Reso 1663 02/2024RESOLUTION NO. 1663
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE VALLECITOS WATER
DISTRICT MAKING FINDINGS PURSUANT TO PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE
SECTION 21166 AND ADOPTING ADDENDUM NO. 2 TO 2004 INITIAL
STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE MEADOWLARK WATER
RECLAMATION FACILITY (SCH # 2004091046)
WHEREAS, on October 20, 2004, the Board of Directors for the Vallecitos Water
District adopted the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Meadowlark Water
Reclamation Facility (SCH # 2004091046) ("2004 IS/MND"), adopted a Mitigation
Monitoring and Reporting Program, and approved the Notice of Determination ("NOD")
pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"); and
WHEREAS, the 2004 IS/MND included a number of individual expansion projects,
for the Meadowlark Water Reclamation Facility, including the Meadowlark Reclamation
Facility ("MRF") Conversion to Sodium Hypochlorite Project ("Project"), and the IS/MND
analyzed the impacts of such included projects; and
WHEREAS, on December 14, 2022, the Board of Directors for the Vallecitos Water
District approved Addendum No. 1 to the 2004 IS/MND in accordance with Public
Resources Code Section 21166 and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162; and
WHEREAS, when approving Addendum No. 1 for the 2004 IS/MND, the Board of
Directors for the Vallecitos Water District approved Resolution No. 1630; and
WHEREAS, since the approval of Addendum No. 1 of the 2004 IS/MND, the 2004
IS/MND for the Project was analyzed for proposed upgrades to the existing chlorine gas
facility and disinfection system including upgrading the chlorine gas building and
disinfection system by replacing the static meter with a new ejector unit, adding a dry
chemical scrubber to the existing gas chlorine system, and adding a fire suppression
system; and
WHEREAS, the District proposes to make minor improvements to the Project,
("Improved Project") to include complete removal of the existing chemical building,
chlorine gas storage and feed system, and chemical scrubber and replacement of that
system with a 12.5 percent sodium hypochlorite solution storage and feed system; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA, when taking subsequent discretionary actions in
furtherance of a project for which an IS/MND has been adopted, the lead agency is
required to review any changed circumstances to determine whether any of the
circumstances under Public Resources Code section 21166 and State CEQA Guidelines
section 15162 require additional environmental review; and
Resolution No. 1663 Paqe 2
WHEREAS, staff has evaluated the Improved Project in light of the standards for
subsequent environmental review outlined in Public Resources Code section 21166 and
State CEQA Guidelines section 15162, and concluded that the Improved Project would
not result in new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity
of previously identified significant effects that were previously disclosed in the 2004
IS/MND and therefore no subsequent EIR or mitigated negative declaration is required;
and
WHEREAS, the Improved Project would nonetheless necessitate minor changes
or additions to the IS/MND and thus, the District has prepared an Addendum to the 2004
IS/MND ("Addendum No. 2") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15164; and
WHEREAS, on February 7, 2024, the Board of Directors of the District held a duly
noticed public meeting to consider the Improved Project and the Addendum, at which
members of the public were afforded an opportunity to comment on the Improved Project
and Addendum No. 2; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has carefully considered the 2004 IS/MND, the
Addendum No. 2, the staff report, and all pertinent testimony offered at the public meeting
held on February 7, 2024; and
WHEREAS, State CEQA Guidelines section 15164, subdivision (c) does not
require the Addendum to be circulated for public review but can be included in or attached
to a final IS/MND; and
WHEREAS, the findings and conclusions made by the Board of Directors are
based on the oral and written evidence presented as well as the entirety of the
administrative record for the Project, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
NOW THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE VALLECITOS WATER
DISTRICT DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Recitals. The recitals above are true and correct and are hereby
adopted as findings, as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2: Compliance With CEQA. State CEQA Guidelines section 15164
allows lead agencies to prepare an addendum to a previously certified IS/MND if some
changes or additions to the project are necessary, but none of the conditions requiring
preparation of a subsequent IS/MND are present. The Board of Directors has reviewed
and considered the administrative record, including but not limited to the 2004 IS/MND
and Addendum No. 2, which are all incorporated by reference as though set forth fully
herein, and finds that those documents taken together contain a complete and accurate
reporting of all the environmental impacts associated with the Project and the Improved
Project. The Board of Directors further finds that the Addendum and the administrative
record have been completed in compliance with CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and
the District's Local Guidelines. The Board of Directors finds and determines that the
Addendum reflects the District's independent judgment.
Resolution No. 1663 Page 3
SECTION 3: CEQA Findings. In this case, when taking subsequent discretionary
actions in furtherance of a project for which an IS/MND has been certified, the District is
required to review any changed circumstances under Public Resources Code section
21166 and State CEQA Guidelines section 15162 to determine whether additional
environmental review is required. Based on the substantial evidence set forth in the
administrative record, including but not limited to the 2004 IS/MND and the Addendum,
the Board of Directors finds that none of the conditions under State CEQA Guidelines
section 15162 requiring subsequent environmental review have occurred because the
Improved Project:
a) does not constitute substantial changes that would require major revisions
to the 2004 IS/MND due to the involvement of new significant environmental
effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified
effects; and
b) does not constitute substantial changes with respect to the circumstances
under which the Project, is undertaken that would require major revisions of
the 2004 IS/MND due to the involvement of new significant environmental
effects or a substantial increase in the severity of the previously identified
significant effects; and
c) does not present new information or substantial importance that was not
known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable
diligence at the time the 2004 IS/MND was adopted, showing any of the
following: (i) that the Improved Project would have one or more significant
effects not discussed in the earlier environmental documentation; (ii) that
significant effects previously examined would be substantially more severe
than shown in the earlier environmental documentation; (iii) that mitigation
measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact
be feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects,
but the applicant declined to adopt such measures; or (iv) that mitigation
measures or alternatives considerably different from those previously
analyzed would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the
environment, but which the applicant declined to adopt.
SECTION 4. Board of Directors Action. The Board of Directors hereby approves
and adopts the Addendum to the 2004 IS/MND and confirms that all the mitigation
measures previously imposed as part of the District's 2004 approvals remain fully
applicable to the Improved Project.
SECTION 5: Location of Documents. The 2004 IS/MND and Addendum No. 2 are
on file and available for public review at
https://www.vwd.org/departments/engineering/capital-facilities/capital-facilities-updates-
and-notices . The custodian of record of proceedings for this action shall be Clerk of the
District.
Resolution No. 1663 Page 4
SECTION 6: Staff is hereby authorized and directed to file a Notice of
Determination with the San Diego County Clerk within five (5) working days following the
adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Vallecitos
Water District at a regular meeting held on the 7th day of February 2024, by the following
roll call vote:
AYES: BOYD-HODGSON, ELITHARP, GROSET, HERNANDEZ
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: PENNOCK
Ti any oyd-F4,odg on, President
Board of Directors
Vallecitos Water District
ATTEST:
es Gumpel, Secreta
Board of Directors
Vallecitos Water District