Southwest Juvenile Hall (SJH) Flooring and Casework Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025120384
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Southwest Juvenile Hall (SJH) Flooring and Casework Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/10/2025
Document Description
Probation Department’s SJH is located at 30755 Auld Road in Murrieta. The facility serves as a detention center and a post-conviction sentence center for minors and provides medical and behavioral health counseling and rehabilitation services. The facility is experiencing water intrusion within the Housing and Intake Units which can lead to potential damage to the structure and lead to mold growth which is a health concern. The scope of work for the SJH Flooring and Casework Replacement Project (Project) includes but is not limited to: replace the ceramic tile floor and cove basis with epoxy based material to seven (7) showers at the Housing Unit and one (1) shower at the Intake Unit, replace the vinyl flooring with sealed concrete finish at the Main Intake Unit, prepare and reseal the flooring within the holding cells; and replace the base cabinet boxes along the exterior wall and replace the existing countertops within the Intake Unit. The improvements to the flooring and casework at the SJH 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 significant 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
Murrieta
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
30755 Auld Road, west of Leon Road
Zip
92563
Parcel #
963-080-013
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, includes improvements to the flooring and casework at the SJH. The improvements to the existing facility are minor interior alterations , the use of the facility would continue to provide public services to the community 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
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. The proposed improvements to the existing facility will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The improvements would require limited construction activity within the County owned property and would not alter the function or use of the site or have any external physical effects. The improvements are minor interior improvements to the flooring and casework at an existing facility. The improvements would enhance the quality of public services and provide a safe and secure facility. The use and operation of the facility will be substantially similar to the existing use and will not create any new environmental impacts. 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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