645648_Calgren_CC

2025020942

California Department of Conservation (DOC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

2/25/2025

2/25/2025

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

Tim Morilla

dba Calgren Renewable Fuels

Agent

Project Applicant

11704 Road 120
Pixley, CA 93256

(559) 757-3850

tmorillo@calgren.com

35°59'6"N 119°25'47"W

22S

23E

25

MD

Categorical Exemption

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

The proposed project is exempt under the Class 1, Existing Facilities exemption because it would make negligible changes to an existing stratigraphic well. Class 1 consists of the “operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously.” (14 CCR § 1684.1.) The project would convert an existing stratigraphic to observation by placing a cement plug, testing, and perforating and breaking down perforations with freshwater or performing cement squeeze to isolate. The well would be used for information gathering purposes, which would not expand its existing capacity as a stratigraphic well.

Categorical Exemption

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

The proposed project is exempt under the Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction exemption because it would reconstruct the casing of an existing well and would not substantially change the purpose or capacity of the well. 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 project would reconstruct the casing of an existing stratigraphic well by placing a cement plug, perforating, and isolating perforations by breaking them down with freshwater or performing cement squeeze. The work would take place on an existing well pad on an existing wellbore. The project would not substantially change the purpose or capacity of the well, as the well would be converted to an observation well and would be used for information gathering purposes.

Categorical Exemption

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

The proposed project is exempt under the Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land exemption because it involves minimal surface disturbance. 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 § 1684.2; see also 14 CCR § 15304.) The proposed work would take place on an existing well pad that is larger enough to accommodate the necessary equipment and can be accessed by existing roads. The project does not involve any vegetation clearing or soil work. The well is not located in an oil field; however, the surrounding area is barren land with no shrubs or adjacent water bodies. There will be no electrical work, as any equipment or devices installed for the project would be self-powered with solar panels for readouts. Therefore, the project would make negligible changes to the existing facilities.

Categorical Exemption

Class 6, Information Collection (14 CCR § 15306)

The proposed project is exempt under the Class 6, Information Collection exemption because it would convert an existing well to observation for data collection purposes. Class 6 consists of “basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. These may be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded.” (14 CCR § 15306.) The recompletion of the existing stratigraphic well to an observation well would support the development of the carbon capture and storage project Tulare County Carbon Sequestration Project (TCCSP). Data gathered through this well would include continuous pressure and temperature measurements at the bottomhole. This data will be used to establish a baseline downhole condition prior to any injection as well as gather periodic downhole data to assess the impact of injection into deeper formations. Data gathered will also be used to calibrate computational models that simulate subsurface injection and reservoir response as well as periodically evaluate project design and area per U.S. EPA requirements.