Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Authorization to Convey Fee Simple Interest in Real Property to the Western Riverside Regional Conservation Au
Summary
SCH Number
2024120092
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Authorization to Convey Fee Simple Interest in Real Property to the Western Riverside Regional Conservation Au
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/4/2024
Document Description
Title: Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Authorization to Convey Fee Simple Interest in Real Property to the Western Riverside Regional Conservation Authority (WRRCA), Lake Elsinore and Aguanga Areas
Western Riverside County has a diverse ecosystem supporting a wide range of plant and animal species, including 32 currently listed species, with additional listed species anticipated in the future. Riverside County faces the doubling of its population over the next 20-25 years, which will require new infrastructure development. To ensure sensitive species and their habitat are protected in spite of anticipated development, the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) was created. Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority (RCA) was created to implement and administer the MSHCP. The MSHCP is a multi-jurisdictional habitat conservation plan focusing on the conservation of both sensitive species and associated habitats to address biological and ecological diversity conservation needs in Western Riverside County, setting aside undisturbed land for the conservation of sensitive habitats while preserving open space and recreational opportunities. The MSHCP addresses the potential impacts of urban growth, natural habitat loss and species endangerment, and creates a plan to mitigate for the potential loos of covered species and their habitats due to direct and indirect impacts of future development of both private and publics lands within the MSHCP Plan Area. In anticipation of the then forthcoming MSHCP, the County began acquiring real property that possessed important wildlife and habitat value for future inclusion in the MSHCP with funds received from the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) grant programs and funds collected through the MSHCP mitigation fee program (Riverside County Ordinance No. 810). On April 30, 2024, the Board adopted Resolution No. 2024-059, a Declaration of Exempt Surplus Land and Notice of Intent to Convey Fee Simple Interests in Real Property from County to RCA. The County subsequently sent Resolution No. 2024- 059 to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as required by the Surplus Land Act. On May 30, 2024, HCD sent a letter to the County acknowledging the County’s declaration of exempt surplus land and confirmed the County’s compliance with the Surplus Land Act. HCD’s letter is attached hereto for reference. The conveyance of Property is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Contact Information
Name
Michael Sullivan
Agency Name
County of Riverside Facilities Management
Job Title
Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Riverside
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Other Information
Gritton Habitat:
347-020-012
North Peak Habitat #2:
347-020-004, 347-020-008, 347-020-010, 347-020-011,
347-110-066, 347-110-067, 347-110-080, 347-110-081,
347-110-085
North Peak Habitat #3:
346-060-003, -004, -005, -006, -012, -013, -017, -021, -
025, -029, -033, -037, -059, -061, -063, -065, -067, -
069, -071, -073, -075; 346-080-006; 346-140-003
through -018, -020; 346-150-001 through -021; 346-
180-002 through -017; 346-190-010
White Rock #1 Habitat:
347-110-028, -079; 347-340-008, -018, -019, -020, -
026, -029; 349-240-063 through -068; 349-270-003 241.60
White Rock #2 Habitat 349-240-071, 349-240-073, 349-240-074, 349-260-005,
349-240-036, 349-240-035, 349-270-004
White Rock #3 Habitat:
349-260-004, 349-240-076, 349-270-006
Long Beach Equities:
Habitat 390-110-006, 390-120-016 299.76
Geller #3 581-100-003
Alberhill Habitat:
389-080-060, 390-130-046, 390-130-047, 390-130-048,
390-200-015, 390-200-017, 390-200-018, 390-210-024,
389-080-059, 390-130-045, 390-200-014, 390-200-016,
390-210-018, 390-210-023, and 390-270-008
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061 (b) (3)
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. The approval of the MOU and the conveyance of the Property is an administrative function and would not result in direct effects. Indirect effects of the conveyance would result in new ownership of the property for conservation. The conveyance would not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis. The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA specifically by the State CEQA Guidelines as identified below. The project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern nor would the project involve unusual circumstances that could potentially have a significant effect on the environment. The project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with conveyance of the Property to WRRCA. Therefore, the County of Riverside hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the project as proposed is exempt under CEQA. No further environmental analysis is warranted.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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