Howell Mountain School Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2016038321
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Howell Mountain School Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/22/2016
Document Description
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is planning to create a shaded fuel break around the Howell Mountain Elementary School located on White Cottage Road in Angwin, CA. The Fuel break will enhance the school property as a temporary refuge Area for the community by acting to slow an advancing fire, provide a location where crews could more effectively and safely combat a fire, and improve the effectiveness of air tanker drops in the event of a wildfire. The majority of the project will occur northeast of the school on private property, with some flammable brush and small trees removed from the densely vegetated area in the southeast portion of the school property.
Vegetation in the project area consists of an overstory of trees including oaks (Quercus spp.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and gray pine (Pinus sabiniana), with smaller trees such as California bay laurel (Umbellularia calfornica) and madrone (Arbutus menziesii) interspersed. Brush in the understory consists of manzanita (Arcostaphylos spp.), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), buck brush (Ceanothis cuneatus), and mountain mahogany (Cerocoarpus spp.). A variety of forbs make up a scattered layer of ground-level vegetation.
The project area is approximately three acres, consisting of a strip ranging from 60 to 150 feet wide for approximately 1700 linear feet. Leadder fuel vegetation in the understory will be removed by hand will be chipped or lopped and scattered. CAL FIRE Firefighter I hand crews I use chainsaws and loppers to cut brush and small trees (<^" diameter), which will be dragged to a chipper stationed on the road or other paved areas or lopped and scattered for decomposition.
Contact Information
Name
Megan Scheeline,
Agency Name
Cal Fire
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
S:15304 C:4
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits the description for a Class 4, §15304 - minor alterations to land categorical exemption to CEQA. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. The project consists of minor treatments to land and vegetation in the form of brush and small tree (<6" diameter) removal using hand crews and chippers. The activities will not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant or animal species, or sedimentation to surface waters. CAL FIRE staff has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use planning, mineral resources, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, or to utilities and service systems.
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