RUHS-MC Emergency Lower Level Lab Water Remediation
Summary
SCH Number
2024061224
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
RUHS-MC Emergency Lower Level Lab Water Remediation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/27/2024
Document Description
On August 13, 2022, RUHS Medical Center experienced a catastrophic domestic water leak from one of the water tanks located within the lower-level Laboratory affecting 15 plus rooms and corridors within the facility. The damage was predominately located within the lower-level Laboratory area and terminated at the Materials Management storage area. Following recommendations from the Industrial Hygienist, and due to the hyper-sensitive location of the leak and risk of infectious contamination, RUHS maintenance staff requested the assistance of Facilities Management (FM) to request a declaration of emergency so that a remediation company could be procured to provide emergency repairs and clean-up of the affected units.
On August 16, 2022, Facilities Management issued an emergency declaration pursuant to the authority delegated in Resolution 2003-23 by the Board of Supervisors (Board), allowing FM to take immediate action to procure contracts to provide emergency work without competitive bidding. Failure to immediately address this health safety and welfare event due to “domestic water” intrusion within multiple areas of the lower level of the facility would pose imminent risk in the forms of: infectious disease control issues, non-compliance of regulatory standards, licensing; and accreditation implications related to California Department of Public Health (CDPH), The Joint Commission (TJC), Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMMS); closure of health care areas, inability to provide adequate health care needs, and loss of county services.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Moreno Valley
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
26520 Cactus Avenue, west of Nason Street
Zip
92555
Parcel #
486-280-037
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Section 15269 (b)(c) -Emergency Projects); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
The remediation of the domestic water leak at the RUHS Medical Center satisfies both of these conditions, as the RUHS Medical Center is an essential public facility that provides health and medical services to those in need. The water leak at the hospital posed a risk to infectious contamination that could have potentially resulted in the loss of the hospital's ability to provide critical health services to the public. Emergency remediation was required to avoid a threat to the public health, safety and welfare. In addition, the risk of contamination necessitated immediate action in the form of remediation to maintain public health, as people in hospitals contain sensitive populations, including the sick and elderly, who are more susceptible to threats to public health.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 Existing Facilities and 15061 b3 Common Sense
Reasons for Exemption
The project, as proposed, is limited to the emergency water remediation at the RUHS-MC. The use of the facilities would continue to provide public services and would not result in a significant increase in capacity or intensity of use.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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