Reyes Peak Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Project - Good Neighbor Authority
Summary
SCH Number
2026041117
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Reyes Peak Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Project - Good Neighbor Authority
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/23/2026
Document Description
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will implement hazardous tree felling and prescribed burn preparation activities, including brushing, chipping, and containment line construction, on the Los Padres National Forest over 755 acres, consistent with the NEPA decision listed below.
Under 16 UCS 2113a, the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) enables CAL FIRE to use its standard procedures, policies, and contracting mechanisms to accomplish authorized restoration work on federal lands. For this project, work will be consistent with Good Neighbor Authority Agreement South & Central #25-GN-11052007-008, signed 9/12/2025.
Contact Information
Name
David Erickson
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Forester II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Ojai
Counties
Ventura
Regions
Southern California
Total Acres
755
Township
7N
Range
23W
Section
12
Other Location Info
The project area is located on Pine Mountain between Highway 33 and Reyes Peak, directly on the boundary of the Ojai and the Mt. Pinos Ranger Districts of the Los Padres National Forest. Located in Ventura County, California (San Bernardino Meridian), the project area runs from east to west along Pine Mountain, approximately 3 miles south of the community of Camp Scheideck, California, which is identified as a community at risk in the 2006 Mt. Pinos Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The legal description for the project is: part of section 12 in Township 7 North, Range 23 West; parts of sections 35 and 36 in Township 7 North, Range 24 West; parts of sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11 in Township 6 North, Range 23 West; part of sections 1 and 2 in Township 6 North, Range 24 West. Approximately 41 percent of the project lies within the Sespe-Frazier Inventoried Roadless Area. There are no wilderness areas within the project area. However, the Sespe Wilderness lies northeast and adjacent to the project area, the Matilija Wilderness lies to the southwest, and the Dick Smith Wilderness lies northwest of the project area.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
PRC Section 4799.05(d)(1)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with the provisions in Public Resoruces Code 4799.05(d)(1). It states: “Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) does not apply to prescribed fire, reforestation, habitat restoration, thinning, or fuel reduction projects, or to related activities included in the project description, undertaken, in whole or in part, on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq.) if either of the following is satisfied: (A) The primary role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. (B) A state or local agency is undertaking those projects pursuant to the federal Good Neighbor Authority (Public Law 113-79) 1 or a stewardship agreement with the federal government entered pursuant to Public Law 113-79.”
All work coordinated in conjunction with the Los Padres National Forest are included in Reyes Peak Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Project NEPA decision. This decision can be found here https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lospadres/newsroom/releases/los-padres-issues-decision-memo-reyes-peak-project
The Good Neighbor Authority Agreement is kept on file at the Sacramento Headquarters Office at 715 P St. Sacramento, CA 95814.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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