610096 _Thums_Grouped_OG_PA

2025020096

California Department of Conservation (DOC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

2/5/2025

2/5/2025

Char'Mane Robinson

Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division

Environmental Scientist

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 445-9686

charmane.robinson@conservation.ca.gov

Andrew Cochrane

THUMS Long Beach Co. (T2900)

CalGEM Agent

Project Applicant

1 World Trade Center
Long Beach, CA 92649

(562) 480-4818

ogr@crc.com

33°45'7.8"N 118°9'31.9"W

05S

12W

08

SB

Categorical Exemption

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

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.” (§ 1684.1.) The proposed Project is to reconstruct one dry gas and one production well in the Wilmington field. This proposal involves removing existing equipment, cleaning out the wells, and plugging with cement to abandon the two wells. The reworks will use temporary equipment, such as a workover rig, confirmed to fit within the existing wellpad. This proposed Project is a minor alteration involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond previously existing. After being partially abandoned, the wells cannot be used for production or injection.

Categorical Exemption

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

Class 2 applies because the rework of the well could be considered “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[.]” This rework only involves reconstructing to abandon one dry gas and one production well by removing equipment, cleaning out the two wells, and plugging with cement. The proposal does not involve any changes to the well's structures (the wellbores).

Categorical Exemption

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

Class 4 applies because the rework “consists of drilling operations that result in only minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation.” The rework is intended to maintain the current level of service and will not involve expanding the facility or operations. The proposed activities and temporary equipment will be contained within the existing wellpad. As a result, there will be no new ground disturbances. There are no expected impacts on biological resources as the project will not disturb undisturbed areas.

Other

Exceptions to Exemptions (14 CCR §§ 15300.2)

CalGEM further finds that there are no exceptions to the application of the categorical exemptions (PRC § 21084; 14 CCR § 15300.2) referenced above. For example, there is no substantial evidence that there are any “unusual circumstances” associated with the proposed project that create a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment, and that there are no significant “cumulative impacts” resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place. Therefore, reliance on the exemptions is appropriate.