Modifications to the Programmatic Timberland EIR Hearst Forests

Modifications to the Programmatic Timberland EIR Hearst Forests

The Hearst Forests Subsequent CAL FIRE PTEIR project includes the following revisions to the project site and operational activities analyzed in CALFIRE’s 1998 PTEIR: 1. The project site is proposed to be expanded by approximately 20,010 acres to a total of 80,989 acres to encompass properties purchased by Hearst Forest in 2023. 2. Add non-commercial fuel reduction activities including the creation of fuel breaks using manual treatment, mastication, herbicide treatment, and pile burning, especially in areas adjacent to critical infrastructure and the WUI. 3. Expand allowed silvicultural prescriptions to also enable timber management and fuel reduction to protect late-seral stand conditions and reduce wildfire risk in all areas of the property. 4. Update Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reflect current requirements of the California Forest Practice Rules and the General Order for Timber Management Activities of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB). 5. Integrate the adaptive programmatic mitigation agreements of other agencies into the PTEIR; including the Spotted Owl Management Plan (SOMP)/Spotted Owl Resource Plan (SORP), Master Agreement for Timber Operations (MATO), Incidental Take Permit (ITP), Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), and McCloud River Redband Trout Conservation Agreement. 6. Realign and adjust Late-Seral Management Zone (LSMZ) area boundaries to remove the limited areas that do not possess LSMZ characteristics and better align with LSMZ objectives. 7. Realign and enhance McCloud Preserve boundaries to simplify operations and enhance the protection of Preserve areas. The proposed changes will result in a net increase of Preserve acres within the ownership.

McCloud

Shasta, Siskiyou

Countywide, Northern California

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northern and Eureka Region 1 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 2 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Redding Region 5 (RWQCB), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region 1 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality

Other (forest management / timber harvest)

None

Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hydrology/Water Quality, Tribal Cultural Resources