Yosemite NP. Mariposa Grove Road Hazard Tree and Biomass Removal (SSARR Fuel Reduction and Biomass Utilization)
Summary
SCH Number
2020020366
Public Agency
Yosemite National Park
Document Title
Yosemite NP. Mariposa Grove Road Hazard Tree and Biomass Removal (SSARR Fuel Reduction and Biomass Utilization)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/19/2020
Document Description
The Mariposa Grove Road hazard tree and biomass removal project mirrors the Mariposa County SSARR Fuel Reduction and Biomass Utilization project. The primary goal of the project is to remove hazard trees and biomass up to 200 feet from the road corridor. Small diameter green trees (<20"DBH) or hazard trees will be fallen. Biomass may either be transported offsite or converted into biochar through a portable biogen plant staged at one of several ? locations in the park. The work is critical to meet the public safety and tree disposal needs stemming from widespread tree mortality in the southern Sierra Nevada. The project protects infrastructure and increases public safety by removing hazard trees and thinning fuels on critical corridors. It also protects communities located within the Wildland Urban Interface, specifically Fish Camp and Wawona. This project also creates a fuels break in the event of wildland fire or if a prescribed fire is to be conducted. No work will be done within the bed, bank or channel of any existing drainage, or culturally sensitive sites within the project areas.
Contact Information
Name
Garrett Dickman
Agency Name
Yosemite National Park
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Yosemite National Park
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
Mariposa
Other Location Info
Project is located in Yosemite National Park along Mariposa Grove Road, Highway 41 , and Goat Meadow Road. The project is located in Mariposa County. The tree removal work is conducted within a 200 foot distance of the road. Staging and storage areas for the project will occur at the Wawona woodyard, and South Entrance station.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
PRC Section §21080(b)(4); §15269(c)
Reasons for Exemption
The Yosemite Fire Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement (2004) describes creating fuel breaks along Wawona Road as a major goal. All necessary mitigations for this project have been included to protect natural and cultural resources that have the potential to be harmed during implementation. Additionally, tree mortality hazard mitigation efforts are a short term task necessary to mitigate an emergency. As such, they are. exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Statutory Exemptions, Section 15269 EMERGENCY PROJECTS. The felling of dead or dying hazard trees along federally-maintained roads and is necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency to public health and emergency access. The abundance of dead or dying hazard trees in these locations is a result of a severe drought in the area and bark beetle-infestation and are a short-term project.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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