Veater Ranch Conservation Easement Development Project (SNC1431-LC)
Summary
SCH Number
2023030168
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
Veater Ranch Conservation Easement Development Project (SNC1431-LC)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/6/2023
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy would provide funding for the Sierra Foothill Conservancy to conduct planning and due diligence activities for a potential future conservation easement to be placed on approximately 2,165-acres just outside of Coarsegold, CA. Specific actions include obtaining a mineral remoteness opinion, a phase one environment site assessment (ESA) or transaction screen, and an appraisal, review of the title report and resolution of issues, developing an agreement reflecting the final financial structure of the acquisition, a long-term adaptive management plan, a baseline conditions report, and a draft of the conservation easement terms. The entire planning area is identified as a Conservation Planning linkage by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Areas of Conservation Emphasis tool and is within one mile of a critical conservation priority area of the California Rangeland Conservation Council.
Contact Information
Name
Mary Akens
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
Legal Counsel
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Coarsegold
Counties
Madera
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Six contiguous parcels directly east of the community of Coarsegold. APNs 054-271-002, 066-110-014, 050-010-009, 054-271-006, 054-260-004, 050-010-011.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15262 Feasibility and Planning Studies
Reasons for Exemption
The project is Statutorily Exempt under Section 15262 Feasibility and Planning Studies as the project only involves planning studies for possible future actions which the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board has not approved, adopted, or funded; there is no legally binding effect on later activities. The project is also categorically exempt under Section 15306 Information Collection (Class 6) because it consists of basic data collection and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a disturbance to environmental resources. The proposed activities are for information gathering purposes and are part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. This project does not fall within any exceptions to the categorical exemption.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 6 Section 15306 Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
The project is Statutorily Exempt under Section 15262 Feasibility and Planning Studies as the project only involves planning studies for possible future actions which the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board has not approved, adopted, or funded; there is no legally binding effect on later activities. The project is also categorically exempt under Section 15306 Information Collection (Class 6) because it consists of basic data collection and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a disturbance to environmental resources. The proposed activities are for information gathering purposes and are part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. This project does not fall within any exceptions to the categorical exemption.
County Clerk
Madera
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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