RUHS-BH CMHC and PH WIC Emergency Flood Project, Desert Hot Springs
Summary
SCH Number
2025110745
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
RUHS-BH CMHC and PH WIC Emergency Flood Project, Desert Hot Springs
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/19/2025
Document Description
The Desert Hot Springs RUHS-BH CMC and RUHS-PH WIC program are both located at 14320 Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs, California, 92240. On September 29, 2025, significant flooding was discovered at the facility due to a flash flood event that occurred on the weekend of September 27th and 28th, 2025. Water infiltrated the first floor of the facility from external sources. Facilities Management (FM) issued an emergency declaration pursuant to the authority delegated in Resolution 2003-23 by the Board of Supervisors (Board), allowing immediate action to procure contracts to provide emergency work without competitive bidding. BluSky was procured to remediate and assess the water damage in the facility. An evaluation of the site was performed of potential hazardous health risks which include mold, contamination and structural integrity. FM will continue to monitor for any residual moisture or signs of mold/mildew; review structural components and flooring; assess and report on preventative measures to be taken for future flash flood events. Failure to immediately address the flooding poses a clear and imminent danger to the health and safety of the patients, customers and staff. BluSky continues to work on the Project assuring all environmental impacts have been addressed and no longer poses an imminent danger. The remediation of the flood damage is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the facility will continue to provide public services and will not result in a change or expansion of existing use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Desert Hot Springs
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
14320 Palm Drive, south of Two Bunch Palms Trail
Zip
92240
Parcel #
656-040-061
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The project, as proposed, is limited to flood remediation at the existing facility. The use of the facility would continue to provide public services and would not result in a significant increase in capacity or intensity of use. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15269 (b)(c) Emergency Projects
Reasons for Exemption
This statutory exemption consists of emergency projects that are exempt under CEQA. Under (b), emergency repairs to publicly or privately owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety or welfare are exempt. Under (c), specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency are exempt. The flood remediation at the RUHS medical facility satisfies both of these conditions, as the facility is an essential public facility that provides health and medical services to those in need. The flood posed a risk to contamination that could have potentially resulted in the loss of the facility’s ability to provide critical medical and health services to the public. Emergency remediation was required to avoid a threat to the public health, safety and welfare. In addition, the risk of contamination necessitated immediate action in the form of remediation to maintain public health, as people in medical facilities contain sensitive populations, including the sick and elderly, who are more susceptible to threats to public health. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Statutory Exemption identified in Section 15269, Article 18, Statutory Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed flood remediation at the RUHS medical facility will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The improvements would occur within existing facility, would not alter the footprint and is being completed to create a compliant and functional facility. The use of the facility for public services would remain unchanged. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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