Light-Duty Hydrogen Infrastructure Build-Out

2025090656

California Energy Commission

NOE - Notice of Exemption

9/15/2025

9/15/2025

Mark Johnson

California Energy Commission

Air Pollution Specialist

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95742

(916) 314-0925

mark.johnson@energy.ca.gov

Multiple

Multiple

Categorical Exemption

Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sections 15301, 15303, 15304

The project is to develop hydrogen refueling stations by adding hydrogen storage, compression, and dispensing equipment with an estimated maximum footprint of 500 square feet and trenching of 50 to 150 feet at existing retail gasoline stations. ? Hydrogen storage tanks and a hydrogen dispenser will be installed at the existing gas stations. The hydrogen dispensers will dispense at 700 bar. Control valves will be pneumatically operated. All control valves fail in the safe direction (closed) after loss of utility power or instrument gas supply. All system alarms and shutdowns are displayed on the control panel face. Critical alarms are hard wired in addition to being connected through the Programmable Logic Controller. This adds an extra layer of safety to the system. ? Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. The proposed project adds equipment to existing gasoline stations that covers an area which is approximately 500 square feet, with an excavation area of no more than 1,000 square feet. This square footage is less than that specified in one example provided in the Regulations (i.e., 14 C.C.R. § 15301(e)) of a minor addition to existing structures. Because the proposed sites are existing gas stations, the proposed addition of hydrogen refueling involves negligible expansion of existing or former use, and the square footage of equipment installation is relatively small, the project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. ? Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15303 provides that projects which consist of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. The proposed project consists of installation of small new equipment, including hydrogen storage, compression, and dispensing equipment, at each site. Therefore, the proposed project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. ? Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15304 provides that projects which consist of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. For the installation of the equipment in this project, there will be up to 150 feet of trenching to connect storage and compression equipment to dispensers. No trees will be removed, and the surface will be restored. This reflects the example given in section 15304(f). Therefore, the proposed project falls within section 15304 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. ? The project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve any unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to any scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway, none of the sites are included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5, and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.