Emergency Management Department Unincorporated Communities Initiative Emergency Generators and Transfer Switches Upgrade
Summary
SCH Number
2025071321
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Emergency Management Department Unincorporated Communities Initiative Emergency Generators and Transfer Switches Upgrade
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/31/2025
Document Description
Facilities Management and the Emergency Management Department are working cohesively to upgrade each of the generators at three facilities in Riverside County; the Edward Dean Museum in Cherry Valley, the Venable Community Center in Cabazon, and the Grange Facility in Cherry Valley, California. The Project will also upgrade the emergency generator transfer switches at the Edward Dean Museum and the Grange Facility. The Venable Community Center is not in need of a replacement emergency generator transfer switch as it is presently equipped with a viable transfer switch that is compatible with the proposed new generator.
On June 24, 2025, Item 3.4, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the use of Unincorporated Communities Initiative General Funds for this effort in the amount of $800,000. The EMD UCI Emergency Generator Projects scope of work includes, but is not limited to, install a manual transfer switch and furnish a mobile generator and cabling to connect to the transfer switch for the listed sites The upgrades to the emergency backup power at the three UCI facilities is defined as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the site will continue to provide public services at the existing facility and will not result in a significant expansion of existing use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Cabazon and Cherry Valley
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
EDM-9401 Oak Glen Road, Cherry Oak Rd; VCC 50390 Carmen Street/Broadway; GF-10478 Beaumont Ave/C
Zip
92223
Parcel #
EDM 401-080-018 401-080-017; VCC 526-170-020; GF 403-210-026
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The upgrades to the emergency backup power at the three UCI facilities, including the installation of transfer switches, new mobile generators, and cabling, is needed to maintain public services in the event of a loss of power at the existing facility. The emergency backup power systems would operate only in emergencies or for periodic testing to ensure the systems are working properly. The improvements to the existing electrical system to connect the emergency power systems would not expand the capacity of the sites and would result in the continuation of public services; therefore, the project is exempt as the improvements meet the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate 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.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. The installation of the upgrades to the emergency backup power at the three UCI facilities will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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