125 S. San Marcos Road Contaminated Soil Excavation
Summary
SCH Number
2026061033
Public Agency
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
Document Title
125 S. San Marcos Road Contaminated Soil Excavation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/24/2026
Document Description
The project involves the excavating, loading, and hauling of up to approximately 1,750 cubic yards of arsenic contaminated soil located at what is commonly referred to as the "Tatum Property" (APN 065-040-026). Stockpiles will be covered with continuous heavy-duty plastic sheeting or treated with the soil binder "Soil-Sement" to reduce fugitive particulates and Reactive Organic Compound (ROC) emissions. The excavated soil will be removed from the site by covered dump trucks. The County of Santa Barbara is the Lead Agency under CEQA on the Tatum Multifamily Housing Development Project. Environmental Health Services (EHS) Site Mitigation Unit (SMU) has primary oversight authority with respect to soil investigation and cleanup located at the Tatum Property (site) and has approved the Corrective Action Plan which includes the excavation, handling, and disposal of arsenic contaminated soil. The District's permit action ensures that excavation activities authorized by EHS comply with all District rules and regulations and are performed in a manner that minimizes potential air contaminant emissions.
Contact Information
Name
Carly Barham
Agency Name
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
Job Title
Air Quality Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Responsible Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Ron Wu
Agency Name
Red Tail Multifamily Land Development, LLC
Job Title
Director, Development
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Santa Barbara
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Unincorporated
Parcel #
065-040-026
Other Location Info
125 S. San Marcos Road, 4750 Hollister Avenue
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Ministerial
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(1); 15268. District CEQA Guidelines, Appendix A "APCD List of Exempt Projects" (Section: 1.i)
Reasons for Exemption
The District is a Responsible Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") on the Tatum Multifamily Housing Development Project. The County of Santa Barbara, as the Lead Agency, approved the Project (County of Santa Barbara Planning and Development Case No. 24ZCI-00000- 00048) on November 4, 2025 and determined that the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15268 (Ministerial Projects). As a Responsible Agency, the District has responsibility for considering the effects of the activities involved in a project which the District is required to carry out or approve ( 14 CCR l 5096(g)( I)). As a Responsible Agency, the District has complied with CEQA by considering the Lead Agency's action and reaching its own conclusions on whether and how to approve the project (14 CCR 15096(a)). While the actions taken by District are within the scope of the project considered by the Lead Agency, the Lead Agency's reasoning for the determination that the Project is exempt from CEQA does not apply to the District. Therefore, the District cannot rely on the Lead Agency's exemption and the District has conducted its own environmental evaluation of the project. The District has determined that the Project is exempt from the requirements of the CEQA pursuant to Appendix A: APCD List of Exempt Projects of the District's Environmental Review Guidelines (Section l.i.) that specifically provides an exemption for "Permits to Operate, and reevaluations thereof'. The proposed contaminated soil cleanup activities are permitted pursuant to a Permit to Operate (PTO) permit from the District (there is no requirement to obtain an Authority to Construct permit prior to issuance of the PTO permit).
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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