Veater / Ekarnas Hemman Conservation Easement Development Project Amendment (SNC1431.1-LC) [SCH 2023030168]
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2023030168
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
Veater / Ekarnas Hemman Conservation Easement Development Project Amendment (SNC1431.1-LC) [SCH 2023030168]
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/12/2025
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) has amended grant agreement SNC1431 with the Sierra Foothill Conservancy to approve use of the remaining grant funds to conduct planning and due-diligence activities for a potential future conservation easement to be placed on approximately 1,063-acres just north of Fine Gold, Madera County. The SNC grant funds will be used to support grantee staff time for due-diligence activities, potentially including such items as a mineral remoteness opinion, a phase one environment site assessment (ESA) or transaction screen, an appraisal, review of the title report and resolution of issues, developing an agreement reflecting the final financial structure of the acquisition, a long-term adaptive management plan, a baseline conditions report, and a draft of the conservation easement terms. The project’s location in the greater Coarsegold area is within a network of other privately and publicly protected lands, including two other conservation easements on private ranches, Bureau of Land Management lands, and Sierra National Forest lands. This acquisition will fit into an existing greenbelt adjacent to route CA-41 where development is becoming more common.
Contact Information
Name
Mary Akens
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
General Counsel
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Bridget Fithian
Agency Name
Sierra Foothill Conservancy
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
Fine Gold
Counties
Madera
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Six contiguous parcels directly north of the community of Fine Gold, Madera County. APNs 054-271-002, 066-110-014, 050-010-009, 054-271-006, 054-260- 004, 050-010-011.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Pub. Resources Code, Section 21102 and CEQA Guidelines, Section 15262, Feasibility and Planning Studies under
Reasons for Exemption
The project is Statutorily Exempt under Section 15262 Feasibility and Planning Studies as the project only involves planning studies for possible future actions, which the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board has not approved, adopted, or funded; there is no legally binding effect on later activities. The project is also categorically exempt under Section 15306 Information Collection (Class 6) because it consists of basic data collection and resource evaluation activities that do not result in a disturbance to environmental resources. The proposed activities are for information gathering purposes and are part of a study leading to an action that a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. This project does not fall within any exceptions to the categorical exemption.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15306, Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
The project is Statutorily Exempt under Section 15262 Feasibility and Planning Studies as the project only involves planning studies for possible future actions, which the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board has not approved, adopted, or funded; there is no legally binding effect on later activities. The project is also categorically exempt under Section 15306 Information Collection (Class 6) because it consists of basic data collection and resource evaluation activities that do not result in a disturbance to environmental resources. The proposed activities are for information gathering purposes and are part of a study leading to an action that a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. This project does not fall within any exceptions to the categorical exemption.
County Clerk
Madera
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.