Adoption of the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 and Approval of Repair, Maintenance and Pre-Construction Activities
Summary
SCH Number
2026031237
Public Agency
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency
(BBARWA)
Document Title
Adoption of the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 and Approval of Repair, Maintenance and Pre-Construction Activities
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/27/2026
Document Description
Adoption of the annual budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (the “Budget”), which includes funding for ten projects to maintain or replace existing equipment, purchase small equipment, and engineering, environmental, final design, and other pre-construction activities related to Replenish Big Bear (“Budget”). The ten potential projects include: 1) Outfall line investigation, 2) North Shore Pump Station 3 well rehabilitation planning and engineering 3) Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) rotor replacements and softstart replacement 4) replace security lights and surveillance system, 5) replacement of an Agency vehicle, 6) effluent pump rebuild, 7) replace the Headworks carbon tower, 8) relocate the Headworks equipment panel, 9) Wastewater Treatment and Outfall and Collection System Master Plans, and 10) performing engineering, environmental, final design, and other pre-construction activities related to Replenish Big Bear (“RBB, BBARWA’s Wastewater Treatment Upgrades Project”), (collectively, “Proposed Approvals”).
Contact Information
Name
David Lawrence
Agency Name
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Big Bear City
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency service area
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
14 Cal. Code Regs. (State CEQA Guidelines), section 15378
Reasons for Exemption
The March 25, 2026 approval of the Budget and Proposed Approvals (projects 1-9) is not a CEQA “project,” because the Budget and Proposed Approvals (projects 1-9) will not result in any direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect environmental impacts under State CEQA Guidelines § 15378. Further, the Budget and Proposed Approvals (projects 1-9) are not subject to CEQA review, because it can be seen with certainty that they have no potential to impact the environment under State CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3).
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 Cal. Code Regs. (State CEQA Guidelines), section 15262
Reasons for Exemption
Additionally, and even if the Budget and the Proposed Approvals (projects 1-9) are a CEQA “project,” they are still categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15262, 15301, and 15302, because the Budget and the Proposed Approvals involve:
• Feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions which the Board has not approved, adopted, or funded
• the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment that will result in negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing today pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines §15301;
• the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities, which will be located on the same site have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure or facility replaced pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines § 15302;
• the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines § 15303.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 Cal. Code Regs. (State CEQA Guidelines), section 15301, 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Additionally, and even if the Budget and the Proposed Approvals (projects 1-9) are a CEQA “project,” they are still categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15262, 15301, and 15302, because the Budget and the Proposed Approvals involve:
• Feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions which the Board has not approved, adopted, or funded
• the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment that will result in negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing today pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines §15301;
• the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities, which will be located on the same site have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure or facility replaced pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines § 15302;
• the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines § 15303.
Finally, none of the “exceptions” to the categorical exemptions apply under State CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2.
As to Replenish Big Bear (i.e., project 10), the approval of the Budget does not constitute an approval of the Replenish Big Bear Program as a whole, but rather allows BBARWA to approve the Budget for performing engineering, environmental, final design, and other pre-construction activities. Lastly, the Budget is exempt from under State CEQA Guidelines § 15273 since the Budget includes rate adjustments to maintain service within existing service areas.
County Clerk
San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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