Evacuation Route Roadside Hazard Fuel Reduction (OV-3) Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024090004
Public Agency
Olympic Valley Public Service District
Document Title
Evacuation Route Roadside Hazard Fuel Reduction (OV-3) Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/3/2024
Document Description
The proposed 2.7-acre project is located immediately adjacent to Olympic Valley Road within the community of Olympic Valley, California. The project area is a portion of a native upland meadow system that has been dominated by Lodgepole Pine regeneration. This conifer encroachment has established stands exceeding 1800 stems per acre with an average diameter at breast height (DBH) of 6 inches. The project area is California Wildlife Habitat Relationship (CWHR) Size 2 and 3 with a Canopy Closure M and D, meaning the project area is dominated by conifer regeneration of DBH 1” – 11” with a moderate canopy closure of 40-100%. This stand density causes gradual drying of the meadow and conversion to conifer forest, and increases the vertical and horizontal continuity of hazardous fuels immediately adjacent to Olympic Valley Road, a key emergency ingress and egress route for the community. The proposed project will remove all Lodgepole Pine less than 16” DBH from the project area utilizing a slash mat with low impact equipment and assistance from hand cutting methods. Trees greater than 16” DBH that appear free of damaging pathogen(s) will be retained as will live riparian hardwood and other riparian species. The slash mat will be removed upon completion of equipment operations. This project will ensure continuance of the native meadow system and reduce the continuity of surface and ladder fuels less than 16” (DBH) in effort to reduce hazardous fuel loading such that the flame length, intensity, rate of spread, and duration of potential wildfire is reduced.
Contact Information
Name
Charley Miller
Agency Name
Olympic Valley Public Service District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Olympic Valley
Counties
Placer
Regions
Unincorporated
Zip
96146
Total Acres
3
Township
T16N
Range
R16E
Section
S28
Base
MDB&M
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under Categorical Exemption: 15304 Minor Alterations to Land (Class 4) which allows minor alteration of vegetation including fuel management activities to reduce volume of flammable vegetation, provided the activities do not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant/animal species or cause significant erosion and sedimentation of waters. The pruning of residual trees will be restricted to those that reduce the vertical and horizontal continuity of fuels, and/or provide for improved ingress/egress in the event of wildfire. The proposed project has been designed to protect hydrology and water and soil resources to prevent significant erosion or sedimentation of waters. The project, as designed, is consistent with the use of a Categorical Exemption. Field review confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a notice of exemption for this project. Environmental review consistent with California Environmental Quality Act has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland or timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, 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 or traffic, utilities and service systems or to wildfire. Finally, the project is to protect an emergency evacuation corridor necessary to maintain service essential to public health, safety and welfare and is thus exempt pursuant to Section 15269. The Olympic Valley Public Service District Board of Directors has authorized staff to file appropriate documentation and determined on 8/27/2024 that the current fuel overgrowth poses a significant threat to the Olympic Valley Community and that it is an urgent priority to implement wildfire mitigation projects to protect life, property, and the environment from wildfire.
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under Categorical Exemption: 15304 Minor Alterations to Land (Class 4) which allows minor alteration of vegetation including fuel management activities to reduce volume of flammable vegetation, provided the activities do not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant/animal species or cause significant erosion and sedimentation of waters. The pruning of residual trees will be restricted to those that reduce the vertical and horizontal continuity of fuels, and/or provide for improved ingress/egress in the event of wildfire. The proposed project has been designed to protect hydrology and water and soil resources to prevent significant erosion or sedimentation of waters. The project, as designed, is consistent with the use of a Categorical Exemption. Field review confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a notice of exemption for this project. Environmental review consistent with California Environmental Quality Act has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland or timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, 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 or traffic, utilities and service systems or to wildfire. Finally, the project is to protect an emergency evacuation corridor necessary to maintain service essential to public health, safety and welfare and is thus exempt pursuant to Section 15269. The Olympic Valley Public Service District Board of Directors has authorized staff to file appropriate documentation and determined on 8/27/2024 that the current fuel overgrowth poses a significant threat to the Olympic Valley Community and that it is an urgent priority to implement wildfire mitigation projects to protect life, property, and the environment from wildfire.
County Clerk
Placer
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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