812422_45200001_Grouped__PGE_UGS

2026070905

California Department of Conservation (DOC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

7/23/2026

7/23/2026

Randall P. Jeffries

Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (P0300)

Oil and Gas Program Analyst

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

715 P. Street, MS 1803
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 917-3683

ceqa@conservation.ca.gov

Nathnael Eshetu

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (P0300)

Submitter

Project Applicant

300 Lakeside Drive, Suite 210
Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 089-3001

NGE2@pge.com

37°59'44.7"N 121°28'38.7"W

1136' S & 93' W of N.E. corner Sec. 25

02N

04E

25

MD

McDonald Island Gas Oil Field

Categorical Exemption

Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1)

Class 1, Existing Facilities (14 CCR §§ 15301, 1684.1): 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 repair or minor alteration of existing facilities and will not involve an expansion of use of the oil field, and therefore is exempt from the need for full CEQA review. Additionally, in accordance with 14 CCR § 1684.1 the Class 1 exemption consists of operation, repair, maintenance, minor alternation of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing previously. This includes publicly-owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewage, or other public utility services (14 CCR 15301 (b)). The operator proposes to rework an existing gas storage well by retrieving existing tubing string, packer, and production liner, performing casing integrity wireline surveys, replacing existing wellhead, installing new production liner and gravel pack, and installing new tubing string and packer. The wells will remain gas storage wells with substantially the same capacity.

Categorical Exemption

Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302)

Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction (14 CCR § 15302): Class 2 applies because it consists of “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.” This includes replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. The project would rework the existing gas storage wells. The wells will remain gas storage wells with substantially the same capacity.

Categorical Exemption

Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2)

Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (14 CCR §§ 15304, 1684.2): 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.).” The proposed project would rework an existing gas storage well. The wells are located on existing well pads, which are large enough to accommodate the necessary equipment and can be accessed by existing access roads. The project does not involve the construction of new facilities or the expansion of existing facilities. Therefore, there would be no new surface disturbance that would significantly impact the surrounding environment. This exemption may be used when a project will involve minor and temporary surface ground disturbance.

Other

Exceptions to Exemptions:

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.