Pine Grove Camp Fuel Reduction (CAL FIRE AEU)
Summary
SCH Number
2021050366
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Pine Grove Camp Fuel Reduction (CAL FIRE AEU)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/18/2021
Document Description
The intent of this project is to manage vegetative fuels on the CAL FIRE Pine Grove Camp property in order to promote forest health and reduce the threat and impact of wildfire. CAL FIRE Pine Grove Camp is located at 2,400 feet in elevation. It is vegetated with Sierra Nevada mixed conifer intermixed with native oaks. Undeveloped timberland and rural residential properties surround the project area. Slopes are gentle to moderate and only minimal ground disturbance will occur. There are no known occurrences or habitat of threatened, rare, or endangered species within or adjacent to the project area. Watercourses will be provided a buffer and not operated. Project operations will include ladder fuel vegetation removal and slash treatment with the use of fire crew hand cutting, pile burning, & broadcast burning. Tracked chippers and masticators may also be used. No healthy, mature, scenic trees are to be removed as part of this project. The fuels treatment mechanism that is most favored is broadcast prescribed fire. Operations are designed to remove heavy fire fuels while retaining a well-developed conifer and hardwood overstory.
Contact Information
Name
Steve DeBenedet
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Amador
Total Acres
80
Other Location Info
Portions of T6N, R12E, Sec 3 and T7N, R12E,Sec 34 MDBM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits within the Class 4 Categorical Exemption §15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) as it will result in only minor alterations to the land and will not have a significant negative impact to the environment. This project is intended to remove understory vegetation in order to reduce hazardous fuel conditions on CAL FIRE Pine Grove Camp property. No healthy, mature, scenic trees are to be removed as part of this project. Only minimal vegetative and soil disturbance will result. The desired outcome is a healthy forest stand that is more fire resilient than pre-project condition. This project will not result in negative environmental impacts to natural or cultural resources, including the taking of rare, threatened, or endangered plants or animals or species of special concern.
Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that 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 or 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 or traffic, utilities and service systems, or wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Sutter Hill Fires Station (11600 Highway 49, Sutter Creek, CA 95685.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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