Fuel Management Plan for the East Campus Housing Area

2023040580

California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

4/21/2023

4/21/2023

Matthew S. McCluney

CSUMB

CSUMB Associate Director of Campus Planning

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

100 Campus Center Building 37
Seaside, CA 93955-8001

(831) 582-4721

mmccluney@csumb.edu

36°39'38.2"N 121°46'38.6"W

Imjin Parkway, Inter-Garrison Road

93933

436

031-101-032, 031-101-031, and 031-101-022

State Route 1

N/A

Marina Municipal Airport

CSUMB, JC Crumpton, Marina Vista, Los Arboles, Marina High, etc.

Pacific Ocean

Approximately 436 acres on the CSUMB Campus within the East Campus Housing Area bound to the north by Imjin Parkway and south by Inter-Garrison Road, Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APN) 031-101-032, 031-101-031, and 031-101-022

Categorical Exemption

Sections 15301(h) and 15304(i)

The project consists of implementing the Fuel Management Plan (FMP) for the East Campus Housing Area, which consists of the managed reduction of fire fuel hazards in the project area through implementation of the identified fuel reduction activities to create a defensible space, removal of invasive plants, and thinning or reduction of vegetation while implementing best management practices to maintain and protect natural resources (please refer to Attachment A, FMP). Implementation of the FMP would not require extensive site preparation and would require implementing the best management practices to avoid and reduce impacts to natural resources (Please refer to Attachment B, CEQA Exemption Analysis). Section 21080(b)(4) and 15269(c): The proposed project consists of implementing fuel reduction and defensible space prescriptions in a residential area on the CSUMB campus and along emergency evacuation routes. The implementation of these prescriptions is necessary to prevent and mitigation wildfire emergencies. Section 15301(h); The proposed project involves the maintenance of existing landscaping and native growth, and would not involve the expansion of use of any existing facilities. The removal of dead, dying, and hazardous trees is a maintenance activity of an existing public facility (e.g., campus housing and roadways) involving no expansion of use. Section 15304(i): The proposed project would require minor alterations to land, including fuel management activities within 30 and 100 feet of structures, as determined necessary by the campus and CAL FIRE, to reduce the volume of flammable vegetation. The implementation of the identified best management practices would avoid and minimize any potential impacts to special-status species and sensitive habitat, and would not result in any take of listed species. No healthy, mature, scenic trees would be removed as part of this project. Under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), Review for Exemption (14 CCR Sec. 15061(b)(3)), activities are exempt from, and otherwise not subject to, CEQA under the "common sense" exemption where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed project would not result in any significant effects on the environment. A biological assessment was completed for the proposed project and determined no significant impacts to sensitive biological resources would occur with implementation of the avoidance and minimization measures identified in Attachment E to the Draft RMP and mitigation requirements of the CSUMB Master Plan EIR, and avoidance and minimizations measures required by the FMP’s best management practices (Attachment C). The proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances; would not result in damage to scenic resources within a Scenic Highway; is not located on a hazardous waste site pursuant to Sec. 65962.5 of the Government Code; would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource; and would not result in cumulative impacts.