Barona Tribal EV Infrastructure, Planning, and Workforce Training and Development Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025031018
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Barona Tribal EV Infrastructure, Planning, and Workforce Training and Development Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/25/2025
Document Description
This project will install two EV direct current fast charger ports and 84 Level 2 EV charger ports for community use at key facilities on the Barona Band of Mission Indians Reservation; perform EV infrastructure development and fleet transition planning for the Barona Band of Mission Indians Reservation and up to 24 other tribes located in Southern California; and establish a workforce training program providing marketable job skills related to EV infrastructure installation.
Contact Information
Name
Susan Ejlalmaneshan
Agency Name
CEC
Job Title
Air Pollution Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Lakeside
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside
Zip
92040
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Adoption of the agreement is exempt from CEQA requirements pursuant to the “common sense” exemption (CEQA Regulations, S
Reasons for Exemption
This project is covered by the Common Sense Exemption under 14 CCR 15061 (b) (3) which provides that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
This project consists of installing two dual-port Level 3 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations and one Level 2 charger at Tulley Creek, located on the Yurok Tribe Reservation. This project will also develop a tribal workforce training and development program that assists Members in acquiring the professional skills and licensing required to work in the EV industry.
This project will take place on tribal land, but off-reservation impacts must still be evaluated under Government Code section 12012.101(b)(2), but this project is exempt under the “common sense” CEQA exemption because the proposed project will not:
• construct on or alter any off-reservation land;
• impact local air quality;
• use groundwater resources or otherwise impact any off-reservation water resources;
• build additional transportation infrastructure;
• generate additional traffic volumes from commercial activities of the Casino;
• increase, once the project is complete, ambient noise beyond the existing commercial activities; or
• degrade the visual character or quality of off-reservation views, including those of scenic resources or objects of aesthetic significance.
The proposed project consists of installing at least 2 direct current fast charger ports and at least 84 Level 2 charger ports for community use at key existing facilities on the reservation of the Barona Band of Mission Indians (Barona Band) in Lakeside, developing EV charging infrastructure and fleet transition plans for the Barona Band and up to 24 other Southern California Tribes, and creating a workforce training program focused on EV charging infrastructure system design, installation, operations and maintenance.
Vehicle trips associated with the construction of the project will be temporary and the operation of the EV charging stations will result in a negligible number of regular operational trips for maintenance. Best management practices will be used during installation and operation of the EV charging stations. Therefore, no adverse effects to offsite air or water quality will occur as a result of the project. The installation and operation of the EV chargers would not substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of off-reservation visual resources, as the system components are not visually obtrusive.
Compared with the current supply of energy, the proposed project will improve energy resiliency for Tribal facilities and the local electric grid, as well as reduce overall energy demand on the local energy provider and lower fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Because the proposed project will improve air quality and reduce GHG emissions, and does not provide for any physical changes outside of the Indian reservation, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed project may have a significant effect on the off-reservation environment. Based on all these factors, the proposed project meets the CEQA “common sense” exemption.
The project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.