Jurupa Valley Animal Services Shelter Cooling Tower Restoration Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025071332
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Jurupa Valley Animal Services Shelter Cooling Tower Restoration Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/31/2025
Document Description
The Western Riverside County Animal Shelter is located at 6851 Van Buren Blvd. in Riverside, California, 92509. The shelter provides animal services to our local residents which include; adoptions, licensing, microchipping, spay and neuter services, and vaccinations. The current cooling tower located in the ground level of the shelter is in need of restoration. The cooling tower is in good working condition but requires an overhaul to continue a longer useful life. The scope of work for the Jurupa Valley Animal Shelter Cooling Tower Project (Project) includes, but is not limited to, restoring the cooling tower by replacing the VersaCross Fill Media, shafts, bearings and sheaves with bushings, vibration switches, motors, spay nozzles and v-belts, and provide adjustments to the motor rods. The restoration of the cooling tower at the animal shelter is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the facility will continue to provide public services and will not result in an 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
Jurupa Valley
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
6851 Van Buren Blvd, south of Limonite Ave
Zip
92509
Parcel #
163-300-002
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 project, as proposed, is limited to the repairs to restore the existing cooling tower to keep the building functioning and operating efficiently. The use of the facility would continue to provide public services and would not result in a significant increase in capacity or intensity of use. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets 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 proposed improvements will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The use of the facility would remain unchanged, continuing to provide public services. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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