Ishi Wilderness Fire Restoration Planning (SNC 1669)
Summary
SCH Number
2024030327
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
Ishi Wilderness Fire Restoration Planning (SNC 1669)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/11/2024
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) is funding Project #1669 Ishi Wilderness Fire Restoration Planning, led by the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County. The project will complete the environmental compliance documentation required to implement potential future large-scale prescribed fire within and adjacent to the Ishi Wilderness in eastern Tehama County. The 33,868-acre project is on the western edge of the Lassen National Forest and includes 16,814 acres of federally designated wilderness. The project will protect nearby communities of Campbellville and Cohasset from the threat of uncharacteristically severe wildfire, restore and maintain fire-adapted ecosystems, protect culturally significant resources, maintain water quality for downstream users, and maintain wilderness character. Specific activities to take place under the project include resources surveys and analysis for biological evaluation/assessment, invasive plant risk assessment, specialist reports, development of a draft National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice, tribal partnership meetings and field tours, and the development of cultural burn objectives. There will be no ground or resource disturbance as part of this project.
Contact Information
Name
Mary Akens
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
Legal Counsel
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Campbellville, Boone Docks Homestead, Cohasset
Counties
Tehama
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
No communities within the planning area; nearby communities include Campbellville, Boone Docks Homestead, and Cohasset in Butte County.
Other Information
Approximately 34,000-acre landscape planning project located in western Lassen National Forest in eastern Tehama County within the Deer Creek, Pine Creek, and Toomes Creek watersheds. Project center approximately at -121.743 and 40.074 degrees.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Pub. Resources Code, section 21150; CEQA Guidelines, Section 15262, Feasibility and Planning Studies
Reasons for Exemption
The planning activities under this project are resource surveys, data analysis, and outreach and coordination meetings towards the development of a Draft NEPA Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice considering potential future prescribed fire for forest and watershed-health projects, which have not yet been approved, adopted, or funded. The planning and due diligence activities to be carried out as part of the project involve no ground or resource disturbance. The project is Statutorily Exempt under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15262 Feasibility and Planning Studies as the Project only involves planning studies for possible future actions, which the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Governing Board has not approved, adopted, or funded; there is no legally binding effect on later activities. The project is also Categorically Exempt under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15306 Information Collection 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.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines, Section 15306, Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
The planning activities under this project are resource surveys, data analysis, and outreach and coordination meetings towards the development of a Draft NEPA Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice considering potential future prescribed fire for forest and watershed-health projects, which have not yet been approved, adopted, or funded. The planning and due diligence activities to be carried out as part of the project involve no ground or resource disturbance. The project is Statutorily Exempt under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15262 Feasibility and Planning Studies as the Project only involves planning studies for possible future actions, which the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Governing Board has not approved, adopted, or funded; there is no legally binding effect on later activities. The project is also Categorically Exempt under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15306 Information Collection 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.
County Clerk
Tehama
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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