LAPC Sewer Line Replacement Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026060720
Public Agency
Los Angeles Community College District
Document Title
LAPC Sewer Line Replacement Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/16/2026
Document Description
Los Angeles Community College District ("District") is proposing a project to replace/repair its existing sewer system at Los Angeles Pierce College ("LAPC").
The proposed project involves the campus-wide replacement of aging and damaged sewer line utility infrastructure, including a segment of sewer line owned by the City of Los Angeles via easement ("Project"). Approximately 6,500 linear feet of sewer lines ranging from 8 to 12 inches and an average of 12 feet deep would be replaced throughout campus. Trenching would be used to replace all sewer lines, which consists of excavating land until the entirety of the sewer line section is exposed before workers manually conduct repairs or replacement. The proposed Project would repair failing existing sewer utilities by replacing existing, deteriorated infrastructure with new lines. The overall capacity of the LAPC sewer system would remain the same, and no additional utility infrastructure would be added as part of Project activities.
There is substantial evidence to support that the sewer line system is immediately failing infrastructure, making it an urgent, high-priority project that rises to the level of emergency repairs. The majority of the existing infrastructure is far beyond its service life, resulting in frequent sewer line breaks and blockages. The deteriorated sewer line serving the campus has reduced reliability and is at risk of failure, overflow, or service interruption due to frequent cracking, fractures, and offset joints. Failure of the sewer system would pose an immediate threat to public health and safety and could result in environmental contamination and disruption of essential campus services.
On March 4, 2026, the Board of Trustees of the District found that the Project was exempt from CEQA review. Once the California Community Colleges State Chancellor's Office confirms the award of Project funding, The Board of Trustees of the District will approve the Project and a further Notice of Exemption will be filed.
Contact Information
Name
Dr. Leigh T. Sata
Agency Name
Los Angele Community College District
Job Title
Vice Chancellor & Chief Facilities Executive Facilities Planning & Development and Build-LACCD
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
Los Angeles Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91371
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 Cal. Code Regs. (State CEQA Guidelines), section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA categorical exemption 1, also known as the "existing facilities" exemption, applies to the operation, maintenance, repair, or minor alteration of existing facilities, structures, mechanical equipment, or topographical features. This exemption applies when there is no or negligible expansion of the existing or former use. The exemption itself provides examples of the types of projects it covers, including, but not limited to (1) "...utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services", (2) "restoration or rehabilitation of...mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety...", and (3) installation...of a steam sterilization unit for the treatment of medical waste " (14 CCR 15301).
The Project involves the replacement/repair of the existing sewer system without increasing its capacity. As such, it qualifies for the 14 CCR 15301 exemption.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 Cal. Code Regs. (State CEQA Guidelines), section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
An additional CEQA exemption that applies to the Project is the Class 2 exemption, which 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). Replacement structures and facilities do not need to have the exact same footprint as prior structures and facilities; instead, it is sufficient if it is located on the same overall project site. (Dehne v. County of Santa Cruz (1981) 115 Cal. App. 3d. 827, 837).
This exemption includes, but is not limited to (1) "replacement or reconstruction of existing schools...to provide earthquake resistant structures which do not increase capacity more than 50 percent", (2) "replacement of a commercial structure with a new structure of substantially the same size, purpose, and capacity", (3) "replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity", and (4) conversion of overhead electric utility distribution system facilities to underground including connection to existing overhead electric utility distribution lines..." (14 CCR 15302).
As this Project involves the replacement/repair of the existing sewer system without increasing its capacity, the exemption found at 14 CCR 15302 also applies to the Project.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
14 Cal. Code Regs. (State CEQA Guidelines), section 15269
Reasons for Exemption
The emergency projects statutory exemption applies to "(b) [e]mergency repairs to publicly or privately owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety or welfare. Emergency repairs include those that require a reasonable amount of planning to address an anticipated emergency." (14 CCR 15269).
This Project constitutes an emergency because it involves immediately failing sewer facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety, or welfare.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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