658706_LBTH_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025080442
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
658706_LBTH_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/11/2025
Document Description
The proposed project involves LBTH Inc. (the Operator) who operates the Vasquez W.D. 1-17 (API: 0403706659), a water disposal well located in the Del Valle Field, Los Angeles County. This well is part of Underground Injection Project (UIC) #1980002. In its review, CalGEM found the UIC project files lacks supporting data to confirm that the injection zone does not contain an underground source of drinking water (USDW), as required by California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 14, sections 1724.6 and 1724.7. A USDW is defined as containing fewer than 10,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of total dissolved solids (TDS).?To remedy this, CalGEM, in collaboration with the Water Board, sent a letter to the operator requiring that a water sample be taken from the injection zone for further analysis.?
In response to the direction from CalGEM and the Water Boards, the Operator submitted a NOI to conduct water sampling at the Vasquez 12-17 well (API: 0403706651), a nearby offset well in the field that provides the needed access to the injection zone. Sampling via Vasquez 12-17 well is required to determine whether the injection zone for Vasquez W.D. 1-17 qualifies as a USDW, which will guide further actions to protect public health, safety, and the environment.
Contact Information
Name
Char'Mane Robinson
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
S Bowman
Agency Name
LBTH Inc.
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Township
04N
Range
17W
Section
17
Base
SB
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1)
Reasons for Exemption
The “Class 1” (14 CCR § 15301) exemption is applicable per the CEQA Guidelines and CalGEM’s regulations (14 CCR § 1684.1) because the proposed work consists of repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of an existing previously permitted well involving no expansion of former use. The Class includes, but is not limited to: remedial, maintenance, conversion, and abandonment work on oil, gas, injection, and geothermal wells. The well would maintain its existing well type and the use of the well would remain the same as before.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 applies because it consists of “replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced[.]” The proposed project is the rework, or replacement, of the existing wellbore which is needed to sample water from the nearby Vasquez 12-17 well to access the injection zone. The rework will be on the same site and would have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the well did before the rework. Additionally, no additional construction will occur.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 exemption applies. The proposed project would be conducted entirely on an existing pad with enough space to contain all equipment. The project would not disturb any undisturbed areas. Therefore, the proposed project “consists of drilling operations that result in only minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation.” The rework would not expand the facility.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Exceptions to Exemptions (14 CCR §§ 15300.2)
Reasons for Exemption
CalGEM further finds that there are no exceptions to the application of the categorical exemptions (PRC § 21084; 14 CCR § 15300.2 (c)) referenced above. There is no substantial evidence that there are any “unusual circumstances” associated with the proposed project that create a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment. The approved project is within a Health Protection Zone (HPZ) as defined by Public Resources Code (PRC) section 3280(b). The HPZ does not present an unusual circumstance because SB 1137 (PRC § 3280 et seq.) requires all oil or gas production facilities or wells with a wellhead within an HPZ to comply with specified health, safety, and environmental requirements. In addition, CalGEM further finds that there are no significant “cumulative impacts” resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place.?Therefore, reliance on the exemption(s) is appropriate.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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