153659_190-18-0001_HWOC_UIC
Summary
SCH Number
2025100187
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
153659_190-18-0001_HWOC_UIC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/6/2025
Document Description
Holmes Western Oil Corporation (HWOC) is submitting a new underground injection control (UIC) application seeking approval to waterflood the 54-21 and basal Etchegoin sands on the Cymric-Ohio lease in the Sheep Springs area of the Cymric Oil Field located in Kern County. Within the area of review, there are 11 wells. Two of the wells have been plugged and abandoned leaving nine existing wells. HWOC plans to convert two of the existing wells to UIC Class II waterflood injection. There would be no construction activities and no surface disturbance as a result of the project. Produced water would be pipelined to the wells for injection following existing corridors. Injection skids would be set on the existing well pads to regulate and monitor injection rates and pressures. Per the operator, existing facilities would accommodate the anticipated increase in production.
The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) issuing a project approval letter (PAL) to HWOC for the new UIC project No. 190-18-0001 located within the Cymric Oil Field in Kern County. The injection wells that would be associated with the new UIC project are listed below.
API # Well Name
0402925891 Cymric-Ohio M34
0402925893 Cymric-Ohio 44
Contact Information
Name
Scott Grodewald
Agency Name
Holmes Western Oil Corporation
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Name
Nicole Trezza
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
CEQA Program Contractor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated area
Counties
Kern
Regions
Countywide
Township
29S
Range
21E
Section
21
Base
MD
Other Location Info
Cymric Oil Field
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1: California Code of Regulations, title 14, sections 15301, 1684.1
Reasons for Exemption
Class 1 applies because the proposed project consists of “minor alterations” of existing oil and gas production wells involving “negligible or no expansion of existing or former use” (14 CCR § 1684.1). The proposed project would make minor changes to two existing oil and gas production wells by converting the wells to waterflood injection as part of a new waterflood UIC project. Conversion of the oil and gas production wells into waterflood injection wells would not require any construction or surface disturbance. The proposed project would be located within an area in which existing injection activities are currently present. Per the operator’s project description, existing facilities would be able to accommodate the anticipated increase in production. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board reviewed the proposed project for groundwater impacts and issued a issued a No Objection letter on June 10, 2022. Therefore, the proposed project would result in a negligible change in existing use.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4: California Code of Regulations, title 14, sections 15304, 1684.2
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 applies because the project consists of “minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation” (14 CCR § 1684.2). The proposed project would convert two existing production wells into waterflood injection wells as part of a new waterflood UIC project. The project would be located on existing well pads, with no proposed construction or surface disturbance, and no new roads or facilities would be constructed or expanded. Therefore, as there would be no surface disturbance, there would be no alterations to land that could impact biological resources or their habitat.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Exceptions to the Exemptions: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 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) referenced above. For example, 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, and that there are no significant “cumulative impacts” resulting from successive projects of the same type in the same place. Therefore, reliance on the exemptions is appropriate.
A copy of this NOE (as required by 14 CCR § 15062(a)) and all other related materials can be made available to the public by contacting the CalGEM CEQA Program, located at 715 P Street, MS 1803, Sacramento, CA 95814; by calling (916) 445-9686; or an electronic copy of these documents may be requested by contacting CEQA@conservation.ca.gov. The notice filed with the State Clearinghouse may be accessed online at: https://ceqanet.lci.ca.gov
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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