762971_Group_SoCalGas_UGS
Summary
SCH Number
2026050029
Public Agency
California Department of Conservation
(DOC)
Document Title
762971_Group_SoCalGas_UGS
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/1/2026
Document Description
SoCalGas is proposing to drill six replacement underground gas storage (UGS) wells within the existing La Goleta Natural Gas Storage Facility (La Goleta Facility). The six replacement UGS wells will be installed in the La Goleta Facility parcel owned by SoCalGas, in an existing facility of an investor-owned utility that uses the parcel to provide natural gas services. The purpose of the project is to replace 120–240 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas deliverability of an estimated 280 MMSCFD that has been lost over the past years from the plugging and abandonment of nine UGS wells in compliance with CalGEM’s 2018 regulations that establish standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of all gas storage wells.
The work included in the project consists of site preparation, drilling, completion and
tying into existing facility flowlines/pipelines. Per the operator’s project description, work locations will be accessed using existing access roads. All equipment will be staged within the project boundary (project area and staging areas). The project area will tie into an existing well pad using adjacent disturbed area historically used for agricultural purposes. The project area (0.99 acres) is located within the existing storage facility fence line. The project does not propose the construction of new or additional permanent facilities, nor does it propose expansion of existing facilities. The
replacement wells will be tied into the existing facility flowlines/pipelines and utilize the
existing infrastructure: electric power infrastructure is in place on the lease.
There is no proposed disturbance of native vegetation. Per the Historical Nesting Bird
Survey Report prepared by the operator’s consultant, the project area and staging
area are situated in already disturbed locations with no available nesting structures. The work will comply with updated CalGEM regulations, and the project site will meet
federal, state, and local guidelines. The proposed project consists of the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), approving six permits for SoCalGas to drill the wells listed below, in the La Goleta Gas Field in Santa Barbara County.
API#s: 0408323004, 0408323002, 0408323003, 0408323000, 0408323001, and 0408322999
Well Names: Goleta 2, Goleta 3, Goleta 4, Goleta 5, Goleta 6, Goleta 7
Contact Information
Name
Thomas McMahon
Agency Name
Southern California Gas Company
Job Title
Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Name
Emma Brammer
Agency Name
Department of Conservation
Job Title
Management Services Technician
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated Area
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Northern California
State Highways
US-101
Township
04N
Range
28W
Section
21
Base
SB
Other Location Info
8 miles west of the city of Santa Barbara, and 1½ miles south of the US-101.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA under the “Class 1” (14 CCR § 15301) exemption per the CEQA Guidelines because the proposed project is a minor alteration of existing facilities and will not involve an expansion of use of the gas field beyond that existing previously and therefore is exempt from the need for full CEQA review. This includes “publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services.” (14 CCR § 15301(b).) The proposed project involves the drilling of six replacement UGS wells in the existing La Goleta Facility. The proposed replacement wells would not result in the expansion of existing facilities and would be drilled in order to continue to provide public utility services. A CalGEM engineer has confirmed that the proposed work is within the scope of the approved UGS project 36800001 and would be a continuation of operations with no expansion. The wells would not change the existing use of the gas storage facility and would not increase gas injection or withdrawal rates beyond previously existing levels. Therefore, the Class 1 exemption applies.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 consists of the “replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.” (14 CCR § 15302.). The purpose of the proposed project is to drill six replacement UGS wells in the existing La Goleta Facility to replace 120–240 MMSCFD of gas deliverability of an estimated 280 MMSCFD that has been lost over the past years from the plugging and abandonment of nine UGS wells at the La Goleta Facility. The six proposed new wells would be located within the same facility and would have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the wells they are proposed to replace. Therefore, the Class 2 exemption applies.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 consists of “drilling operations that result only in minor alterations with negligible or no permanent effects to the existing condition of the land, water, air, and/or vegetation.” (14 CCR § 1684.2; see also 14 CCR § 15304.) The proposed project involves the drilling of six replacement UGS wells in an existing disturbed area (0.99 acres) within the existing storage facility fence line and would be accessed by existing roads. The project does not propose expansion of existing facilities or disturbance of native vegetation. Therefore, there would be no significant surface disturbance that could impact the surrounding environment, and the Class 4 exemption applies.
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.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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