Murphy Ridge Fuel Break - Phase I (Covelo Timberlands)
Summary
SCH Number
2023100167
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Murphy Ridge Fuel Break - Phase I (Covelo Timberlands)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/5/2023
Document Description
This project is a portion of the larger 172-acre “Murphy Ridge Fuel Break - Phase I” Wildfire Prevention Grant (5GG21220). The project is located on Murphy Ridge four miles northeast of Covelo, California. The grant covers 131 acres of tribal trust land on Round Valley Indian Tribe, and 41 acres of private timberlands on Covelo Timberlands, LLC. Within the 41-acre portion on private timberland, the objective is to treat abandoned slash in a 3.6 mile, 100- to 125-foot-wide control line created during the 2020 August Complex Fire. The fire suppression repair treatment will be implemented using a masticator, skidder, and loader. Logs will be bucked and left on site, burned, or hauled off site for non-commercial disposal. Dead/dying or hazard trees of any size that pose a safety hazard to roadways, people, or other infrastructure will be removed. This project includes long-term maintenance of fuel loading and hazard tree removal as necessary.
Contact Information
Name
Julie Rhoads
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Job Title
Forester I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Northern California
Total Acres
41
Township
23N
Range
12W
Section
10, 13
Base
MDBM
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 a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section 15304, Public Resources Code) as the proposed fuel management activities entail the reduction and removal of residual flammable material along a fire control line. As such, CAL FIRE has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, and 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/traffic, utilities, and service systems, or to wildfire. No exceptions apply (Section 15300.2) which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit, 802 N. Main Street. Fort Bragg, CA 95437 Attn. VMP Coordinator.
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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