Whitebark Institute of Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences, “ESCCRP: Phase I Implementation"
Summary
SCH Number
2024041115
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Whitebark Institute of Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences, “ESCCRP: Phase I Implementation"
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/25/2024
Document Description
CAL FIRE would provide funding to the Whitebark Institute to conduct fuel reduction treatments including mechanical & manual thinning, mastication, piling, biomass removal, and prescribed fire treatments that promotes pre-European settlement conditions, featuring open, park-like pine stands dominated by large, old trees, and where frequent low-intensity fire maintains these open forest conditions and does not allow forest fuels to accumulate excessively. These treatments will aid in reducing the intensity of future wildland fires burning in the treated stands and will also allow firefighters to suppress the fire more easily and safely. These treatments will reduce wildfire risks to local resources and community members, promote native plant and wildlife species, and improve forest resiliency.
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
Madera, Mono
Regions
Countywide
Total Acres
12755
Other Location Info
Mono Lake and Mammoth Ranger District, Inyo National Forest
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 Mono Lake and Mammoth Ranger District, Inyo National Forest NEPA documents: 1) Reds Meadow Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact, signed May 27, 2020; 2) Sherwin-Scenic Loop Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact, signed March 20, 2013; and 3) Three Creeks Jeffrey Pine Forest Health and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact, signed January 26, 2018.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.