State-Wide Cone Collection
Summary
SCH Number
2021060630
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
State-Wide Cone Collection
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/28/2021
Document Description
In order to recover and rehabilitate forest land impacted by fire and insect attack, it is necessary to harvest conifer cones across the state for current and future reforestation projects. Mature cones from conifer trees from various seeds zone will be collected/harvested. The harvest method will be to hand climb selected seed trees and harvest cones using simple hand tools (pole saw and pole pruners) Once cones are removed from trees they will be dropped to the ground and put in to bags. The bags of cones will then be transported to a temporary holding facility and then eventually transported to CAL FIRE's State Seed Bank at the L. A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis, California for processing.
Contact Information
Name
STEWART MCMORROW
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Regions
Northern California, Southern California, Statewide
Other Information
All forested areas of the State are potential collection locations. Collection locations will be arranged with private or public land owners or agencies.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of this project is being considered exempt from the provisions of CEQA under 14 CCR, Ch. 3, Article 19, Section 15304.
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, 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, or to utilities and service systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at 1234 East Shaw Avenue Fresno CA.
This project qualifies as a Class 4 exemption for minor public or private alterations to land, water or vegetation which do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees.
Under Section 15323, a project is exempt if the project consists of minor alterations to land, water or vegetation.