Coarsegold Resource Conservation District
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NEGATIVE DECLARATION National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
Project name
Name
of Proponents PROJECT
LOCATION: This document and program applies to all
grasslands, Oak woodland, and Forestlands, and Watercourses within
Eastern Madera County. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project is designed to utilize, and
train, under utilized and economically disadvantaged citizens of Madera
County in Conservation and Fire Protection activities in the Resource
Areas and Community Programs of the Region with special emphasis on the
youth and Native Americans. PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
None PROPOSED FINDINGS: _X_ An
Initial Study has been conducted and a finding made that the proposed
action will have no significant effect on the environment [CEQA 15070
(a) and NEPA of 1969] ___ An Initial Study has been conducted and a finding made that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because Mitigation Measures have been added to the project [CEQA 15070 (b)]. A copy of this document is available for review at the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council Office in North Fork, California. Larry E. Ballew, Registered Professional Forester #1346, CRCD Environmental Planner
Environmental
factors evaluated that show no potential affect by this proposal, nor
involving any one of the following impacts considered a ‘Potential
Significant Impact’ as indicated by the Checklist on the following
pages.
Based upon the conclusion of this evaluation, I find that this action will not have a significant adverse impact on the quality of the human environment. No further environmental analysis is required. _____________________ Signature and Date RECORD
OF DECISION This report, my
professional knowledge of the human environs and social standing of the
Region, current and proposed improvement of the human environment,
protection of the natural resources by said actions, and reduce the risk
to natural and sensitive species of plants, animals and aquatic life, I
find this action to have no unacceptable adverse impact on the human or
natural environment. The program should proceed as planned. Funding of the
projects on this Proposal shall be derived from Grants, Endowments,
Contributions, Memorandums of Agreements and Understanding, Volunteers,
and Cooperative Agreements with public agencies and private parties. All parties involved in the Proposal shall hold other
participants ‘harmless’ in any activity. Financial records
are available for review at the offices of the Responsible Officials. __________________________ _________________________ W. Tom Wheeler Robert Buckles
AESTHETICS This project would
not have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista and will not
substantially damage any scenic resource and/or historical building within
a State scenic highway. The project will not substantially degrade the
existing visual character or the quality of any County site or it’s
surrounding. The project will not create any new sources of substantial
light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views. The
project involves the protection and management of the natural vegetation
to protect the Region from Catastrophic fire, utilizing the training and
employment of economically disadvantage citizens of the County, with
emphasis on the youth and Native American. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES This project will not convert Prime Farmland to non-agricultural uses. It is designed protect and improve the productivity of the agricultural environs to more and better diverse habitats. AIR QUALITY This project would
not violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an
existing or project air quality violation. The project is designed to
reduce air particulates by reducing wildfire, with can and is expected to
annually exceed pollutants from combustible engine in the entire region. MINERAL RESOURCES The proposed actions
will not result in the loss of availability of known mineral resource or
loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery
site. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES The proposed actions
are design to improve and protect the natural biological resources by
thinning, pruning, planting and protection from wildfire This action does
not violate any habitat conservation plan. Any endangered or sensitive
species will be avoided. CULTURAL RESOURCES The proposal would
not change or cause substantial adverse changes in the significance of an
archaeological resource directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or site, or unique geological feature, or disturb
human remains. Any sites within the projects will be avoided. LAND USE AND PLANNING This proposal will
not conflict with established community or conflict with an applicable
land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over
the project. GEOLOGICAL AND SOILS This project will not
generate geological impacts. Soil septic capacity and wastewater disposal
requirement sill not be impacted. Planned actions verses catastrophic
wildfire will better improve the soil stability and erosion of the soils
of the Region. HAZARDS AND HAZARDS MATERIALS This project will not create a significant hazard to the public or the environs through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials. The current environs of vegetation creates a significant risk of loss, injury, or death involving wildland fires, including adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands. This project is designed to reduce this risk by turning flammable materials and green waste into usable products and soil amendments. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY This project does not
violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements. The
project will not generate negative impacts to quality or quantity of
either surface or groundwater. The proposed action by reduction of
hazardous fuel concentrations will increase the water yields within the
natural designed capacity of the watercourses to improve the beneficial
down stream uses for human and natural use. Clearing of stream channels
will reduce of bank undercutting and sediment loading of aquatic habitat. NOISE The proposal will not expose persons to or generation of noise levels to excess of standards established in the general plan or noise ordinance or applicable standards of other agencies. POPULATION AND HOUSING The proposal will not
induce population growth in the area, either directly or indirectly. The
actions will protect the existing communities and housing from damage of
catastrophic wildfire and improve the quality of life for the residence of
the region to facilitate improving existing structures. PUBLIC SERVICES The proposal would
not substantially cause adverse physical impacts associated with the
provisions of new or physically alter government facilities in fire
protection, police protection, schools, parks or other public services.
The employment and training of youth and other economically disadvantaged
citizens will reduce the need for public assistance, welfare, and crime
enforcement of the region RECREATION The project does not
increase the use of existing parks or other recreational facilities such
that physical deterioration of the facilities would occur or be
accelerated. The project involves the training of persons in the expansion
of outdoor recreation trails to expand the diversity of use of the land
base and reduction of over use of concentrated public facilities. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC This project would cause no increase in traffic that is substantial in relation to the existing load and capacity of the rural road system. Fuel reduction adjacent to the roads will protect and improve the safety of traveler, police, and other emergency vehicles. UTILITY AND SERVICE SYSTEMS This proposal would
not result in any significant alteration, modification or need to any
utility or service system. Fuel reduction under electrical lines will
protect the utility lines and provide water from wells during fire. MANDATORY FIND IS OF SIGNIFICANT The proposal has no
potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce
the habitat of fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife
population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a
plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a
rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of
major period of California history or prehistory. The project does not
individually limit or impose cumulative effects on any environs. The proposal does not
have environmental effects that will cause substantial adverse effects on
human beings, either directly or indirectly. The proposal does not
propose any change in County Ordinances or standards. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET Each project proposal
within the scope of the program shall
have a USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service, ‘California
Environmental Assessment worksheet’ [attached] filled out by qualified
persons on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe
Council or Coarsegold Resource Conservation District. This document does not permit or imply permission for persons from regulatory or public agencies, or private parties to encroach on private land or properties without the written permission of the landowner. |
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