Blacksmith Ecological Restoration Project
Summary
SCH Number
2019068074
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
Blacksmith Ecological Restoration Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/17/2019
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy would provide California Climate Investments (CCI) funding in the amount of $594,350 to El Dorado National Forest to remove 500 acres of biomass yarded to landings during commercial and non-commercial mechanical thinning treatments and to a biomass facility. Tractor piling of surface fuels or mastication is planned tor all mechanical thinning areas. The funding will cover 500 acres of piling and an additional 142 acres of mastication of small shrubs and small trees. In addition, funding will cover mastication in 145 acres of younger plantations with follow-up shrub control on 26 acres using foliar herbicide application to reduce shrub competition with these trees and maintain lower flame lengths in the event of a wildfire.
Contact Information
Name
Andrea N. Williams
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
U.S. Forest Service, Eldorado National Forest
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Georgetown
Counties
El Dorado
Other Location Info
The project area is situated on National Forest System lands in the Georgetown Ranger District northeast of the town of Georgetown in El Dorado County; in the vicinity of Ralston Ridge and Nevada Point Ridge, between the Middle Fork of the American River and the Rubicon River
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
4799.05(d)(1)
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA does not apply to prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction projects undertaken on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the federal NEPA if the primal role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy would provide CCI funding to conduct fuel reduction activities on federal lands within the El Dorado National Forest. The full project, including the project activities receiving CCI funding, have been analyzed by the U.S. Forest Service pursuant to NEPA. including surveys and analysis of biological resources and cultural and archaeological resources. Those evaluations found that the project would not result in a significant adverse effect A NEPA Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision was prepared for the project.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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