Ramona Dead and Dying Hazardous Tree Removal Project 3
Summary
SCH Number
2020080309
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Ramona Dead and Dying Hazardous Tree Removal Project 3
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/19/2020
Present Land Use
Rural
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to provide for the removal of dead and dying trees within 100’ of homes and within 30’ of roads (Evacuation Routes) in the Ramona Community Planning Area on SRA lands. The Ramona Community Planning Area contains majestic oak woodlands, grass lands and native shrub lands interspersed with residential communities that still provide for a wide range of wildlife species. The Ramona Planning Area has been adversely impacted by two recent wildfires, the 2003 Cedar and the 2007 Witch Creek Fires, a prolonged drought and an unprecedented spread of the Golden Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB), resulting in the loss of many large, drought weakened, very majestic, native oaks, and drought impacted non-native pines and eucalyptus that are now contributing to the dead fuel loading within residential communities. The intent of this project is to reduce a potential fire’s intensity thus providing enhanced suppression opportunities, and a decrease in the threat of fire originating within the urbanized areas and spreading to adjacent wildlands.
This project proposes the cutting and removal of a minimum of 50 trees and a maximum of 112 trees by a qualified contractor. The bole and major limbs of the oaks will be cut into rounds and debarked to prevent the spread of GSOB. The removed bark will be chipped and spread to dry on site. The home owner will have the option of giving the debarked oak rounds to the contractor for disposal or keep the debarked rounds on site (30 feet or more from their residence and out buildings) for their own use as fuelwood. The limb and branch wood will be chipped and dispersed on site by the contractor. The other dead species will be cut into rounds and the limb and branch wood chipped and spread on site. The homeowner will have the option of keeping the rounds (storing them 30 feet or more from their residence and out buildings) or giving them to the contractor. The total area impacted is approximately 32 privately owned properties and totals approximately 1.02 acres. There will be no ground disturbing activities associated with this project.
Contact Information
Name
Cheyenne Borello
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
San Diego
Total Acres
1.02
Other Information
Ramona, San Diego County Estates
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under the description for a Class 4 Categorical Exemption pertaining to minor alterations to land as identified in the CEQA Guidelines. After reviewing and approving an environmental analysis completed by a California Registered Professional Forester (RPF) #787, the Department has determined this project will have no significant impact on the environment. This determination is based on field assessments and an Environmental Review completed by the RPF that included a greenhouse gas emission calculation.
Field review by CAL FIRE 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 systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the RPF and approved by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE MVU Headquarters in El Cajon.
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.