Geyser Communication Tower Fuel Reduction
Summary
SCH Number
2021090396
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Geyser Communication Tower Fuel Reduction
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/22/2021
Document Description
This project is in Sonoma County on Geyser Peak approximately five (5) miles northeast of Geyserville around critical communication infrastructure used by multiple government agencies. The communication facility lies along a ridge line that was affected by the Kincade Fire in 2019. This facility has been protected with the construction of a dozer line approximately 500 feet around the facility. Considering the work completed for the protection of the facility during the Kincade fire this project is being completed to add protection to the communication towers and provide an opportunity to maintain the surrounding area from future fire threats. The site is mixed chaparral, Quercus wizilizeni (Live Oak) and Adenostoma fasciculatum (chamise). The vegetation within the 500-foot area, will have Live Oak thinned to create an open growing space and the remaining trees will be pruned to 6 feet above the ground to eliminate ladder fuels. Chemise will be removed by hand. All material removed will be chipped onsite. NO burning will occur. Treatments include Hand cutting, thinning, removing and chipping the brush within the 500-foot radius from the communication site. Heavy equipment will not be used to remove the cut material.
Contact Information
Name
Tim Holliday
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Sonoma
Total Acres
25
Other Location Info
Portions of T11N R09W Sec 27 MDBM
Other Information
Approximately five miles northeast of Geyserville
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section 15304, Public Resource Code) as the proposed activities involve clearing of brush and chipping to reduce wildfire threat. This project will only have minor alterations to the vegetation and no conversion to other vegetation types. It will not remove healthy, mature, or 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.
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 Sonoma-Lake-Napa (LNU) Headquarters 1199 Big Tree Road St. Helena CA 94574, 707-967-1400.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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