Chico Air Attack Base - Sierra Pacific Industries Retardant Jettison Areas
Summary
SCH Number
2011068387
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Chico Air Attack Base - Sierra Pacific Industries Retardant Jettison Areas
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/30/2011
Document Description
This project involves occasional, infrequent jettison of excess fire retardant material from air tankers onto grass or other areas in remote portions of private land in the mountains north east of Chico, California. Air tankers dispatched to a reported fire from the Chico Air Attack Base (CAAB) are at times, while airborne, cancelled prior to dropping retardant. As not all air tankers are capable of landing with a full load of fire retardant, they must jettison a portion of the load to insure a safe landing. The actual area covered in any single drop will be ¾ of an acre or less. Four separate project areas may receive jettisoned retardant. All four of these parcels are located on lands owned by Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) and each unit is approximately 35 acres in size. Use of these jettison sites is conducted under agreement and consent of the landowner who manages their lands under sustainable forestry. The jettison sites are located within areas of controlled public access. CAL FIRE uses a variety of fire suppression chemical to enhance its capability to control and suppress wildfires. CAL FIRE plans to continue such use, and use only the most environmentally benign chemicals including, but not limited to Phos-Chek D75-F and P100 retardants. The areas on which the excess retardant is jettisoned are either bare, rock ridges or ridges within clear-cut units a minimum of 500 feet away from classified (I,II, or III) watercourses. Retardant is never to be jettisoned into any drainage, creek or riparian area.
Contact Information
Name
Kenneth Kendrick
Agency Name
Cal Fire
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Chico
Counties
Butte
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
C:4,7,8;S:15304,15307,15308
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits within the definition of the above-listed three Categorical Exemption authorized in the CEQA Guidelines. Field review and office research conducted by CAL FIRE Resource Management staff confirmed that no exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use planning, mineral resources, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, or to utilities and service system. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Butte Unit, Resources Management, and 176 Nelson Avenue, Oroville, California, CA 95954.
Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613.