State Abandonment of Orphan Wells Project – Phase 2: Santa Maria Valley/Cat Canyon/Rincon
Summary
SCH Number
2026010160
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
State Abandonment of Orphan Wells Project – Phase 2: Santa Maria Valley/Cat Canyon/Rincon
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/7/2026
Document Description
The proposed project consists of the plug and abandonment (P&A) of five existing orphan oil and gas wells in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties as part of CalGEM’s State Abandonment Program. The proposed work involves well abandonment and decommissioning tanks and other production-related facilities attendant to the wells. For well abandonment, each well would be cleaned out and then plugged with cement and inert mud to surface. After abandonment, the well head would be removed, and any remaining well casings and surface conductors would be cut. Once the area is clean, it would have suitable fill placed and compacted. These wells are generally situated within an established oil field in an industrial, recreational and/or agricultural setting.
CalGEM has approved a task order for its contractor to perform the proposed work on the wells listed below. Notices of Intention will be issued to the contractor for administrative purposes only and do not constitute a discretionary approval.
API # Well Name Lat Lon
0408321472 North Orcutt 3 34.87991714 -120.430908
0408321509 North Orcutt 8 34.87805176 -120.427841
0408301201 Union-Continental 1 34.79656982 -120.259438
0403712837 Needham 1 34.351097 -118.510917
0411101532 Hobson Fee 4 34.348049 -119.421570
Exempt Status: As the Lead Agency, CalGEM has determined that the proposed project is exempt from full environmental review requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to the specified exemptions marked in the section below. CalGEM further finds that the proposed project would not result in a significant adverse impact to the environment, or that any of the exceptions to the application of the exemptions apply (14 CCR § 15300.2).
Contact Information
Name
Greg Chittick
Agency Name
Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division
Job Title
CEQA Program Contractor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Santa Clarita, Unincorporated areas, Orcutt
Counties
Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Regions
Countywide, Southern California
Township
9N
Range
34W
Section
2
Base
SB
Other Location Info
Santa Maria Valley Oil Field, Cat Canyon Oil Field, Rincon Oil Field
Other Information
API # Well Name Lat Lon
0408321472 North Orcutt 3 34.87991714 -120.430908
0408321509 North Orcutt 8 34.87805176 -120.427841
0408301201 Union-Continental 1 34.79656982 -120.259438
0403712837 Needham 1 34.351097 -118.510917
0411101532 Hobson Fee 4 34.348049 -119.421570
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 exemption applies as CalGEM’s regulations state: “Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously. The Class includes, but is not limited to: remedial, maintenance, conversion, and abandonment work on oil, gas, injection, and geothermal wells…”. These abandonments could be considered a minor alteration to the existing facilities because the existing wells would be permanently sealed. After abandonment, the wells would cease to be used for oil and gas activities. Therefore, there would be no expansion of use beyond that previously existing.
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 exemption applies as the project would be conducted entirely on existing pads of sufficient space to contain all equipment, and existing roads to the pads would be utilized with no new disturbance. No impacts to biological resources are expected because abandonment activities would not disturb any undisturbed areas. Therefore, the project “consists of drilling operations that result in only minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation.” The abandonments would not expand the facility and would be conducted in order to protect the surrounding natural resources and environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7 and Class 8: California Code of Regulations, title 14, sections 15307, 15308
Reasons for Exemption
Orphan wells, due to their inherent lack of maintenance and open pipe to potential reservoir pressure and fluids, present an increased risk for potential leaks that could affect and impact natural resources and environment in the area. In addition, because the wells are within 3,200 feet of receptors, the increased risk of leaks of hazardous substances could negatively impact surrounding sensitive receptors. Orphan wells present an increased risk of leaks when compared to a properly abandoned well and therefore must be plugged and abandoned to minimize a potential threat of a release and subsequent impact. Abandonment of these orphan wells would ensure that risks from leaks and potential impacts to natural resources and the environment are minimized to the extent feasible. Therefore, the Class 7 and Class 8 exemptions are potentially applicable.
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
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.