Highway 35 Evacuation Route Shaded Fuel Break
Summary
SCH Number
2023020331
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Highway 35 Evacuation Route Shaded Fuel Break
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/13/2023
Document Description
The proposed project is in the highway right-of-way of a 25-mile section of Highway 35 in unincorporated San Mateo County, CA. The project area begins at Alpine Road on the south end and ends at the junction of Highway 35 and 92 on the north end. The right of way on either side of the highway is approximately 30 feet wide and all of the fuel reduction work would be performed in this 30-foot-wide area on both sides of the highway. The project is a total of 369 acres.
The proposed work involves the removal of understory woody shrubs, invasive plants (brooms), and some limited tree removal (dead trees, diseased trees with no hope of recovery, and hazardous trees). In forested areas overstory trees will be trimmed to create adequate vertical clearance between surface vegetation and the lower portions of tree crowns. Tree trimming will also be performed to create horizontal clearance between the tree crowns on either side of the highways. Herbicides are being proposed for use, specifically spot treatments for invasive species that aggressively resprout after cutting (broom, acacia, eucalyptus).
The proposed fuel reduction work will be performed by a combination of hand crews working on the understory vegetation on the sections of right-of-way with slopes less than 20%, an excavator with a boom arm and a masticator attachment working on the understory vegetation of the sections of the right-of-way with slopes greater than 20%, and tree trimmers working in forestry bucket trucks performing the overhead tree trimming work on the trees overhanging the highway. Vehicles and equipment would work from the pavement and only hand crews would walk on the slopes in the right-of-way. Cut material will be chipped or masticated and spread back on to the right-of-way.
Contact Information
Name
Sarah Collamer
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention
Job Title
Forester
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Hwy 35, from intersect with Alpine Road to intersect with Hwy 92
Total Acres
369
State Highways
Highway 35
Other Location Info
Woodside USGS Quad
Other Information
Along Highway 35 being at T05S-R05W-Section 13 and ends at T07S-R03W Section 16
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The work proposed is a minor alteration to vegetation which does not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees and is consistent with Categorical Exemption Class 4 - Minor Alterations to Land. No activity is proposed that is listed as a limitation under CCR 15300.2 (a-f).
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, wildfire, energy, transportation or traffic, or to utilities and service systems.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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