Environmental Review No. 8711 - Whitaker Forest Roadside Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025040568
Public Agency
Fresno County
Document Title
Environmental Review No. 8711 - Whitaker Forest Roadside Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/10/2025
Document Description
This project will focus on the modification of vegetation along the roadway by reducing the available fuel, securing the vital ingress and egress route for residents and visitors for the Hartland Christian Camp evacuating from fast moving wildland fires, and reducing the spread of fire from the wildland to the wildland-urban interface. The project will remove fuel approximately 40 feet on either side of the roadway, creating an approximately 110-foot-wide area and securing a secondary evacuation route.
Contact Information
Name
Arianna R Brown
Agency Name
County of Fresno
Job Title
Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Jesse Renteria
Agency Name
Tulare County Fire Department
Job Title
Division Chief
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
Unincorporated Area
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Whitaker Forest Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical, Article 19, Class 4, section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
The Project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical Exemption "Minor Alterations to Land" (Section 15304), Class 7 Categorical Exemption "Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources (Section 15307), and Class 8 Categorical Exemption Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment (Section 15308) as the proposed fuel management activities entail understory brush removal, invasive trees ranging from 3-18" DBH, thinning, pruning, chipping, from an existing roadway, and dead/tree removal to improve access for fire engines and reduce volume of flammable vegetation. Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes; Class 7 includes actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment; and Class 8 entails actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical, Article 19, Class 7, Section 15307
Reasons for Exemption
The Project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical Exemption "Minor Alterations to Land" (Section 15304), Class 7 Categorical Exemption "Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources (Section 15307), and Class 8 Categorical Exemption Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment (Section 15308) as the proposed fuel management activities entail understory brush removal, invasive trees ranging from 3-18" DBH, thinning, pruning, chipping, from an existing roadway, and dead/tree removal to improve access for fire engines and reduce volume of flammable vegetation. Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes; Class 7 includes actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment; and Class 8 entails actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical, Article 19, Class 8, Section 15308
Reasons for Exemption
The Project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical Exemption "Minor Alterations to Land" (Section 15304), Class 7 Categorical Exemption "Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources (Section 15307), and Class 8 Categorical Exemption Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment (Section 15308) as the proposed fuel management activities entail understory brush removal, invasive trees ranging from 3-18" DBH, thinning, pruning, chipping, from an existing roadway, and dead/tree removal to improve access for fire engines and reduce volume of flammable vegetation. Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes; Class 7 includes actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment; and Class 8 entails actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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