Laguna County Sanitation District Treatment Plant Legacy Facilities Decommissioning Project (LFDECl)
Summary
SCH Number
2026090860
Public Agency
Laguna County Sanitation District
Document Title
Laguna County Sanitation District Treatment Plant Legacy Facilities Decommissioning Project (LFDECl)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/21/2026
Document Description
The Laguna County Sanitation District owns and operates a wastewater reclamation plant serving the Orcutt and southern unincorporated Santa Maria areas. Several
older treatment units-including the trickling filter, original headworks, and original grit chamber as well as several pond junction boxes-were constructed under earlier treatment configurations and have since been replaced by modern systems. Although inactive, these structures remain on site and require periodic monitoring to ensure structural integrity and worker safety.
The Legacy Facilities Decommissioning Project will formally retire these inactive units by isolating and abandoning obsolete process piping, removing or filling unused structures, demolishing or stabilizing remaining appurtenances, and restoring the surrounding site to support ongoing plant operations. Work also includes reuse of trickling filter rock as structural backfill for future LCSD improvements (storage basin), reducing hauling and disposal requirements, and regrading pond A to prepare for future concrete lining as a separate project. All activities occur entirely within
previously disturbed areas of the existing wastewater reclamation plant and do not expand treatment capacity or modify active treatment processes.
Contact Information
Name
Kevin Thompson
Agency Name
Laguna County Sanitation District
Job Title
Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Name
Peter Rees
Agency Name
W.M. Lyles Co.
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Santa Maria
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Southern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Black Road and Dutard St.
Zip
93455
Total Acres
20
Jobs
20
Parcel #
113-240-005
State Highways
Hwy 1
Railways
Union Pacific Railroad
Airports
Santa Maria Public Airport
Schools
Arellanes Elementary
Waterways
Orcutt Creek
Township
11
Range
34 W
Base
SBPM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301, 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301- The project consists of decommissioning inactive wastewater
treatment units by isolating piping, removing or filling structures, and restoring disturbed areas. These actions do not expand facility capacity, alter treatment function, or introduce new uses.
Section 15302 -The project replaces or removes obsolete structures within their existing footprints and restores the site for continued wastewater facility operations without increasing capacity or changing the purpose of the facility.
Exceptions Analysis (CEQA Guidelines §15300.2)
(a) Location. Classes 1 and 2 are not subject to the location exception. The project occurs entirely within an existing wastewater treatment plant and does not affect mapped environmental resources of hazardous or critical concern.
(b) Cumulative Impacts. Recent facility upgrades (headworks and secondary treatment improvements) were evaluated under the 2018 Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (17NGD-00000-000-15). The decommissioning project involves different, inactive facilities in previously disturbed areas and does not contribute to cumulative impacts.
(c) Significant Effect due to Unusual Circumstances. The project involves decommissioning inactive treatment units and restoring disturbed areas. Although the facility is within potential dispersal habitat for California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog, all work will comply with the adopted Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit (TE16913C), including avoidance and minimization measures. No unusual circumstances exist that would result in a significant environmental impact.
(d) Scenic Highways. The project is not located within a designated state scenic highway corridor and does not affect scenic resources.
(e) Hazardous Waste Sites. The project site is not listed pursuant to Government Code §65962.5.
(f) Historical Resources. Work occurs within previously disturbed wastewater treatment facilities and will not affect historical resources.
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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