Seal Beach board backs recommendations for Hellman Ranch 1.5 MW solar project after concerns on wildlife, soils and permanence

Seal Beach — The Environmental Quality Control Board on Aug. 20 reviewed an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (ISMND) for the Hellman Ranch 1.5 megawatt ground‑mounted solar project and voted 5‑0 to forward recommendations to the Planning Commission asking for conditions that would tie the solar equipment to the life of the oil/gas operations, institute one year of post‑installation bird monitoring and clarify conservation compensation for impacted habitat.

The project proposed by Hellman Properties would install three arrays composed of 56 ground‑mounted table structures across about 2.66 acres north of the Cerritos Wetlands. Planning staff and consultants described mitigation in the ISMND including anti‑reflective coatings on panels, construction outside of bird nesting season, pre‑construction surveys for burrowing owl and southern tarplant, a soil stabilization plan and a required minimum 30‑foot setback from city water lines.

Why it matters: The site sits adjacent to sensitive wetlands and habitat that hosts special‑status species, and several conservation organizations and residents told the board they needed more time to review the ISMND and wanted stronger protections. Keith Simmons of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust said the organization ‘‘only learned of the proposal from a local citizen’’ and asked the city to extend the comment period and consider preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) rather than relying on an ISMND.

What the…