Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility Enclosed Flare Station Installation Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025110686
Public Agency
City of Santa Cruz
Document Title
Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility Enclosed Flare Station Installation Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/18/2025
Document Description
The project consists of installation of an enclosed low-nitrogen oxide (Nox) flare to act as the backup landfill gas collection and destruction device for the existing onsite landfill gas collection system and Landfill Gas to Energy {LFGTE) Plant. The purpose of this improvement is to establish a permanent backup flare facility to collect methane gas and burn under regulatory provisions of the Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) in the event that the LFGTE is temporarily shut down. The facility would be located immediately west of the existing LFGTE Plant.
The project includes construction of an approximately 3,600-square-foot flare station, which would house the low NOx flare station equipment, including the enclosed flare stack, an air compressor, three blowers, a condensate management system, and the equipment control panel. The station would be situated on a concrete pad and would be accessed by an existing landfill road. A three-foot tall concrete retaining wall would be installed on the northern boundary of the new station.
Contact Information
Name
Nathan N. Nguyen
Agency Name
City of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works
Job Title
Director of Public Works
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Santa Cruz
Counties
Santa Cruz
Regions
Citywide
Zip
95060
Parcel #
APN 59-121-01
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA provides "categorical exemptions" which are applicable to categories of projects and activities that the Natural Resource Agency has determined generally do not pose a risk of significant impacts on the environment. Section 15301 of the State CEQA Guidelines (Class 1-Existing Facilities) allows for minor alterations to existing structures involving negligible or no expansion of use. Examples cited in the CEQA Guidelines include publicly owned facilities used to provide power and other public utility services. This categorical exemption is applicable to the project as explained below.
The replacement of an existing temporary back-up methane flare with a new permanent flare represents a minor alteration to an existing facility with no expansion of use. The permanent flare would provide the back-up methane collection system that is needed in order for the City to comply with existing regulations and permits, which require the LTE facility to operate on a continuous 24-hour basis. As such the replacement of the temporary backup flare with a permanent backup flare would be considered minor, and there would be no change to the use of or expansion of the LFGTE Plant. The Class 1 categorical exemption cites minor alterations of facilities and equipment as examples of alterations under this exemption and also includes public-owned facilities that provide power or other public utility services. The City's RRF is a public facility providing waste management services that includes LFG collection and distribution to PG&E's energy grid. Thus, the replacement of the temporary flare with a permanent flare would fall under the Class 1 categorical exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
County Clerk
Santa Cruz
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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