Accelerating Tribal EV Charging Infrastructure, Planning and Workforce Development (Bishop Paiute Tribe)
Summary
SCH Number
2025040931
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Accelerating Tribal EV Charging Infrastructure, Planning and Workforce Development (Bishop Paiute Tribe)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/18/2025
Document Description
This project will support transportation electrification among California Native American Tribes by 1) installing at least four electric vehicle (EV) direct current fast charger ports and at least two Level 2 EV charger ports across the Bishop Paiute Gas Station and Yuhubi Novi Gas Station in Bishop, 2) creating an Electric Vehicle Charging Blueprint to identify future build-out of charging infrastructure and fleet electrification, and 3) delivering training to support careers in the transportation electrification industry.
Contact Information
Name
Mabel Aceves Lopez
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Associate Energy Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Bishop
Counties
Inyo
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
2750 N Sierra Hwy; 180 N See Vee Ln
Zip
93514
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Regulations, Section 15061, subd. (b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
This project is covered by the Common Sense Exemption under 14 CCR 15061 (b) (3) which provides that the California Environmental Quality Act (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 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 subject to jurisdiction of the State of California;
· impact local air quality;
· use groundwater resources or otherwise impact any off-reservation water resources that might be subject to jurisdiction of the State of California;
· build additional transportation infrastructure;
· increase vehicle miles traveled;
· 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 on land subject to the jurisdiction of the State of California.
The proposed project consists of installing a minimum of four direct current fast charger ports (two with integrated battery storage) and a minimum of two Level 2 charger ports across Bishop Paiute Gas Station and Yuhubi Novi Gas Station, located on the Bishop Paiute Tribe Reservation. This project will also develop a transportation electrification blueprint and tribal workforce training that assists tribes in acquiring the professional skills required to work in the transportation electrification industry.
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 Bishop Paiute Tribe 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 within the jurisdiction of the State of California. 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.