Chester WWTP NPDES Permit Compliance Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025070661
Public Agency
Chester Public Utility District
(CPUD)
Document Title
Chester WWTP NPDES Permit Compliance Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/16/2025
Document Description
The Chester Public Utility District (CPUD or District) provides drinking water service and wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal services to the unincorporated community of Chester in Plumas County, California. The District currently serves approximately 2,187 residents with 1,255 wastewater connections. The District treats the community’s collected wastewater at the existing Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) which is a facultative lagoon facility constructed in 1981.
The District is responsible for compliance with Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) enforced by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB). However, the District has exceeded effluent discharge limits over the last decade which resulted in the issuance of three Notice of Violations (NOVs) between 2017 and 2019, and a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) in September 2021. The NOVs identify violations at the WWTP and the CDO includes a schedule for completing specific actions to ensure compliance with the WDRs. Improvements are needed in response to the WDRs, NOVs, and CDO to bring the WWTP into full compliance with final effluent limits.
Improvements to the WWTP include installation of a new emergency standby generator, an automatic transfer switch, and SCADA system; construction of two SAGRs®, a recycle pump station, WWTP building, chlorine contact basin, and on-site sodium hypochlorite generation facility; improvements to the existing mechanical headworks screen; and new pipeline to connect the new facilities to existing facilities. Additionally, the project would include demolition and backfill of the existing chlorine contact basin, and removal of the existing dried sludge pile located northeast of the ponds. The purpose of the project is to repair and replace aging infrastructure and make the necessary improvements to the WWTP to ensure compliance with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements.
Contact Information
Name
Bonnie Mullaney
Agency Name
Chester Public Utility District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Email
Name
Cheryl Johnson
Agency Name
Chester Public Utility District
Job Title
Office Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Chester (Unincorporated)
Counties
Plumas
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
1st Ave, Lorraine Dr, Andrews Rd, 2nd Ave
Zip
96020
Total Acres
10
Parcel #
100-270-006
State Highways
State Highway 36
Airports
Rogers Field (Chester Airport)
Schools
Chester Elementary School, Chester Junior/Senior High School
Waterways
Feather River, Unnamed streams
Township
28N
Range
07E
Section
8
Base
MDM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3: Class 1, §15301; Class 3, §15303
Reasons for Exemption
Class 1 covers the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The Class 3 exemption covers the installation of new piping and the installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures.
The project is consistent with the exemptions noted above because work would consist of improvements to the District’s existing WWTP facility to ensure compliance with existing CVRWQCB requirements. No mature trees would be removed, and no expansion of the District’s sewer system would occur.
As documented in the NOE, the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances; would not result in damage to scenic resources within a scenic highway; is not located on a hazardous waste site pursuant to §65962.5 of the Government Code; would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource; and would not result in cumulative impacts.
County Clerk
Plumas
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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