Electrical Vehicle Charging Station Installation Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026100871
Public Agency
Central Coast Water Authority
(CCWA)
Document Title
Electrical Vehicle Charging Station Installation Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/23/2026
Document Description
The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project (Project) includes the installation of nine electrical charging stations at three CCWA facilities. Four stations will be installed at the Buellton Administration Office, four stations at the Polonio Pass Water Treatment Plant and one station at the Santa Ynez Pumping Plant. The Project includes trenching through existing asphalt and concrete to install electrical conduit, installing bollards, replacement of concrete and asphalt and parking lot striping.
Contact Information
Name
Elizabeth Watkins
Agency Name
Central Coast Water Authority
Job Title
Office Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Name
Peter Thompson
Agency Name
Central Coast Water Authority
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Buellton
Counties
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
255 Industrial Way
Zip
93427
State Highways
CA
Township
Buellt
Other Location Info
Buellton Administration Office (255 Industrial Way, Buellton, CA 93427), Polonio Pass Water Treatment Plant (5250 Antelope Rd, Shandon, CA 93461), Santa Ynez Pumping Plant (2800 Mesa Verde Road, Santa Ynez, California 93460
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Pub. Res. Code § 21065; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, §§ 15000 – 15387, §§ 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption)
Reasons for Exemption
Not a Project Under CEQA: CEQA applies only to projects that have a potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. (CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3).) A public agency may determine an activity to be exempt where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project is not a project under CEQA (Pub. Res. Code § 21065; 14 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 15061(b)(3), 15378) because it will not result in a direct or indirect change to the environment.
Class 1 - Existing Public Facilities Categorical Exemption: The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project consists of minor alternations to an existing asphalt and parking lots, and involves negligible expansion of existing or former use. Therefore it is exempt under the Existing Public Facilities exemption. (CEQA Guidelines § 15301.)
Class 3 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures Categorical Exemption: The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project consists of the construction and installation of limited numbers of new, small structures to existing asphalt and parking lots. Therefore it is exempt under the New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures exemption. (CEQA Guidelines § 15303.)
Class 4 – Minor Alterations to Land Categorical Exemption: The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project consists of minor alteration in the condition of land that is already disturbed (asphalt and parking lots) and does not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. Therefore it is exempt under the Minor Alterations to Land exemption. (CEQA Guidelines § 15304.)
Class 11 – Accessory Structures Categorical Exemption: The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project consists construction of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial to existing CCWA facilities and treatment plants. Therefore it is exempt under the Accessory Structures exemption. (CEQA Guidelines § 15311.)
Exceptions to the Categorical Exemptions:
None of the exceptions to the Categorical Exemptions apply, as the Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project will not: impact a designated, mapped, and officially adopted environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern; result in a significant cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place over time; have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances; damage a scenic highway or scenic resources within a state scenic highway; be located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code; nor cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. (CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2.)
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines §§ 15301, 15303, 15304, 15311
Reasons for Exemption
Not a Project Under CEQA: CEQA applies only to projects that have a potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. (CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3).) A public agency may determine an activity to be exempt where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project is not a project under CEQA (Pub. Res. Code § 21065; 14 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 15061(b)(3), 15378) because it will not result in a direct or indirect change to the environment.
Class 1 - Existing Public Facilities Categorical Exemption: The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project consists of minor alternations to an existing asphalt and parking lots, and involves negligible expansion of existing or former use. Therefore it is exempt under the Existing Public Facilities exemption. (CEQA Guidelines § 15301.)
Class 3 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures Categorical Exemption: The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project consists of the construction and installation of limited numbers of new, small structures to existing asphalt and parking lots. Therefore it is exempt under the New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures exemption. (CEQA Guidelines § 15303.)
Class 4 – Minor Alterations to Land Categorical Exemption: The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project consists of minor alteration in the condition of land that is already disturbed (asphalt and parking lots) and does not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. Therefore it is exempt under the Minor Alterations to Land exemption. (CEQA Guidelines § 15304.)
Class 11 – Accessory Structures Categorical Exemption: The Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project consists construction of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial to existing CCWA facilities and treatment plants. Therefore it is exempt under the Accessory Structures exemption. (CEQA Guidelines § 15311.)
Exceptions to the Categorical Exemptions:
None of the exceptions to the Categorical Exemptions apply, as the Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Installation Project will not: impact a designated, mapped, and officially adopted environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern; result in a significant cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place over time; have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances; damage a scenic highway or scenic resources within a state scenic highway; be located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code; nor cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. (CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2.)
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.