SCH Number 2024110443

Project Info

Title

California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Section 15304. Minor Alterations to Land, Class 4, and Section 15307

Description

The project site is located at 20126 Hwy 175, Middletown, Lake County, CA. 95426. Project activities would occur in a 7.5-acre area within a 167-acre parcel. The Hometown Wildfire Safety Collaborative is a partnership between Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC), Northshore Fire Protection District and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). We are working together to address wildfire risks and biomass management logistics in Lake County. This is a pilot project funded by PG&E & CLERC to help improve wildfire safety in Lake County. The project seeks permission to establish a portable and temporary biochar production facility on a 7.5-acre site located at 20126 Highway 175 in Middletown California. The site is associated with the Middletown Wastewater Treatment Plant and is located at the western edge of the property operated by Lake County Sanitation District (LACOSAN) under the management of Lake County Special Districts. The proposed project site has previously been disturbed and has been rocked on numerous occasions. The area has a long history of use and serving as a staging area for various community benefit projects, such as: • The parcel was used as an effluent spray field associated with the Middletown Wastewater Treatment Plant since the late 1980's. • The parcel was utilized as an _effluent spray field until the County approved the Geysers Effluent Pipeline that now pumps all effluent from Lake County Treatment Plants up to the Geysers where the gray water is injected into the steam wells for the Geothermal Energy Plants. • The project area was used as a staging area for dead and burned trees after the Valley Fire in 2015. • The project area was used as a staging area for construction materials and equipment during implementation of the 2017 Anderson Springs Sewer Project. • Currently, CalFire and the South Lake County Fire Protection District have an Air Curtain Incinerator (ACI) staged at the site to burn accumulated woody material from the community in order to reduce wildfire risks. The proposed project includes the use of a Tigercat 6040 Carbonizer to convert woody material into biochar. Key elements of the proposed operation include: Equipment • One Tigercat 6040 Carbonizer for biochar production • Existing air curtain burner to remain on-site (already permitted) • Loader with wood sheer Materials Handling • Designated staging areas for delivery and storage of un-merchantable wood sourced from Lake County wildfires, tree mortality emergency, and wildfire mitigation projects • Delivery' Will be by PG&E contractors and locally contracted haulers. There will be no public drop off permitted • Only clean forest wood and slash, including charred wood, will be accepted On-site Facilities • Housing trailers for security and 24-hour operation facilitation • Office trailer • Porta potty • Temporary water tanks • Fire Truck and Emergency fire suppression equipment • Weather monitoring station (Tempest) for compliance with Fire District operational prescriptions Site Layout • A 100-foot minimum setback from the Putah Creek riparian corridor to the log deck and related operations. • Distance between Putah Creek riparian corridor and the carbonizer is greater than 250-feet. • Minimum 50-foot setback between carbonizer and log decks • Separation of residential and industrial uses Operational Practices • 24-hour operation of the carbonizer; Monday through Friday; • Deliveries to and from the site will occur during normal business hours • Biochar distribution from the site during normal business hours (no more than 1 truckload per day) • Approximately 200-250 tons of woody material processed each day NAME OF PUBLIC AGENCY APPROVING PROJECT: Lake County Community Development Department NAME OF PERSON OR AGENCY CARRYING OUT PROJECT: Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC)

2 documents in project