Defensible Space for Seniors and Disabled in Tuolumne County, Groveland/ Big Oak Flat
Summary
SCH Number
2025040735
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Defensible Space for Seniors and Disabled in Tuolumne County, Groveland/ Big Oak Flat
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/15/2025
Document Description
Project Description: The project will assist elderly and disabled residents of the county create defensible space within 100-feet of their residence, or to the property line, whichever is closer. This project will consist of removing brush, trees less than 12-inches diameter at breast height, and surface fuels to reduce flammable vegetation in the area surrounding residences. Dead trees of any size may be felled by hand and either left of site for the landowner or hauled to a green waste facility. Operations will consist of contractors using hand tools to cut brush and small trees, prune trees, rake leaves and pine needles, trim weeds to less than 4-inches in height after the grass has cured; and chipping cut vegetation. Vehicles and chippers will only work from existing roads and driveways. Cut, trimmed, pruned material may be removed from the site and hauled to a green waste facility. The intent of the project is to eliminate the vertical and horizontal continuity of understory fuels and surface fuels to reduce potential fire danger and help elderly and disabled residents of the county comply with the requirements of Public Resources Code 4291.
The communities of Big Oak Flat and Groveland have been selected as the project area. The project area is approximately 3,405 acres in size. The goal is to reduce hazardous fuels around 150 residences. The area of treatment around any given residence could be up to 100-feet from the residence, or roughly 40,000 square feet (less than 1 acre) per residence. Actual work is expected to occur on less than 150-acres within the project area.
The reduction in vegetation around residences will comply with the requirements of Public Resources Code Section 4291 and is expected to minimize fire behavior in the event of a fire.
Contact Information
Name
Roger Petersen
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Forester II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Big Oak Flat, Groveland
Counties
Tuolumne
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
T1S, R16E, Sections 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29 & 30 and T1S, R17E, Sections 19, 29, 30 & 32, Mount Diablo Base Meridian
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of 15304- Minor Alterations to Land. The project will consist of removing surface and ladder fuels to create defensible space around the residences of seniors and disabled citizens. The project is located in an urban interface area. The project is minor in scope and will be limited to the area within 100-feet of individual residences, or to the property line, whichever is closer. The project will not involve the removal of mature or scenic trees. Sensitive species will not be impacted by the proposed project. The project was designed to avoid adverse impacts to watercourses. The project will not impact archaeological resources. The project was designed to help seniors and disabled residents comply with the requirements of Public Resources Code Section 4291 and will make Tuolumne County more resilient regarding wildfires.
Review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/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, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/ traffic, utilities and service systems, or to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Headquarters in San Andreas.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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