Adoption of Ordinance No. 25-001 - Requiring Metering and Reporting of Groundwater Extraction
Summary
SCH Number
2025040860
Public Agency
San Antonio Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency
(SABGSA)
Document Title
Adoption of Ordinance No. 25-001 - Requiring Metering and Reporting of Groundwater Extraction
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/17/2025
Document Description
The San Antonio Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“Agency”) adopted Ordinance No. 25-001 (the “Ordinance”) at a regular Board of Directors meeting held on March 18, 2025. The Ordinance requires all landowners within the San Antonio Creek Valley Groundwater Basin, except de minimis extractors, to install measuring devices on groundwater extraction facilities and file reports on a biannual basis reporting groundwater extraction to the Agency. Pursuant to Water Code Section 10725 et seq., the Agency is empowered to enforce adopted rules, regulations, ordinances, and resolutions necessary and appropriate to implement its Groundwater Sustainability Plan (adopted 12/07/21), which identified the development of a metering and reporting program as a Tier 1 Management Action.
Contact Information
Name
Stephanie Bertoux
Agency Name
San Antonio Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Unincorporated
Other Location Info
San Antonio Creek Valley Groundwater Basin (California Department of Water Resources Basin No. 3-014)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sections 15307, 15308 Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations
Reasons for Exemption
The Agency’s Board of Directors finds that adoption of this Ordinance, including the SABGSA Rules and Regulations, is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15307, 15308, and 15061 subdivision (b)(3) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (“CEQA Guidelines”) because the Ordinance will support implementation of the Agency’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan by establishing rules and regulations to support groundwater management in order to prevent environmental degradation associated with groundwater overdraft and said rules and regulations will not have a significant effect on the environment.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15307 – Protection of Natural Resources. Class 7 consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state law or local ordinance, to maintain, restore, or enhance a natural resources. As stated above, the Agency adopted the ordinance to effectively implement sustainable groundwater management and thus the Agency’s action helps to maintain a natural resource. Accordingly, the Agency’s adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15307.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 – Protection of the Environment. Class 8 consists of actions by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state law or local ordinance, to ensure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment. As stated above, the Agency adopted the ordinance to effectively implement sustainable groundwater management and thus the Agency’s action ensure the maintenance and protection of the environment –– namely the groundwater basin. Accordingly, the Agency’s adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption. The “common sense” exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) exempts from CEQA certain projects 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.” As stated above, the Ordinance merely imposes a requirement to measure and report groundwater extraction. Accordingly, it can be seen with certainty that the ordinance requirement would not trigger any significant effect on the environment, and therefore the Agency’s adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3) Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption. The “common sense” exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) exempts from CEQA certain projects 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.” As stated above, the Ordinance merely imposes a requirement to measure and report groundwater extraction. Accordingly, it can be seen with certainty that the ordinance requirement would not trigger any significant effect on the environment, and therefore the Agency’s adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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