NOE 26-02: First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Importation Agreement for Disposal of Solid Waste with Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc.

2026041282

Riverside County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

4/28/2026

4/28/2026

Katherine Veliz

Riverside County Department of Waste Resources

Senior Planner

Lead/Public Agency

14310 Frederick Street
Moreno Valley, CA 92553

(951) 486-3369

kveliz@rivco.org

Multiple sites are included in the Agreement

East Valley and West Valley Transfer Stations (EVTS and WVTS), located at 1150 & 1250 South Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408, and 13373 Napa Street, Fontana, CA 92335, and alternative Burrtec contracted facilities. In addition to Riverside County regional landfill sites, namely, the Badlands Landfill, 31125 Ironwood Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA and the Lamb Canyon Landfill, 16411 Lamb Canyon Road, Beaumont, CA 92223

Categorical Exemption

Section 15301, Existing Facilities

Class 1 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 use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination. The proposed Project involves extension of the existing Agreement between the County and Burrtec for disposal of solid waste and adjusting the tonnage requirements. Imported MSW will be delivered to the Badlands or Lamb Canyon landfills, for which both landfill sites have sufficient capacity to accept the MSW. Implementation of the Project would not exceed permitted thresholds and involves negligible expansion of the existing uses. Therefore, the Project as proposed meets the scope and intent of Class 1 Categorical Exemption.

Statutory Exemption

Section 15273, Rates, Tolls, Fares Charges

CEQA does not apply to the establishment, modification, structuring, restructuring, or approval of rates, tolls, fares, and other charges by public agencies which the public agency finds are for the purpose of: - Meeting operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits - Purchasing or leasing supplies, equipment, or materials - Meeting financial reserve needs and requirements - Obtaining funds for capital projects, necessary to maintain service within existing service areas - Obtaining funds necessary to maintain such intra-city transfers as are authorized by city charter. The proposed Project involves extending the term of the existing Agreement between the County and Burrtec for disposal of solid waste and adjusting the tonnage requirements. Revenue generated from the Project is for the purpose of meeting operating expenses, financial reserve requirements, and obtaining funds for capital projects necessary to maintain service within existing service areas. As such, due to the administrative nature of the Project, no environmental resources will be affected; therefore, the Project meets the scope and intent of Section 15273, Statutory Exemption.

Other

Section 15061(b)(3), General Rule

The activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects, which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. 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 not subject to CEQA. Based upon the entire record, the Project would not result in the potential for any significant effect on the environment. This determination is an issue of fact and sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity will not have a significant effect on the environment. As such, the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See Muzzy Ranch Co. v. Solano County Airport Land Use Comm’n (2007) 41 Cal. 4th 372. The proposed Project simply involves extending the term of the existing Agreement and adjusting the tonnage requirements. The Project involves no expansion of approved uses and would not have a cumulatively significant effect on the environment or environmental resources. As such, the Project meets the scope and intent of Section 15061(b)(3), General Rule Exemption.