Security and Access Control Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026051238
Public Agency
Central Coast Water Authority
(CCWA)
Document Title
Security and Access Control Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/29/2026
Document Description
The Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) is a joint powers agency formed to construct, own, and operate certain facilities needed to treat, convey, and deliver State Water Project (SWP) water to its project participants retail water providers and end users located within the County.
The Polonia Pass Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is one of CCWA's facilities and stores treatment chemicals in chemical tanks. One finding of the Risk and Resiliency Assessment of the CCWA operation indicated a need to enhance security to increase operational resiliency. CCWA intends to replace existing surveillance cameras and install new hardware on existing doors to improve the access control system. Trenching may be required for underground conduits, and new poles may be installed to affix security cameras to.
Contact Information
Name
Peter Thompson
Agency Name
Central Coast Water Authority
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
5250 Antelope Road, Shandon, CA 93461.
Zip
93461
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Sections 15000 - 15387; Sect. 15061(b)(3); Sect.15301; Section 15302; Sect, 15304; Sect. 15311
Reasons for Exemption
Class 1 - Existing Public Facilities Categorical Exemption: The Project consists of operation, repair, and maintenance of existing facilities that involves negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Therefore the Existing Public Facilities Categorical Exemption applies. (CEQA Guidelines § 15301.)
Class 2 - Replacement or Reconstruction Categorical Exemption: The Project consists of potential trenching and installation of poles at the WTP, where the WTP will be located on the same site and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity. Therefore, the Replacement or Reconstruction Categorical Exemption applies. (CEQA Guidelines § 15302.)
Class 4 - Minor Alteration to Land: The Project potentially consists of minor trenching and backfilling where the surface is restored. Therefore, the Minor Alteration to Land Categorical Exemption applies. (CEQA Guidelines§ 15304.)
Class 11 -Accessory Structures Categorical Exemption: The Project consists of construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities." The Project potentially includes installation of new poles to affix the security cameras. Therefore, the Accessory Structures Categorical Exemption applies. (CEQA Guidelines § 15311.)
Exceptions to the Categorical Exemptions:
None of the exceptions to the Categorical Exemptions apply, as the Project will not: impact a designated, mapped, and officially adopted environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern; result in a significant cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place over time; have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances; damage a scenic highway or scenic resources within a state scenic highway; be located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code; nor cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. (CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2.)
Common Sense Exemption:
This Project is also determined to be exempt based upon the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have a potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. (CEQA Guidelines § 15061 (b)(3).) A public agency may determine an activity to be exempt 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.
Here, there will be no expansion of existing uses, and the WTP will operate in the same manner and at the same capacity as the existing WTP. As such, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, and therefore, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
County Clerks
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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