Aromas Shaded Fuel Break EPP
Summary
SCH Number
2026050859
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Aromas Shaded Fuel Break EPP
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/21/2026
Document Description
This project aims to create a shaded fuel break to reduce heavy fuel loading to mitigate the threat of a large catastrophic fire within the Aromas Community. The fuel break will serve as a strategic control line for pre-suppression efforts and increase the likelihood of successful wildfire containment by lowering fire intensity, severity and slowing the rate of spread. These conditions facilitate safer and more effective engagement by both ground and aerial suppression resources. Ultimately, the project will help protect nearby communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources. Treatment objectives include reducing ladder fuels and dense understory vegetation in oak woodlands to disrupt vertical fuel continuity and support effective shaded fuel break function. In eucalyptus-dominated stands, trees will be mechanically or manually removed to reduce extreme flammability and high ember-cast potential. Removing eucalyptus will also allow native species to reestablish, creating a more fire-resilient landscape. Herbicide treatments will be applied to cut stumps and targeted regrowth under the direction of licensed professionals to maintain long-term hazard reduction.
Contact Information
Name
Parsa Arjomandinezhad
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Forester I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Aromas
Counties
Monterey
Regions
Southern California
Total Acres
259
Township
12
Range
3E
Section
16, 17
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
Township 12 South, Range 3 East, Section 16, 17, 20, 21, 29; Mount Diablo Base and Meridian
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Declared Emergency
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(c)
Reasons for Exemption
Pursuant to CEQA Section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15269 (c) a project is exempt from CEQA if it is a “specific action necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency.” On March 1, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist due to catastrophic wildfire risks created by forest conditions and found that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist within the State of California due to these conditions. Pursuant to the Emergency Proclamation, a critical fuels reduction project qualifies for CEQA exemption if: (1) it has as one of its primary objectives at least one of the following activities: (a) removal of hazardous, dead, and/or dying trees; (b) removal of vegetation for the creation of strategic fuel breaks as identified by approved fire prevention plans, including without limitation CAL FIRE Unit Fire Plans or Community Wildfire Preparedness Plans; (c) removal of vegetation for community defensible space; (d) removal of vegetation along roadways, highways, and freeways for the creation of safer ingress and egress routes for the public and responders and to reduce roadside ignitions; (e) removal of vegetation using cultural traditional ecological knowledge for cultural burning and/or prescribed fire treatments for fuels reduction; or (f) maintenance of previously-established fuel breaks or fuels modification projects; (2) has been approved by the appropriate Agency Secretary, or their designee, as being eligible to be conducted under the suspension; and (3) is conducted in accordance with the State Environmental Protection Plan (EPP). This project’s primary purpose of_1.b_, has been approved by the Secretary of Natural Resources as being eligible to be conducted under the suspension, and will be conducted in accordance with the EPP. The action is therefore exempt from CEQA. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at 2221 Garden Rd. Monterey CA 93940.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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