Painted Cave Community Defensible Space South Fuel Break
Summary
SCH Number
2020020146
Public Agency
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Document Title
Painted Cave Community Defensible Space South Fuel Break
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/6/2020
Document Description
The project consists of one fuel reduction treatment totaling roughly 10. 75 acres located directly south of the Painted Cave community in Santa Barbara County. The majority of the treatment area is a historical fuel break that has been maintained by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. This treatment will utilize hand crews to selectively cut and thin vegetation in order to maintain the current vegetation type. The existing fuel is predominately mixed chaparral with occasional eucalyptus. The shrub dominated area will be treated with a residual mosaic approach, leaving scattered shrubs and islands of intact formation comprising approximately 20% of the original cover. Mature Live Oak trees will not be removed. If applicable, no work will occur within 50 feet of the top of bank of a riparian corridor. Cut material will be chipped then spread where possible or pile burned in areas inaccessible to chippers. The project will greatly increase the defensible space around the community of Painted Cave and reduce fire spread in the area. No heavy equipment is authorized under this document. A query of the National Diversity Database has been performed for this treatment to check for the presence of endangered plants and/or animals. DFW will be consulted for input as necessary.
Contact Information
Name
Jason Sweet
Agency Name
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15304, 15308
Reasons for Exemption
The work proposed is a minor alteration to vegetation which does not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees and is consistent with Categorical Exemption Class 4- Minor Alterations to Land. The project also involves maintenance of an existing identified fuel break. A biological assessment has concluded that no listed species shall be adversely impacted by project activities. The limited nature of this projects footprint in relation to the amount of identical habitat available in the surrounding area further reduces the likely hood of any species (T & E or otherwise) being adversely affected by potential habitat modification due to the fuels reduction activities. SBC staff confirmed that no exceptions apply which 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, 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. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at SBC Fire GIS, 4570 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara 93110.