National Forest Foundation, “Lava Mountain Forest Health Project”
Summary
SCH Number
2025090345
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
National Forest Foundation, “Lava Mountain Forest Health Project”
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/9/2025
Document Description
CAL FIRE is providing funding to the National Forest Foundation to restore up to 2,062 acres through commercial thinning, mechanical and manual fuels reduction, prescribed burning, and biomass removal forest health treatment activities. These treatments will occur within the Inyo National Forest along the Mammoth Scenic Loop and near the June Mountain community in Mono County and will reduce wildfire risks to local resources and community members, promote native plant and wildlife species, address overcrowding and pest infestations, and improve forest resiliency.
Contact Information
Name
Shannon Johnson
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Staff Chief
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Sophie Castleton
Agency Name
National Forest Foundation
Job Title
Eastern Sierra & Great Basin Program Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Counties
Mono
Regions
Countywide
Total Acres
2062
Other Location Info
Portions of Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake Ranger Districts, Inyo National Forest
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
PRC 4799.05(d)(1)
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA does not apply to fuel reduction, reforestation, & habitat restoration projects undertaken, in whole or in part, on federal lands to reduce the risk of high severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the NEPA, if the primary role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. The proposed project was reviewed under the (1) Three Creeks Jeffrey Pine Forest Health & Restoration Project NEPA EA & DN-FONSI, signed January 26, 2018, (2) June Mountain Ski Area Vegetation Management Planning Project NEPA EA & DN-FONSI, signed June 8, 2012, and (3) Eastern Sierra Climate & Communities Resilience Project NEPA EA & DN-FONSI, signed September 19, 2024. NEPA coverage for this project is 68,747 acres, with initial treatments at 2,062 acres.
The NEPA record of project approval is available to the General Public at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/projects
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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