Comfort Inn & Suites Repair OWTS Project (CEQ 26-018)
Summary
SCH Number
2026060244
Public Agency
Tulare County
Document Title
Comfort Inn & Suites Repair OWTS Project (CEQ 26-018)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/5/2026
Document Description
The proposed Project is an existing Comfort Inn & Suites Sequoia Kings Canyon hotel, with 103 existing rooms, parking areas, pool/spa, onsite public water system, and an existing onsite wastewater treatment system. The proposed Project is limited to repair and modification of the existing onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) to address Water Board compliance issues, improve wastewater treatment and distribution, and support ongoing permit processing. The Project includes installation of a new 15,000-gallon primary septic tank, reuse of the existing 15,000-gallon tank as a pre-anoxic tank, new Orenco AX-MAX media bed filtration treatment units, UV disinfection, digital flow metering, controls, piping/electrical work, and repair, replacement, and limited modification of existing drip/leach dispersal components necessary to serve the existing hotel use and maintain compliance with applicable wastewater requirements of existing drip/leach dispersal components. The proposed Project does not propose new hotel rooms, new hotel buildings, new lots, expanded lodging operations, increased guest capacity, new retail/restaurant use, or a change in land use. The purpose is to maintain the existing hotel use while correcting wastewater system deficiencies and obtaining required environmental/permitting clearance.
Short-term and construction-period controls include maintaining hotel plumbing in leak-free condition, operational controls to stay within permitted flow limits, temporary pump-and-haul/pump truck support as needed, and phased construction to maintain controlled hotel operations and site access. Construction is expected to follow a 6-8 week phased schedule after permits and long-lead equipment are available.
Contact Information
Name
Gary Mills
Agency Name
Tulare County Resource Management Agency
Job Title
Chief Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Michael Washam
Agency Name
Tulare County Resource Management Agency
Job Title
Associate Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Danielle Folk
Agency Name
Tulare County Resource Management Agency
Job Title
Planner III
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
JUM, LLC
Agency Name
applicant
Job Title
applicant
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
Three Rivers
Counties
Tulare
Regions
Unincorporated
Parcel #
068-360-028
Township
17S
Range
28E
Section
26
Other Location Info
40820 Sierra Drive
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Class 1 Section 15301 Existing Facilities (d)
Reasons for Exemption
This action is consistent with Section 15301 Class 1, Existing Facilities (d) because it consists of the repair, maintenance, permitting, and minor alteration of an existing private hotel facility and its existing onsite wastewater treatment system, involving negligible or no expansion of existing use. The Project includes repair, replacement, and modification of wastewater treatment and dispersal components, including installation of a new septic tank,-reuse of an existing tank, installation of treatment, disinfection, metering, control, piping, electrical, and dispersal system improvements, for the purpose of correcting wastewater system deficiencies, improving treatment performance, and maintaining compliance with applicable wastewater permitting requirements. The Project would serve the existing 103-room hotel and would not add hotel rooms, new hotel buildings, new lots, expanded lodging operations, increased guest capacity, new retail or restaurant uses, or a change in land use.
The Project is also categorically exempt pursuant to CEOA Guidelines Section 15302 Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction(c), because it involves replacement and reconstruction of existing utility system facilities with negligible or no expansion of capacity. Therefore, CEOA Sections 15301(d) and 15302(c) are applicable and appropriate for this Project. The County has further determined that none of the exceptions to the use of categorical exemptions set forth in CEOA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to the Project. The Project would not result in a significant cumulative impact, would not result in a significant effect due to unusual circumstances, would not damage scenic resources within an officially designated State Scenic Highway, is not located on a hazardous waste site listed pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, and would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Class 2 Section §15302 Replacement or Reconstruction (c),
Reasons for Exemption
This action is consistent with Section 15301 Class 1, Existing Facilities (d) because it consists of the repair, maintenance, permitting, and minor alteration of an existing private hotel facility and its existing onsite wastewater treatment system, involving negligible or no expansion of existing use. The Project includes repair, replacement, and modification of wastewater treatment and dispersal components, including installation of a new septic tank,-reuse of an existing tank, installation of treatment, disinfection, metering, control, piping, electrical, and dispersal system improvements, for the purpose of correcting wastewater system deficiencies, improving treatment performance, and maintaining compliance with applicable wastewater permitting requirements. The Project would serve the existing 103-room hotel and would not add hotel rooms, new hotel buildings, new lots, expanded lodging operations, increased guest capacity, new retail or restaurant uses, or a change in land use.
The Project is also categorically exempt pursuant to CEOA Guidelines Section 15302 Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction(c), because it involves replacement and reconstruction of existing utility system facilities with negligible or no expansion of capacity. Therefore, CEOA Sections 15301(d) and 15302(c) are applicable and appropriate for this Project. The County has further determined that none of the exceptions to the use of categorical exemptions set forth in CEOA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to the Project. The Project would not result in a significant cumulative impact, would not result in a significant effect due to unusual circumstances, would not damage scenic resources within an officially designated State Scenic Highway, is not located on a hazardous waste site listed pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, and would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
County Clerk
Tulare
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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