Cargill Solar Sea Salt System Maintenance and Operations Activities
5 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2020080442
Lead Agency
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
(BCDC)
Document Title
Cargill Solar Sea Salt System Maintenance and Operations Activities
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
6/5/2025
Document Description
Cargill, Incorporated (Cargill) proposes to continue maintenance and operation activities of Cargill's Solar Salt System in Newark and Redwood City, California (Project).
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Project as CEQA lead agency pursuant to its regulations implementing its certified regulatory program for its permitting program under the McAteer-Petris Act. (Reference 14 CCR section 15251(h).)
A Draft EA (Draft EA) for the proposed Project was previously released on April 28, 2021. Subsequent to the release of the April 2021 Draft EA, Cargill proposed changes to the Project, and BCDC determined it appropriate to recirculate the Draft EA reflecting the revised information. The Recirculated Draft EA (RDEA) for the proposed Project was released on August 22, 2024, a public hearing on the RDEA was held on September 5, 2024, and the public comment period on the RDEA ended on September 23, 2024.
The Final EA incorporates the RDEA and responds to comments received on the RDEA. The Final EA was published on April 21, 2025, and BCDC approved it at a public meeting on May 1, 2025. Per BCDC regulation, the Final EA is not "final" until adoption of the resolution approving the permit application for the Project. (14 CCR section 11524(a).) BCDC approved the permit application for the Project at a public meeting on June 5, 2025.
BCDC is filing this Notice of Determination pursuant to Public Resources Code sections 21080.5(d), 21108(a) and 14 CCR sections 10524, 11525(a).
Contact Information
Name
Michael Ng
Agency Name
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
Job Title
Senior Staff Attorney
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Sam Fielding
Agency Name
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
Job Title
Bay Resources Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Newark, Redwood City
Counties
Alameda, San Mateo
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Other Information
The Newark Plant 1 complex is located west of Fremont, extending from Coyote Hills Slough/Alameda Creek (also known as the Alameda Flood Control Channel) on the north to the Union Pacific Railroad ("UPRR") right-of way and the lower reach of Newark Slough to the south. The Plant 1 Project area encompasses approximately 4,100 acres and is located within the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (the "Refuge"). SR 84, the approach to the Dumbarton Bridge, and Newark Slough traverse the southern portion of the complex. Baumberg Pond B-3C, an approximately 166-acre pond, is located north of Coyote Hills Slough/Alameda Creek, and adjacent to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. The Newark Plant 2 complex is located south of Newark Plant 1. It is bounded by the UPRR right-of-way to the northwest, northeast, and east; by Mud Slough/Coyote Creek to the south; and by the Bay to the southwest. Plummer, Mowry, and Albrae Sloughs traverse or border the Plant 2 complex area. Plant 2 includes concentrators as well as crystallizers and encompasses approximately 6,400 acres. Approximately 3,020 acres are owned by Cargill and the remainder is within the Refuge. The Redwood City Plant is on the west shore of the Bay and is bordered by Redwood City to the west and south, Menlo Park to the southeast, and Redwood Creek and commercial/industrial facilities to the northwest. Westpoint Slough and Flood Slough form the northern and eastern borders between the Redwood City Plant and Greco Island. (Greco Island is part of the Refuge.) The Redwood City Plant encompasses approximately 1,430 acres. The brine pipeline alignment connecting the Redwood City Plant to Newark includes a 10-foot-wide strip of land extending south and east from the Redwood City Plant to the Redwood City Maintenance Pond. This pond is a very small pond located at the northeastern corner of US Fish and Wildlife Service Pond SF-2, immediately southeast of SR 84.
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
Yes
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes (Environmental Assessment, pursuant to BCDC certified regulatory program. (14 CCR sec. 15251(h).))
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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