Permanent Sealing of Orphan Well in Orange County Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025090159
Lead Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
Permanent Sealing of Orphan Well in Orange County Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
10/10/2025
Document Description
The Permanent Sealing of Orphan Well in Orange County Project involves the State of California's plugging and abandoning (permanent sealing) of one (1) orphan well in an unincorporated area of Orange County, California. The well, identified as Well #1, is in the Brea-Olinda Oil Field north of Brea, California. Permanent sealing refers to the permanent closure and sealing of a well by placing cement and other approved materials in the former well. The Project schedule for Well #1 is estimated to last from three to five days. For well permanent sealing, the well would be cleaned out and then plugged with cement and inert mud to surface. Then, the well casing would be cut down to approximately five to 10 feet below ground level, and the site would be backfilled with soil up to ground level. After completion of the permanent sealing operations, the disturbed areas utilized for site access, permanent sealing work, and temporary equipment staging areas would undergo restoration to align with the landscape of the surrounding environment. Permanent sealing work would require some vegetation clearance to allow staging of equipment. Estimated surface disturbance is approximately half an acre.
Contact Information
Name
Robert Schaaf
Agency Name
California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
State Abandonment Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated area, near Brea
Counties
Orange
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Brea Blvd.
Zip
92821
Total Acres
0.5
Parcel #
304-151-59
State Highways
SR 57
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
Mariposa Elementary, Falcon Academy, Brea Olinda High School
Waterways
N/A
Township
03S
Range
10W
Section
02
Base
SB
Other Location Info
Brea-Olinda Oil Field
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
Attachments
Final Document(s) [Approved_Certified draft environmental documents]
Notice of Determination
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