BOR Melones Broadcast Burn Assist
Summary
SCH Number
2022060403
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
BOR Melones Broadcast Burn Assist
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/20/2022
Document Description
The Bureau of Reclamation proposes to request assistance from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to perform prescribed burns on approximately 94.5 acres of the New Melones Glory Hole Recreation Area. The prescribed burn will reduce non-native grasses and their seedbed, reduce wildfire fuels, and enhance the existing oak woodland habitat. The prescribed burn would occur annually between late April and mid-June to maximize effectiveness. Approximate timing of the burn is dependent on grass maturity, weather conditions and prescription burn requirements as identified in the final Burn Plan.
Contact Information
Name
Gary Whitson
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Unit Forester
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Calaveras
Regions
Countywide
Total Acres
94.5
Other Location Info
Portions of T2N, R13E, Secs 15 & 22 MDB&M.
Other Information
Calaveras County south of Angels Camp, California
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
PRC 4799.05(d)(1)
Reasons for Exemption
The California Environmental Quality Act 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 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) if the primary role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. All BOR Melones Broadcast Burn Assist project activities are included in the Environmental Assessment for New Melones Lake Prescribed Burn signed in 2021. The Bureau of Reclamation Environmental Assessment 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, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/ traffic, utilities and service systems, or to wildfire. In addition, field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that 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 Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Headquarters in San Andreas, CA.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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