Tenth Amendment to the Surface Mining Resource Manager Program

2025071037

Sacramento County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

7/24/2025

7/24/2025

Julie Newton

County of Sacramento

Environmental Coordinator

Lead/Public Agency

827 7th Street Room 225
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 874-6141

newtonj@saccounty.gov

Mark Michelini

Planning & Environmental Review

Planner

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

827 7th Street Room 225
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 874-5648

aselagem@saccounty.gov

Various - Countywide

Countywide

Statutory Exemption

CEQA Guidelines Section 15273 (a) (1) and (3)

The project involves an amendment to an existing MOU that establishes funding for the Surface Mining Resource Manager Program (Program) within Sacramento County, Planning and Environmental Review. Sacramento County finds that the MOU is for the purpose of meeting operating expenses, including employee wages, in administering the Program. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant impact on the environment and that it is statutorily exempt from the provisions of CEQA. Section 15273 (a) of the CEQA Guidelines, Rates, Tolls, Fares, and Charges, states that CEQA does not apply to the establishment, modification, structuring, restructuring, or approval of rates, tolls, fares, or other charges by public agencies which the public agency finds are for the purpose of: 1. Meeting operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits. The project includes the Tenth Amendment to an existing MOU to fund the Surface Mining Resources Manager Program. This MOU amendment would extend the effective timeframe of the MOU for an additional five years, which would expire on September 15, 2030. This MOU includes the continuance of employee wage rates, which may include fringe benefits. Therefore, the proposed MOU Amendment would be for the purpose of meeting operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits. Section 15273 (a) requires a project meet one of the five findings as listed. As this project meets multiple findings (Section 15273 (a) (1) and (3)), the project would be consistent with the CEQA exemption allowances pursuant to Section 15273. 2. Purchasing or leasing supplies, equipment, or materials. The MOU Amendment does not entail the purchasing or leasing of supplies, equipment, or materials. Therefore, this finding would not apply to the project as proposed. 3. Meeting financial reserve needs and requirements. The MOU Amendment does include provisions requiring each affected mine operator to pay an initial deposit to the County. Financial reserve needs and requirements includes maintaining deposit fee amounts for the duration of the MOU term, expiring on September 15, 2030. Therefore, the proposed MOU Amendment would be for the purpose of meeting financial reserve needs and requirements associated with administering services required of any mine operation project review request. Section 15273 (a) requires a project meet one of the five findings as listed. As this project meets multiple findings (Section 15273 (a) (1) and (3)), the project would be consistent with the CEQA exemption allowances pursuant to Section 15273. 4. Obtaining funds for capital projects, necessary to maintain service within existing service areas. The MOU Amendment is not associated with obtaining funds for a capital project, necessary to maintain service within existing service areas. Therefore, this finding would not apply to the project as proposed. 5. Or, obtaining funds necessary to maintain such intra-city transfers as are authorized by city charter. The MOU Amendment is not associated with obtaining funds necessary to maintain such intra-city transfers as are authorized by city charter. Therefore, this finding would not apply to the project as proposed.