CREH 122023-001-Multi

2024050867

California Department of Conservation (DOC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

5/20/2024

5/20/2024

Mikayla A Vaba

Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division

Environmental Planner

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street, MS 1900
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 767-7020

mikayla.vaba@conservation.ca.gov

35°9'36.1"N 119°17'16"W

32S

25E

09

MD

Categorical Exemption

14 CCR § 15301

Class 1 – Existing Facility: The project is categorically exempt from CEQA under the “Class 1” (14 CCR § 15301) exemption per the CEQA Guidelines because the proposed project is a rework of 12 existing wells which the operator proposes to clean and selectively add pay in order to continue resource development. Class 1 applies to the “operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration” of existing facilities involving “negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously”. This rework is a maintenance of the wells that involves cleaning out the wells and performing acid treatment in order to improve the performance and condition of the wells. The wells will remain production wells with generally the same production capacity. The rework will not result in an expansion or deepening of the wellbore. A CalGEM engineer has confirmed that the proposed work is within the scope of the UIC project 00000024 and a continuation of operations within the confines of the project. Accordingly, there is no expansion of use beyond that previously existing.

Categorical Exemption

14 CCR § 15302

Class 2 – Replacement or Reconstruction: The project is categorically exempt from CEQA under the “Class 2” (14 CCR § 15302) exemption per the CEQA Guidelines because the proposed project is a rework of 12 existing production wells which are located on two existing wellpads and will have the same purpose and capacity. Class 2 applies to the “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 as the structure replaced.” The purpose of the project is to continue resource development by repairing and replacing a steel seal between the casing string on the well. The project does not propose changes to the structure of the well (the wellbore). The location of the wells will not change, nor will the underground structure of the well, or the purpose of the wells, which is production. A CalGEM engineer has confirmed that the proposed work is within the scope of the UIC project 00000024 and a continuation of operations within the confines of the project. As such, the wells will remain production wells and will have substantially the same capacity.

Categorical Exemption

14 CCR § 15304

Class 4 – Minor Alterations to Land: The project is categorically exempt from CEQA under the “Class 4” (14 CCR § 15304) exemption per the CEQA Guidelines because the project involves minor alterations to existing wells on two existing well pads, resulting in negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air and/or vegetation. Class 4 applies to “drilling operations that result only in minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation.” The operator indicates that the project does not involve the construction of permanent facilities, the expansion of existing facilities, or the disturbance of ground surface. The project will take place existing wellpads that are large enough to accommodate all necessary equipment. The operator will utilize existing roads, powerlines, and production infrastructure.