Disaster Recovery of Private Lands in California - RRF Lassen-Plumas LLC
Summary
SCH Number
2024050642
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Disaster Recovery of Private Lands in California - RRF Lassen-Plumas LLC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/15/2024
Document Description
CAL FIRE, through Disaster Relief Funds provided by the United State Forest Service, would allocate funds to expedite priority restoration measures in high severity burn areas on approximately 3,724 acres footprint of privately owned timberland (owned by RRF LASSEN-PLUMAS LLC and managed by W. M. Beaty & Associates, Inc.) within generally proximity to the community of Susanville, Ca. Allocated funding supports the broader goal of post fire recovery and forest health and resiliency. The project area, which was burned in the 2020 Sheep Fire (North Complex) and the 2021 Dixie Fire, will implement landscape level site preparation and reforestation. Grant funding in addition to landowner contributions, will support removal of unmerchantable burned trees from the project area, control of competing vegetation with herbicide and planting of conifer seedlings to expedite reforestation. Restoring this area to a forested landscape will benefit the local wildlife species, reduce fire risk to the Susanville area, support a local workforce, enable continued operations of wood processing facilities, improve forest health and watershed conditions, increase the storage of CO2, reduce fire fuel loads and continue the landowner’s legacies of sustainable forest management. Treatments will include biomass through cutting and chipping and/or mastication on 2,893 acres. Mechanical piling and burning on 831 acres. Control of competing vegetation through ground based targeted herbicide application prior to reforestation, with tree planting occurring on all 3,724 acres.
Contact Information
Name
Topher Byrd
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Job Title
Statewide Reforestation Coordinator, Forester II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Susanville
Counties
Lassen
Regions
Countywide
Township
T29N
Range
R11E
Section
17-23
Base
MDB&M
Other Location Info
Private owned timberlands in general proximity to Susanville, CA
Other Information
Also includes portions of sections 14 and 27-34
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Declared Emergency (§21080(b)(3); 15269(a))
Reasons for Exemption
Pursuant to CEQA Section 21080(b)(3) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(a) a project is exempt from CEQA when it “maintain[s], repair[s], restore[s]… property or facilities damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster in a disaster stricken area in which a state of emergency has been proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act, commencing with Section 8550 of the Government Code.” Implementation of the project would restore forested landscapes, restore carbon sequestration capacity of targeted forested landscapes, restore, and increase capacity as it relates to above and below ground carbon storage, and restore forest habitat destroyed by the Sheep and Dixie Fires. The action is therefore exempt from CEQA because it would restore property damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster for which a state of emergency was proclaimed, pursuant to CEQA Section 21080(b)(3) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(a).
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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