601209_Group_PCEC_P&A

2024121082

California Department of Conservation (DOC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

12/23/2024

12/23/2024

Mikayla Vaba

Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division

Environmental Planner

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street, MS 1900
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 445-9686

CEQA@conservation.ca.gov

34°3'20"N 118°23'24.9"W

01S

14W

30

SB

Beverly Hills Oil Field

Categorical Exemption

Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1)

The project is exempt under the Class 1, Existing Facilities exemption because the project would make minor alterations to three existing wells and would not expand the use of the wells. Class 1 consists of the “operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration” of existing facilities “involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously.” This includes “perforating and casing repair” as well as installation of “cement plugs” (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1). The proposed project would rework three existing oil and gas production wells by laying cement plugs, perforating, and pulling casing in order to plug and abandon the wells. This work would not alter the existing use of the wells and would not expand their capacity.

Categorical Exemption

Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)

The project is exempt under the Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction exemption because the project would reconstruct the casing of three existing wells and would not change the purpose or capacity of the wells. Class 2 consists of 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” (14 CCR § 15302). The proposed project would reconstruct the wellbores of three existing oil and gas production wells by laying cement plugs, perforating, and pulling casing in order to plug and abandon the wells. This work would be done on existing well pads in an existing oil field. The work would not expand the existing purpose or capacity of the wells.

Categorical Exemption

Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)

The project is exempt under the Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land exemption because the project would have a negligible effect on the surrounding environment. Class 4 consists of “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” (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2). The proposed project would rework three existing oil and gas production wells by laying cement plugs, perforating, and pulling casing in order to plug and abandon the wells. The work would take place on existing well pads in an existing oil field located in a developed urban area. The project does not involve the expansion of existing facilities or the construction on new facilities and would utilize existing facilities including roads and pipelines. Therefore, there would be no new ground disturbance that could impact the surrounding environment.

Categorical Exemption

Classes 7 and 8, Protection of Natural Resources and the Environment (14 CCR §§ 15307, 15308)

The project is exempt under the Class 7, Protection of Natural Resources and Class 8, Protection of the Environment because the proposed work would assure the maintenance of natural resources and the environment. Class 7 consists of “actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment” (14 CCR § 15307). Class 8 consists of “actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment” (14 CCR § 15308). Both exemptions exclude “construction activities” (14 CCR §§ 15307, 15308). The proposed project would rework three existing oil and gas production wells by laying cement plugs, perforating, and pulling casing in order to plug and abandon the wells. This work would assure the maintenance of natural resources and the environment by addressing regulatory deficiencies in the wells. The work requires negligible changes to the wells and does not involve any expansion of facilities that would require construction activities.