American Forests, “Sequoia Wildfire Reforestation and Recovery Project”
Summary
SCH Number
2024010123
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
American Forests, “Sequoia Wildfire Reforestation and Recovery Project”
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/8/2024
Document Description
CAL FIRE would provide funding to the American Forests organization to conduct post-fire restoration treatments on Southern Sierra forested lands burned by large catastrophic wildfires. These treatments (site preparation, pile burning, and reforestation) will aid in increasing forest resiliency and carbon sequestration and will also reduce future wildfire risks to local resources and community members and promote native plant and wildlife species.
Contact Information
Name
Shannon Johnson
Agency Name
California Department of Foresty and Fire Protection
Job Title
Staff Chief
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Fresno, Tulare
Regions
Countywide
Total Acres
6725
Other Location Info
Portions of Sequoia National Forest and Tule River Indian Reservation in Tulare and Fresno counties
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
PRC 4799.05(d)(1)
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA does not apply to fuel reduction, reforestation, & habitat restoration projects undertaken, in whole or in part, on federal lands to reduce the risk of high severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the NEPA, if the primary role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. The proposed project was reviewed in its entirety under the 1) Bureau of Indian Affairs NEPA Tule River Indian Reservation 2018 Pier Fire East Emergency Stabilization and Salvage Sale Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact, signed April 5, 2018; 2) Hume Lake Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument NEPA Rough Plantation Maintenance and Restoration Decision Memo, signed September 28, 2020; 3) Cannell Meadow and Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest NEPA McNally/Sherman Pass Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision, signed March 25, 2004, and McNally Reforestation Decision Memo, signed January 19, 2023; and 4) Western Divide and Kern Ranger Districts, Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument NEPA Castle Fire Ecological Restoration Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice, signed December 28, 2023.
NEPA records of project approval are available to the General Public at:
Sequoia National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/sequoia/landmanagement/projects
Tule River Indian Reservation: https://tulerivertribe-nsn.gov/
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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