SCH Number 2024040980

Project Info

Title

IS-MND UP 23-05 SVBP

Description

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians (SVBPI) has received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to develop a facility to process and manage forest wood removed to lower fuel risk in Lake County from wildfires. Biomass material will derive from the contractors that are removing biomass such as tree branches from powerline rights-of-way and operations from forest clearing for reduction of fuel resources to help protect communities. This project will improve forest health and resiliency by providing alternatives to pile-burning of forest biomass. As a result, a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would occur. In addition, the project would also create employment opportunities for residents and supplement existing businesses in Lake County. The project agrees with California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, January 2021 (Attachment 9), as well as with California’s 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality. The Lake County Community Development Department (CDD), Planning Division has prepared this Initial Study/ Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) to evaluate potential environmental effects that may result from the proposed AG Forest Wood Processing project. Project activities would include constructing a facility to process and manage forest wood removed throughout the County to lower fuel risk from wildfires in communities. Biomass material would consist of tree branches from powerline rights-of-way and forest clearing. Contractors would deliver materials to the site. The project would result in the production of renewable energy which would be used to power the site and with the capability of serving down-stream users.

1 documents in project