Cold Springs Fuel Reduction Project

Summary

SCH Number
2022040560
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Cold Springs Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/27/2022
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to improve the ingress and egress of fire engines, reduce wildfire risk to the state-owned radio and lookout tower, and aid in fire suppression activities through fuel reduction treatment on 11 acres, approximately 11 miles northwest of the town of Boonville. The project takes place on state owned land and private property. The project area consists of mostly oaks, conifers, and dense brush to the southern portion of the project. Vegetation will be thinned and pruned 50 feet from either side of the access road (approximately ¼ mile long) leading up to the radio and lookout tower. Vegetation surrounding the radio and lookout tower will be removed in order to increase the defensible space around the towers. Work will be completed using manual treatment methods. Woody materials will be dragged by hand to a chipper parked on the existing dirt road/skid trail or would be masticated on the dirt road/skid trail by a tracked skid steer with masticator head. Burn piles will also be constructed in areas where it becomes infeasible to drag woody material for long distances and through uneven terrain. Hand crews will employ chainsaws, pole saws, string-trimmers, and hand tools to remove small trees, brush, and surface/ground fuels. Live trees, less than 10” diameter breast height (DBH), will be felled, limbed, and left on site to improve tree spacing. Dead trees of any size that pose a safety hazard to the roadway or firefighters will be felled, limbed, and left on site. Live trees of any size overhanging the road which pose a safety hazard will be felled, limbed and left on site. Live trees greater than 10” DBH will be pruned to provide for a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet.

Contact Information

Name
Pablo Anguiano
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Forestry Assistant II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Countywide
Total Acres
11
Other Location Info
Portions of T13N R15W Sec 4 & T14N R15W Sec 33 MDBM
Other Information
Approximately 11 miles northwest of the town of Boonville

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section 15304, Public Resources Code) as the proposed fuel management activities entail understory brush removal, 10 “DBH or less tree removal, thinning, pruning, chipping, masticating on developed roadway, pile burning, and dead/tree removal to improve access and reduce volume of flammable vegetation encroaching state owned lookout and radio tower. As such, CAL FIRE has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/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/traffic, utilities and service systems, or to wildfire. No exceptions apply (Section 15300.2) which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit, Resource Management, 17501 N. Highway 101, Willits, CA 95490, Attn. Environmental Coordinator.

Attachments

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