Riverside University Health System Medical Center (RUHS-MC) 3rd Floor Emergency Domestic Water Remediation
Summary
SCH Number
2025040090
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Riverside University Health System Medical Center (RUHS-MC) 3rd Floor Emergency Domestic Water Remediation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/2/2025
Document Description
On March 7, 2023, the RUHS Medical Center located at 26520 Cactus Avenue in Moreno Valley, California, experienced a catastrophic water leak stemming from a failed domestic water pipe in a patient restroom located in the Surgical Acute Unit on the 3rd floor. The waterflow stemming from the plumbing failure impacted 24 areas of the 3rd floor, including 19 patient rooms, 23 areas on the 2nd floor, including 18 patient rooms, 26 areas on the 1st floor, and 12 areas on the lower level. Several critical departments were impacted including check-in, telemedicine, hematology/oncology, infusion clinic, hallways and patient care rooms. Following recommendations from the Industrial Hygienist, a declaration of emergency was issued so that a remediation company could be procured to provide emergency repairs and clean-up of the affected areas. The scope of work of the RUHS-MC 3rd Floor Emergency Remediation Project includes, but is not limited to, removal and replacement of dry wall, flooring, insulation and tile in various patient rooms, offices and corridors within the affected areas of the Medical Center. The remediation at the RUHS-MC is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the facility will continue to provide public services and will not result in a change or expansion of existing use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Moreno Valley
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
26520 Cactus Avenue, west of Nason Street
Zip
92225
Parcel #
486-280-037
State Highways
SR-60
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The project, as proposed, is limited to the emergency domestic water remediation at the RUHS-MC. The use of the facilities would continue to provide public services and would not result in a significant increase in capacity or intensity of use. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
This statutory exemption consists of emergency projects that are exempt under CEQA. Under (b), emergency repairs to publicly or privately owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety or welfare are exempt. Under (c), specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency are exempt. The remediation of the domestic water leak at the RUHS Medical Center satisfies both of these conditions, as the RUHS Medical Center is an essential public facility that provides health and medical services to those in need. The water leak at the hospital posed a risk to infectious contamination that could have potentially resulted in the loss of the hospital's ability to provide critical health services to the public. Emergency remediation was required to avoid a threat to the public health, safety and welfare. In addition, the risk of contamination necessitated immediate action in the form of remediation to maintain public health, as people in hospitals contain sensitive populations, including the sick and elderly, who are more susceptible to threats to public health. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Statutory Exemption identified in Section 15269, Article 18, Statutory Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed domestic water remediation will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The improvements would occur within existing facility, would not alter the footprint and is being completed to create a compliant and safe health facility. The use of the facility for public health services would remain unchanged. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.