Iron Peak Road Grading and Fuels Reduction
Summary
SCH Number
2020060578
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Iron Peak Road Grading and Fuels Reduction
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/26/2020
Present Land Use
Rural
Document Description
The project, located 11.5 miles north of Laytonville and accessed via Spy Rock Road, will consist of clearing rock and boulder directly from 3,250 feet of roadway using the track skid steer and leading up to a communications tower and fire lookout on State-owned property to facilitate passage of service vehicles. Vegetation, such as small trees (10” dbh and less) and shrubs, will also be removed within 10-20 of either side of the roadway where feasible by hand crews using chainsaws. Material will be carried to the roadside by hand for processing. Approximately 900 feet of the road exists as an easement through private property. Larger trees (> 10” dbh) will be pruned with pole saws and all woody material will be chipped on the roadway and scattered. This project is expected to take no more than 5 days per year to complete as part of annual maintenance activities.
Contact Information
Name
Robert B. Douglas
Agency Name
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Unincorporated
Total Acres
35
Township
23N
Range
15W
Section
25
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
The project is located 11.5 miles north of Laytonville and accessed via Spy Rock Road.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, minor alterations to land
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section 15304, Public Resources Code) as the proposed activities involve road grading of an existing road, understory brush and small tree removal, pruning and chipping to reduce wildfire threat. Although this project will modify some structural aspects of the vegetation, it will not convert the vegetation type or result in the removal of otherwise “healthy, mature, and scenic trees.” The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) was searched and no rare, threatened or endangered plant or animal species were identified on the project site that will be negatively impacted by this project. The CAL FIRE Archaeologist has been consulted and has determined that this project is exempt from further archaeological review.
Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply (Section 15300.2) 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, energy, 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, utilities and service systems, or wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit, Resource Management, 17501 N. Highway 101, Willits, CA 95490, Attn. Environmental Coordinator.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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