Robinson Mill Fire Station Vegetation Management Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026010560
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Robinson Mill Fire Station Vegetation Management Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/20/2026
Document Description
Robinson Mill Fire Station 54 is a CAL FIRE station located in the small community of Robison Mill in Butte County at the intersection of Forbestown Rd. and Robinson Mill Rd. The 10-acre parcel is located within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The vegetation community is characterized as mixed conifer forest dominated by Ponderosa Pine with incense cedar, sugar pine, black oak, Pacific madrone, manzanita, Scotch broom, invasive bromes, and a variety of herbaceous species. Soils are mapped as Surnuf series, which are deep and well-drained, and no watercourses occur within the project area. Historically, prescribed burns on this parcel maintained low fuel loads. Since ceasing those operations, Scotch broom, invasive bromes and other vegetation have accumulated, creating continuous fine and ladder fuels that increase wildfire hazard to the station and surrounding community. The project would consist of hand cutting understory shrubs and suppressed trees <12 DBH, pile burning, low intensity broadcast burning and herbicide use. Trees greater than 12 DBH may be removed if determined by an RPF or designee to be dead, dying, diseased, or hazardous. No commercial timber operations will occur, and any tree removal will be limited to hazard reduction. Herbicide use would be under the direction of a DPR Qualified Applicator with an herbicide recommendation prepared by a DPR certified Pest Control Advisor. Work would be conducted by crews using hand tools and chainsaws and herbicides will be applied using a backpack sprayer. There are existing containment lines on the parcel from legacy broadcast burns that will be reused. Reestablishment of the containment lines will only require the use of hand tools to clear the leaves and litter.
Contact Information
Name
Melissa Correa
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Job Title
Forestry Assistant II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Counties
Butte
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
intersection of Forbestown Rd. and Robinson Mill Rd.
Total Acres
10
Township
19N
Range
06E
Section
20
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
Robinson Mill Fire Station 54
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project qualifies for a CEQA Article 19, Class 4 Categorical Exemption (Section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land). The proposed vegetation management activities involve removing invasive Scotch broom and bromes, ladder fuels, and suppressed or dead, dying, or hazardous trees to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health. Low-intensity pile and broadcast burning will be used to dispose of cut material and maintain fuel reduction benefits. These activities will occur on an already developed CAL FIRE facility parcel, involve no expansion of use, and will not result in the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees, consistent with the intent of Section 15304.
Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that 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 or 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 or traffic, or to utilities and service systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at Butte Fire Center, 6640 Steiffer Road, Magalia CA 95954.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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