will involve rented skid- and trailer-mounted treatment processes that will be operated at the existing WWTP to treat approximately 1% of the BBARWA WWTP effluent flow, or 20 gallons per minute. The piloting system equipment will be located within an existing building or within existing paved areas of the WWTP site under temporary shade and weather structures. All of the equipment and utility connections would be temporary and will utilize process water, electrical power, and utility water from the existing WWTP system. The Piloting Study is anticipated to occur from January 2023 through the summer of 2023, with the potential to extend through October 2023, if additional data is needed. The pilot system is expected to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the duration of the pilot period, aside from any unanticipated operational interruptions.
Contact Information
Name
Bridgette Burton
Agency Name
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA)
Job Title
Management Analyst/Board Secretary
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Big Bear City
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
located within WWTP at 121 Palomino Drive
Zip
92314
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15306
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed Piloting Study is statutorily exempt from substantive CEQA review as it has been determined to have no potential to cause significant adverse effects on the environment. The proposed project meets the criteria for a Feasibility and Planning Studies Statutory Exemption (identified in CEQA Section 15262), which consists of “A project involving 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. This section does not apply to the adoption of a plan that will have a legally binding effect on later activities.” The proposed project involves a pilot study for planning purposes, involving a future action that has not yet been approved by the BBARWA Board of Directors (the Replenish Big Bear Program), and thus has been determined to qualify for the Feasibility and Planning Studies Statutory Exemption (identified in Section 15262). Additionally, the Piloting Study meets the criteria for a Class 6 Categorical Exemption (15306). Class 6 consists of “Information Collection,” outlined under Section 15306 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Class 6 exemptions consist of “basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. These may be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded.” The Class 6 Criteria that is met by this project is that the proposed project is a pilot study that would consist of data collection that would not result in serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource, and the data collected from the pilot study would be used as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. The Piloting Study has been evaluated against the Categorical Exemption exceptions and does not fall under any exception based on the lack of historical, archaeological, and scenic resources within the site, and that no hazardous waste sites are located in the vicinity of the project, and no cumulative or significant effects are anticipated to occur as a result of project implementation. The project activities have been determined not to have a potential to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Therefore, this proposed project is not forecast to cause any potential for significant adverse environmental impacts and qualifies with the requirements for a Statutory Exemption (15262) and a Class 6 Categorical Exemption (15306).
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15262
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed Piloting Study is statutorily exempt from substantive CEQA review as it has been determined to have no potential to cause significant adverse effects on the environment. The proposed project meets the criteria for a Feasibility and Planning Studies Statutory Exemption (identified in CEQA Section 15262), which consists of “A project involving 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. This section does not apply to the adoption of a plan that will have a legally binding effect on later activities.” The proposed project involves a pilot study for planning purposes, involving a future action that has not yet been approved by the BBARWA Board of Directors (the Replenish Big Bear Program), and thus has been determined to qualify for the Feasibility and Planning Studies Statutory Exemption (identified in Section 15262). Additionally, the Piloting Study meets the criteria for a Class 6 Categorical Exemption (15306). Class 6 consists of “Information Collection,” outlined under Section 15306 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Class 6 exemptions consist of “basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. These may be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded.” The Class 6 Criteria that is met by this project is that the proposed project is a pilot study that would consist of data collection that would not result in serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource, and the data collected from the pilot study would be used as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. The Piloting Study has been evaluated against the Categorical Exemption exceptions and does not fall under any exception based on the lack of historical, archaeological, and scenic resources within the site, and that no hazardous waste sites are located in the vicinity of the project, and no cumulative or significant effects are anticipated to occur as a result of project implementation. The project activities have been determined not to have a potential to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Therefore, this proposed project is not forecast to cause any potential for significant adverse environmental impacts and qualifies with the requirements for a Statutory Exemption (15262) and a Class 6 Categorical Exemption (15306).
County Clerk
San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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