Camp Josepho Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022110297
Public Agency
Los Angeles County Fire Department
Document Title
Camp Josepho Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/15/2022
Document Description
The project is located at Camp Josepho operated by the Boy Scouts of America, Western Los Angeles County Council (WLACC). The project involves routine fuel modification (e.g., vegetation maintenance) conducted within established fuel reduction zones to reduce the risk of a wildfire that could result from camper actions while at the camp and to reduce wildfire intensity and rate of spread for any fires in and around the wildland-urban interface of Camp Josepho in the Pacific Palisades region of the Santa Monica Mountains.
The primary project area encompasses 15 acres of high human activity area within the camp and is home to 35 structures. The project site includes an approximately 3-mile section of the Sullivan Fire Road, which serves as the only vehicle-accessible entrance and exit to camp. The Sullivan Fire Road transits California State Parks, City of Los Angeles (City), and County of Los Angeles (County) property before it reaches the camp property owned by the Boy Scouts. The road also serves as a strategic fuel break for the neighboring residential communities and is accessed via the residential Riviera neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. Areas subject to project-related fuel modification activities have been historically maintained but have filled in with a mixture of native growth and invasive vegetation over the past several years (especially during the COVID-19 pandemic).
The scope of work consists of reducing the risk of fire by performing annually-required brush clearance as set forth in the City’s Fire Code (Los Angeles Municipal Code 57.322). Specifically, this involves trimming and removing highly flammable material up to 10 feet away from road edges and within 200 feet of any structures/buildings. Along the Sullivan Fire Road, masticating equipment will be restricted to the paved road surfaces with hand crews working off pavement. Vegetation maintenance within established fuel modification/maintenance zones around camp structures/facilities will be conducted using hand tools and tree trimming equipment. The project involves removal of several non-protected trees that have been identified by certified arborists as being dead or dying and posing a health and safety risk to the public. No oak trees or special-status natural communities would be removed as part of the project. All removed material will be disposed of in a legal manor and where invasive plant species material will not be dispersed; depending on the specific plant material, it will either be hauled off-site or chipped or composted on-site.
Contact Information
Name
Evan Conklin
Agency Name
County of Los Angeles Fire Department
Job Title
Deputy Forester
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Sullivan Fire Road and Casale Road
Total Acres
27
Jobs
12
Parcel #
4432-005-029
State Highways
N/A
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
Palisades HS, Palisades & Seven Arrows Elementary, Village Schoo
Waterways
Rustic Canyon Creek
Township
1S
Range
16W
Section
13,14,
Base
SBBM
Other Location Info
Also Section 24
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Section 15301 and Class 4, Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class 1 Categorical Exemption: Existing Facilities. The project involves the maintenance of existing facilities and negligible or no expansion of use beyond that which is existing. The project specifically falls under one of the nonexclusive examples cited under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (h): ·Maintenance of existing landscaping, native growth, and water supply reservoirs: The project entails routine vegetation maintenance along the primary camp access road and camp facilities, with intent of meeting Los Angeles Fire Department brush clearance requirements for the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Portions of the project are also exempt pursuant to CEOA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4 Categorical Exemption: Minor Alterations to Land. A Class 4 Exemption consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. These actions include fuel management activities conduced in accordance with public fire agency determinations (Section 15304(1)).
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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