Monterey Strategic Community Fuel Break
Summary
SCH Number
2024110916
Public Agency
California State Coastal Conservancy
(SCC)
Document Title
Monterey Strategic Community Fuel Break
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/25/2024
Document Description
Notice of exemption for Coastal Conservancy approval of grant funding to the US Forest Service to treat approximately 24 miles of historic fuel breaks by removing vegetation along the Santa Lucia ridge line within the Los Padres National Forest to protect neighboring communities in Monterey County from catastrophic wildfire.
Contact Information
Name
Kostoula Vallianos
Agency Name
State Coastal Conservancy
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Monterey
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
Los Padres National Forest
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Public Resources Code section 4799.05(d)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4799.05(d), which exempts state funding of projects undertaken on federal lands that consist of prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire. This exemption is applicable only to projects that have been reviewed under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and if the Secretary for Natural Resources has certified that NEPA and laws that affect management of federal forest lands in California have not been substantially amended since August 31, 2018. On January 13, 2022, the Secretary for Natural Resources made the necessary certification. On November 13, 2018, a record of decision was signed regarding the Los Padres National Forest Strategic Community Fuelbreak Improvement Project as analyzed by the Los Padres National Forest Strategic Community Fuelbreak Improvement Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Accordingly, Conservancy funding of the project is exempt from CEQA under Section 4799.05(d).