Hamilton Branch Community Fuelbreak
Summary
SCH Number
2020060427
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Hamilton Branch Community Fuelbreak
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/22/2020
Present Land Use
Rural
Document Description
A vegetation fuel reduction project is being proposed on portions of Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) property, a segment of Cal Trans, California State Highway 147 Right-of-Way (ROW) and a segment of Plumas County Road A13 ROW in conjunction with CAL FIRE. The main purpose of the proposed project is to maintain/establish a vegetation fuel reduction zone adjacent to Hamilton Branch and surrounding communities. The proposed project area has received land management in the past such as, among other things, timber harvesting and other forest management activities, road construction, ROW maintenance, livestock grazing and vegetation fuel reduction zone maintenance. In general, the proposed project will involve the treatment of both live and dead vegetation including understory trees 8-inches and less dbh. Shrubs, down woody debris and other ground vegetation are proposed for treatment. The treatment methods consist of mastication, prescribed fire and hand cutting and piling of the vegetation utilizing various hand held powered and unpowered tools. Treatment of the vegetation piles will most likely consist of burning when conditions are safe. The project size is 280 acres. The project has been designed to prevent mechanical treatments within 25 feet of Class III watercourses. Additionally, there is no Class I or II watercourses within 100 feet of the project boundary. Additional treatment methods of piling and burning are designed to be treated outside of the Class III channel locations. CAL FIRE Conservation Camp crews (inmates with a CAL FIRE Captain as overhead) will most likely do the physical work. It is expected that the project will be completed within 5 years.
Contact Information
Name
Glen Schall
Agency Name
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Agency Name
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
Plumas
Regions
Unincorporated
State Highways
147
Township
28N
Range
7E, 8E
Section
Var.
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
On portions of Sierra Pacific Industries property, a segment of Cal Trans, California State Highway 147 Right-of-Way and a segment of Plumas County Road A13 Right-of-Way
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4
Reasons for Exemption
This project meets Class 4 - §15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) Categorical Exemption criteria for CEQA analysis. A Minor Alteration to Land is described as a “minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water and/or vegetation, which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes.” This project as proposed maintains/establishes a vegetation fuel reduction zone and does not remove healthy, mature, or scenic trees. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply, which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. CAL FIRE 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 systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by CAL FIRE is kept on file at CAL FIRE’s Lassen-Modoc-Plumas Unit Headquarters located in Susanville, California.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, 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. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.