Hidden Canyon Test Well Production Plan Mitigated Negative Declaration
4 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2023090412
Lead Agency
Santa Barbara County
Document Title
Hidden Canyon Test Well Production Plan Mitigated Negative Declaration
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
2/4/2025
Document Description
The proposed permitting activity is to drill one new test well for oil and gas
exploration off of School House Canyon Road in New Cuyama, Santa Barbara County. The permitting activity includes grading for a new well pad, drilling the test well, testing the well, plugging and abandonment of the test well, and removal of all production and appurtenant equipment, including pipelines. The well pad would be returned to the pre-project condition of a flat area with non-native grasslands. No permanent equipment is proposed except for the single wellhead. The installation of the new test well is addressed in the Hidden Canyon Test Well Production Plan Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND). The MND was written specifically for the proposed activity of the new test well drill.
The project activity being permitted by the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) is within the scope of the Hidden Canyon Test Well Production Plan MND.
CalGEM, as the CEQA Responsible Agency, approved a permit for West Bay Exploration Co. to drill the well listed below, in Cuyama in Santa Barbara County.
CalGEM, as the Responsible Agency under CEQA, conducts an environmental review limited to those project impacts, which are required to be carried out or approved by CalGEM, or which will be subject to the exercise of powers by CalGEM. (Pub. Resources Code, § 21002.1; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15096). This review includes considering the Lead Agency’s environmental document(s) and determining whether the permitting activity falls within the scope of the document and whether and how to approve the project involved. CalGEM completed its review of the proposed permitting activity and determined that CalGEM will rely on the Lead Agency’s environmental document(s), as it pertains to the proposed permitting activity.
Contact Information
Name
Katie Nall
Agency Name
County of Santa Barbara
Job Title
Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Dean Dusette
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
CEQA Program Contractor
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Pat Gibson
Agency Name
Westbay Exploration Co.
Job Title
Chief Operating Office
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
New Cuyama
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Unincorporated
Total Acres
1
Parcel #
47-020-045
State Highways
166
Waterways
Cuyama River
Township
11N
Section
35
Other Location Info
7400 Highway 166 in Cuyama, approximately 10 miles west of the town of New Cuyama and 1.8 miles east of the Russell Ranch Oil Field
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
CalGEM
Approving Agency Role
Responsible Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Final Environmental Document Available at
https://www.countyofsb.org/160/Planning-Development
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
Attachments
Notice of Determination
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.