Sierra Vista Fuels Reduction
Summary
SCH Number
2025041146
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Sierra Vista Fuels Reduction
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/23/2025
Document Description
The Sierra Vista Fuels Reduction Notice of Exemption project is located at Sierra Vista Lookout Road with the cross street of West Murray Creek Road. The project area is approximately 4 miles northeast of San Andreas, CA. This project consists of reducing fuels along Sierra Vista Lookout Road and near the tower/lookout to allow trucks and equipment access to the tower location for maintenance and infrastructure restoration. Sierra Vista is at an elevation of approximately 2,785 feet. The vegetation is primarily grass and brush with scattered oak and pine trees.
Near the towers on top of the ridge, two flat spots have been identified that will have brush removal. The road is approximately one mile long and the total area on top of the ridge that will have brush removal totals less than one acre in size. This project will be done by crews bucking and limbing 5 feet on either side of the road. Broadcast of the material will be done by using either a tracked chipper or tow behind chipper. Tracked chipper will remain on the road during operation. There will be no impact to the ground other than foot traffic. The reduction of fuels 5 feet along the road will allow trucks and equipment better driving conditions to the tower. There will be no heavy equipment used off the roadway during the project implementation.
Contact Information
Name
Mallory Scaccianoce
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Forester I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
San Andreas
Counties
Calaveras
Regions
Southern California
Total Acres
2
Township
4N
Range
12E
Section
2
Base
MDBM
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 14 CCR §15304; Minor Alterations to Land. The project does not include any ground disturbance or removal of trees. The project is not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on biological resources or waters of the state. A CAL FIRE State Associate Archaeologist was consulted, and the project will not have any adverse impacts to cultural resources.
Field 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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