CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. WC00020-P177
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES
CONTACT: Anita Luera, Project Manager
City of Fresno - Capital Projects Department
7 4 7 R Street, 2nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-621-8834
Email: [email protected]
PROJECT TITLE: Wellhead Treatment Improvements at
Pump Station 177
PROJECT LOCATIONS:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Wellhead treatment improvements at existing Pump Station 177 including construction of an aeration tank
and installation of filtration vessels, a booster pump, interconnecting piping, and associated electrical and
instrumentation lines to improve the system's
performance, efficiency, and water quality.
This project is exempt under Section(s) 15301 Class 1 & 15303 Class 3 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
Class 1 exemptions, for projects pertaining to Existing Facilities, consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. Examples include, but are not limited to, existing facilities of publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewage, or other public utility services.
Class 3 exemptions, for projects involving new construction or conversion of small structures, include the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and utility extensions, including electric, water, and sewer, of reasonable length to serve such construction. Examples include but are not limited to water main extensions, utility service connections, and small utility buildings.
Pump Station 177 is an existing potable water facility that supplies drinking water to the City of Fresno municipal water system supporting residential, commercial, and fire City of Fresno Council District 6
protection demands. The proposed improvements include construction of an aeration tank and installation of activated carbon vessels , booster pump, interconnecting piping, and associated electrical and instrumentation lines within the existing site. The improvements will not expand the facility’s existing operational purpose or scale, and are required to improve pump station’s overall performance, efficiency, and water quality.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply:
(a) Location The Project is not located in a sensitive environment or an environmental resource of hazardous or critical
concern as designated by federal, state, or local
agencies. The work is entirely located within the
existing Pump Station 177 facility with only minor
impact on the right of way.
(b) Cumulative Impact The Project will not have a cumulative negative impact over time that is significant. The Project
merely entails improvement work within an existing
facility.
(c) Significant Effect The Project will not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. All work
will be limited to an existing facility.
(d) Scenic Highways The Project will not result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources,
within a highway officially designated as a state
scenic highway. The Project is not located near
scenic highways.
(e) Hazardous Waste Sites The Project is not located on a hazardous waste site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to
Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
(f) Historical Resources The Project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
The existing facilities at the Pump Station 177 site
are not considered historical resources.
Furthermore, the proposed project is not expected to have a significant effect on the environment. Accordingly, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
Prepared by: Anita Luera Date: February 27, 2026 Submitted by: