MMU Lazy Oaks Training
Summary
SCH Number
2023040009
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
MMU Lazy Oaks Training
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/3/2023
Document Description
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is proposing Hand Crew Proficiency Training. Project activities will take place in the dense mixed shrubland community with some overstory oak and pine trees. Hand crew proficiency training is for crews to practice creating handlines annually in Spring and potentially Fall as well as pile burning during open and burn permit season. Handline construction involves cutting through dense brush and a light scraping of the duff layer. Handlines are approximately a 10 feet wide saw cut with a 3 feet wide light scrape of the duff layer in the middle, and up to 300 feet long. Multiple crews will be training in this area, so multiple handlines will be made. This will allow hand crews to practice in a safe, real-world environment to get their timing and techniques ready for wildfire season. Crews may pile burn the cut shrubs for debris clean up as needed during open and burn permit season or use a chipper to treat the fuels. No healthy, mature, and scenic trees will be removed except for hazard purposes. No large (>10" DBH) trees will be removed and ladder fuels up to 12ft high will be trimmed and cleared. Snags in the project area will be checked for species presence before removal. Young trees of commercial species will be favored in thinning. This project is on one participating property owner land, County of Mariposa, covering 308 acres. This project is in Mariposa County, on the Feliciana Mtn. CA USGS 7.5’ Quadrangle Map. Legal Description is Sec. 36 T04S R18E MDB&M. This project is located on West of Oak Road, North of Yosemite Oaks Road, East of Crystal Air Drive. The project is located approximately 0.75 miles West of Midpines, CA. Driving on Highway 140 towards Midpines, CA. Turn onto Oak Road, project area is to the West. Project elevation is between 2711 - 3614 feet.
Contact Information
Name
Brian Mattos
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Unit Forester
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Midpines
Counties
Mariposa
Regions
Citywide, Countywide
Total Acres
308
Township
04S
Range
18E
Section
36
Base
MDB&M
Other Location Info
Feliciana Mtn. CA USGS 7.5’ Quadrangle
Approximately 0.75 miles West of Midpines, CA
West of Oak Road, North of Yosemite Oaks Rad, East of Crystal Air Drive
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 Class 4, §15304: Minor Alteration to the Land Categorical Exemption to CEQA. Class 4 includes minor public or private alterations in the conditions of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, and scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. Minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment.
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, 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 or traffic, utilities, and service systems, or to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Mariposa Headquarters at 5366 State Highway 49 North, Mariposa CA 95338.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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