Sentinel 092023-001

2024030349

California Department of Conservation (DOC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

3/11/2024

3/11/2024

Nicole Trezza

Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division

Environmental Scientist

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street, MS 1803
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 445-9686

CEQA@conservation.ca.gov

35°13'32.9"N 119°35'21.1"W

31S

22E

14

MD

Categorical Exemption

Class 1: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301

Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1): Class 1 exemption may apply as CalGEM’s regulations state: “Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously. The Class includes, but is not limited to: remedial, maintenance, conversion, and abandonment work on oil, gas, injection, and geothermal wells…”. The purpose of the rework is to repair shallow holes in the well by installing an inner casing string, therefore, this rework could be considered repair or maintenance of the well in order to ensure continued operation. Because the project is to repair the existing well to ensure its continued operation as a production well, similar to historical operations, there is no expansion of use beyond that previously existing.

Categorical Exemption

Class 2: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15302

Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302): It is also a potential Class 2 as this type of rework of a well could be considered “replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity”. This is a rework that involves installing an inner casing string in an existing production well. The activity involves replacement/repair of existing casing/liner and is considered maintenance of the well. The location of the well will not change nor will the purpose of the well, which is production. After the rework, the well will have substantially the same capacity as historical operations with no changes to the wellbore.

Categorical Exemption

Class 4: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15304

Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2): It is also a possible Class 4. The project would be conducted entirely on an existing pad of greater than 0.5 acres (enough to contain all equipment). The project would not disturb any undisturbed areas. The project is located within an industrial area. Therefore, the project “consists of drilling operations that result in only minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation.” The rework would not expand the facility and is conducted in order to maintain level of service.