Klamath National Forest Restoration

2021050500

California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

5/21/2021

5/21/2021

John P. Donnelly

Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Board

Lead/Public Agency

P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090

(916) 445-0137

John.Donnelly@wildlife.ca.gov

Butte Mountain, Roundy Valley, and Van Bremmer work sites within Klamath National Forest, Goosenest Ranger district, approximately 35 miles east of Yreka

Categorical Exemption

State Section number and type: 15301 Existing Facilities; 15304 Minor Alterations to Land

Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 4799.05, subdivision (d), CEQA does not apply to prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction projects undertaken on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), under specified circumstances. On February 7, 2020, the Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency certified that the exemption in Public Resources Code Section 4799.05 should remain in effect. NEPA review for the work to be conducted under the project has been completed through the Van Bremmer Project Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice prepared by Klamath National Forest and signed on February 3, 2010, the Round Valley Fuels Reduction and Vegetation Management Project Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision (ROD) prepared by Klamath National Forest and signed on April 2, 2009, and the Butte Mountain Late Successional Reserve Habitat Restoration Project Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice prepared by Klamath National Forest and signed on February 26, 2014. The proposed activities are within the scope of ROD and Decision Memos. In addition, were CEQA applicable to the project, the activities comprising the project would constitute maintenance of Existing Facilities (Class 1), such as topographical features including wildlife habitat areas to protect wildlife resources, as well as Minor Alterations to Land (Class 4) and be Categorically Exempt from CEQA.

Statutory Exemption

State code Number: PRC Section 4799.05(d)

Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 4799.05, subdivision (d), CEQA does not apply to prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction projects undertaken on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), under specified circumstances. On February 7, 2020, the Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency certified that the exemption in Public Resources Code Section 4799.05 should remain in effect. NEPA review for the work to be conducted under the project has been completed through the Van Bremmer Project Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice prepared by Klamath National Forest and signed on February 3, 2010, the Round Valley Fuels Reduction and Vegetation Management Project Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision (ROD) prepared by Klamath National Forest and signed on April 2, 2009, and the Butte Mountain Late Successional Reserve Habitat Restoration Project Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice prepared by Klamath National Forest and signed on February 26, 2014. The proposed activities are within the scope of ROD and Decision Memos. In addition, were CEQA applicable to the project, the activities comprising the project would constitute maintenance of Existing Facilities (Class 1), such as topographical features including wildlife habitat areas to protect wildlife resources, as well as Minor Alterations to Land (Class 4) and be Categorically Exempt from CEQA.