Invasive Mussel Control – Chemical Feed Installation Plan (“Project”)
Summary
SCH Number
2026030595
Public Agency
Kern-Tulare Water District
Document Title
Invasive Mussel Control – Chemical Feed Installation Plan (“Project”)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/13/2026
Document Description
The Kern-Tulare Water District (“District”) has been evaluating proactive measures to prevent the establishment and spread of invasive mussels within its conveyance and distribution infrastructure. The Project involves invasive mussel control options suitable for inlet-only application at bar screens and sump structures. The Project’s options are not anticipated to adversely impact downstream agricultural crops when applied in controlled volumes and in accordance with product labeling, dilution requirements, and discharge management practices. Early-stage control at inlet locations provides the most effective opportunity to limit infestation while minimizing exposure to downstream users.
Contact Information
Name
Skye B. Grass
Agency Name
Kern-Tulare Water District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Kern
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
WOOLLOMES PUMPING PLANT (35.747176, -119.173792);
CECIL PUMPING PLANT (35.775819, -119.177648);
AVENUE 24 PUMPING PLANT (35.834349, -119.162313); AVENUE 36 PUMPING PLANT (35.855996, -119.161063); AVENUE 4 PUMPING PLANT (35.798637, -119.103095);
BIG 4 RESERVOIR (35.749229, -119.085207);
CECIL RESERVOIR (35.777286, -119.096277);
AND AVENUE 24 RESERVOIR (35.833133, -119.074637)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
“Specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency.” (Pub. Res. Code § 21080(b)(4));
“Emergency repairs to publicly or privately owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety or welfare. Emergency repairs include those that require a reasonable amount of planning to address an anticipated emergency” (CEQA Guidelines § 15269(b)); and
“Specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency. This does not include long-term projects undertaken for the purpose of preventing or mitigating a situation that has a low probability of occurrence in the short-term, but this exclusion does not apply (i) if the anticipated period of time to conduct an environmental review of such a long-term project would create a risk to public health, safety or welfare, or (ii) if activities (such as fire or catastrophic risk mitigation or modifications to improve facility integrity) are proposed for existing facilities in response to an emergency at a similar existing facility.” (CEQA Guidelines § 15269(c))
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
: CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 Existing Facilities), CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Class 4 Minor Alterations
Reasons for Exemption
The District reviewed the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.).
CEQA contains several categorical exemptions from CEQA including the following:
• The CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 Existing Facilities) categorical exemption provides in part that it “consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use […] The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use.”
• The CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Class 4 Minor Alterations to Land) categorical exemption provides in part that it “consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes.”
• The CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 (Class 8 Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) categorical exemption “consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. Construction activities and relaxation of standards allowing environmental degradation are not included in this exemption.”
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Common Sense Exemption: CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA also provides, in CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), that where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is exempt from CEQA.
The District reviewed the Project and determined that the Project is also exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Project may have a significant effect on the environment.
County Clerks
Kern, Tulare
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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