Mesa Verde Water Reservoir Replacement
Summary
SCH Number
2024120127
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Mesa Verde Water Reservoir Replacement
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/4/2024
Document Description
The Office of Economic Development oversees the operation of sixty County Service Areas (CSAs) throughout Riverside County. Each CSA is authorized to provide services based on the needs of each community. The CSA collects special taxes and assessments depending on the services needed for the specific CSA, with potential services including streetlights, parks and recreation, landscaping, street sweeping, water and sewage, and road maintenance.
The County Services Area 122 was formed in 1978 to provide water and road maintenance in the unincorporated area of Mesa Verde, Riverside County. The Mesa Verde Water Production and Treatment Facility, located at 16720 W. Hobbsonway, Blythe, 92225, maintains two, above ground water tanks. The smaller of the two tanks was manufactured in 2002 and no longer is working and is beyond repair. In order to maintain reliability of water supply, a new replacement tank is being sought to up to 1,000,000 gallons to match the lone, existing operational tank, so in the event that one of the tanks is not functioning, the additional tank will have sufficient capacity to continue providing water to the community. The replacement of the 350,000-gallon water tank is identified as the project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). No direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
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
Blythe, Mesa Verde unincorporated area
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Zip
92225
Parcel #
824-080-006
State Highways
I-10
Other Location Info
16720 West Hobbsonway, east of Mesa Drive
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The project, as proposed, is limited to the replacement of one of the two tanks comprising the Mesa Verde Water Reservoir facility. The new water tank which would contain up to 1,000,000 gallons to match the existing operational tank is being conducted to maintain the safe and reliable operation of the water system. The improvements would occur to the existing facility, within the existing footprint, and would not result in a significant increase in capacity. 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. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense
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 proposed improvements to the water system equipment will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The installation of a new water tank would occur within the footprint of the existing facility, and is being completed to create a more reliable and functional facility, so that water can continue to be provided in the event that one of the tanks is in need of repair. The use of the facility for public services would remain unchanged. 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.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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