Cactus Flats Outfall Line Repair Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025040059
Public Agency
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency
(BBARWA)
Document Title
Cactus Flats Outfall Line Repair Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/1/2025
Document Description
On March 26, 2025, the BBARWA Board of Directors approved the Cactus Flats Outfall Line Repair Project (Project).
The Cushenberry Pipeline (Pipeline) originates at the BBARWA Wastewater TreatmentPlant (WWTP) on the southern edge of Baldwin Lake and transports up to about 2,000 acre-feet per year of treated effluent to a farm located south of State Highway 247 and east of Camp Rock Road in Lucerne Valley. A small ephemeral stream channel, which crosses this Pipeline alignment adjacent to the Dump Access Road, has been eroding the Pipeline alignment. This Pipeline alignment is also shared with Southwest Gas Corporation (Southwest).
Recently the stream bed erosion has encroached on the Pipeline alignment to the point that a rupture of the line will likely occur during a major storm event and cause the release of treated effluent into the environment. Both BBARWA and Southwest engineers have recommended that repairs be made immediately to the exposed pipelines to eliminate the erosion rupture exposure. BBARWA's condition assessment determined that the Pipeline's condition is severely exposed to damage and requires immediate attention to prevent a failure and release of treated effluent into the affected watershed, which contributes runoff to Grapevine Creek approximately 0.75 mile to the north. From that confluence, Grapevine Creek flows east approximately 2.5 miles before dissipating into the lower desert.
Contact Information
Name
David Lawrence
Agency Name
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA)
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Big Bear City
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Southern California
Total Acres
<1
State Highways
SR 18
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15269(b)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed Project is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, §15269(b) (Emergency Projects), which exempts projects that involve emergency repairs to publicly owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to public health, safety or welfare. Here, the Project involves emergency repairs to an exposed segment of the Sewer Discharge Pipeline to Lucerne Valley, a pipeline that currently transports up to about 2,000 acre-feet per year of treated effluent from Big Bear to Lucerne Valley. The pipeline's condition, caused by an encroaching stream bed, is severely exposed to damage and requires immediate attention to prevent a failure and release of treated effluent into the affected watershed, which contributes runoff to Grapevine Creek
approximately 0.75 mile to the north.
Alternatively, the proposed Project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, §15301, Existing Facilities (Class 1). The Class 1 exemption allows, in part, for the repair of existing public mechanical equipment that will result in negligible or no expansion of former use. This includes the rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety. Here, the Project proposes repairs to the exposed pipeline segment, which are necessary to meet current standards of public health and safety and avoid any future risk.
Finally, none of the "exceptions" to the categorical exemptions apply under State CEQA Guidelines §: 15300.2.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CE 15301
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed Project is statutorily exempt from the : California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to : State CEQA Guidelines, §15269(b) (Emergency Projects), : which exempts projects that involve emergency repairs to ; publicly owned service facilities necessary to maintain ; service essential to public health, safety or welfare. Here, ; the Project involves emergency repairs to an exposed • segment of the Sewer Discharge Pipeline to Lucerne : Valley, a pipeline that currently transports up to about : 2,000 acre-feet per year of treated effluent from Big Bear : to Lucerne Valley. The pipeline's condition, caused by an : encroaching stream bed, is severely exposed to damage ; and requires immediate attention to prevent a failure and : release of treated effluent into the affected watershed, : which contributes runoff to Grapevine Creek ; approximately 0.75 mile to the north. : Alternatively, the proposed Project is categorically exempt : from environmental review pursuant to State CEQA : Guidelines, § 15301, Existing Facilities (Class 1 ). The : Class I exemption allows, in part, for the repair of existing : public mechanical equipment that will result in negligible : or no expansion of fonner use. This includes the ; rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged mechanical ; equipment to meet current standards of public health and : safety. Here, the Project proposes repairs to the exposed , pipeline segment, which are necessary to meet current : standards of public health and safety and avoid any future : risk. ' : Finally, none of the "exceptions" to the categorical ; exemp~ions apply under State CEQA Guidelines § : 15300.2
County Clerk
San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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