EVGateway’s EV Charging Infrastructure in Rural Communities

2026040451

California Energy Commission

NOE - Notice of Exemption

4/9/2026

4/9/2026

Iris Dimpsey

CEC Fuels and Transportation Division

Energy Analyst

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 314-3381

iris.dimpsey@energy.ca.gov

Reddy Marri

EvGateway

Project Manager

Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

19681 Da Vinci
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610

(949) 945-6300

reddy@evgateway.com

multiple locations. 1940 Feather River Blvd, Oroville, CA 95965?; ?? 300 Bear mtn blvd, Arvin, CA 93203?; ??? 4755 Valley W Blvd, Arcata, CA 95521?; ?? 100 S Chowchilla Blvd, Chowchilla, CA 93610?; ??8632 Highway 166, Bakersfield, CA, 93313, USA?; ?? 1583 Riverwalk Dr, Fortuna, CA 95540?

Categorical Exemption

Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15301, 15303, 15304

Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15301 Existing Facilities provides that the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment or topographical features which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the responsible agency's determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This project will involve the installation of at least 36 160 kW DC fast chargers, with mechanical dimensions of 29’’ length x 26.5’’ depth x 73’’ height each approximately within a 1ft^3 space, along underserved corridors in CalEnviroScreen-identified DAC/LIC and rural census tracts at six rural sites in Oroville, Arvin, Chowchilla, Arcata, Bakersfield, and Fortuna. The electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at existing, paved parking spaces. Therefore, this project is exempt under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303 provides that projects which consist of 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, are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project consists of installation of new, small equipment to existing sites. This project involves installation of at least 36 160 kW DC fast chargers along underserved corridors in CalEnviroScreen-identified DAC/LIC and rural census tracts at six rural sites in Oroville, Arvin, Chowchilla, Arcata, Bakersfield, and Fortuna. The footprint of each charger is small, with mechanical dimensions of 29’’ length x 26.5’’ depth x 73’’ height each approximately within a 1ft^3 space. The equipment will be installed in existing, paved parking lots. Therefore, the project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15304 provides that projects which consist 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 and agricultural purposes are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project involves installation of electric vehicle charging stations in existing, paved parking spaces. Minor trenching may be necessary to connect the proposed charging stations to an existing fuel supply. The work will not involve the removal of any mature, scenic trees. Therefore, this project is exempt under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15304. For these reasons, the proposed work will not have any significant effect on the environment and falls under sections 15301, 15303, and 15304. Additionally, the project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.