NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A NEGATIVE DECLARATION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the Montecito Water District (District; Lead Agency) has prepared a
Draft Initial Study-Negative Declaration (IS-ND) for the project listed below pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) State Guidelines §15000 et seq. Anyone desiring to
comment on the IS-ND may do so in writing within the 30-day public review period commencing
October 18, 2024 and concluding on November 18, 2024. All written comments must be received by
5:00 p.m. on November 18, 2024.
Project Title: Water Management Program Agreement between Montecito Water District and
Homer LLC
Project Location and Project Description:
The proposed project involves a 5-year transfer agreement of SWP supplies between the District and
Homer LLC. Under the agreement, the District would annually assess its water supplies and
determine whether it has surplus SWP water to transfer. If the District determines it has surplus
water, Homer would be obligated to purchase the surplus SWP water at a predetermined unit price.
The transfer would take place at the Banks Pumping Plant (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties). No
new or upgraded physical infrastructure would be required to implement the transfer agreement
because the surface and groundwater facilities and connections to Kern County Water Agency and
Homer LLC facilities currently exist and are in regular use for delivery of SWP supplies via Kern
County Water Agency. Because no new or upgraded physical infrastructure is required, there is no
project site that could be included on existing lists of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to
Government Code Section 65962.5.
Environmental Determination: Pursuant to the requirements of CEQA, an Initial Study was
prepared, which describes the environmental impacts of the project and concludes the project will not
generate a significant adverse impact on the environment. Based on this assessment, a Negative
Declaration has been prepared.
Public Comments/Review: In accordance with Section 15073 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the
Draft IS-ND is available for public review for 30 days from October 18, 2024 to November 18, 2024
online at www.montecitowater.com or at the District office (583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara,
CA 93108) during normal business hours.
Written comments must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 18, 2024 to:
Montecito Water District
Atten: Nicholas Turner, General Manager
583 San Ysidro Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Or by email to: nturner@montecitowater.com
