(RFFCP2022) Tribal Capacity Building Program – Big Sandy Rancheria (SNC1741-RFFCP)
Summary
SCH Number
2026071039
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
(RFFCP2022) Tribal Capacity Building Program – Big Sandy Rancheria (SNC1741-RFFCP)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/27/2026
Document Description
Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) would award grant agreement #1741-RFFCP (RFFCP2022) Tribal Capacity Building Program – Big Sandy Rancheria to Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians to partner with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to maintain existing fuel breaks around Big Sandy Rancheria. Utilizing tribal crews, hand, and mechanical treatments, the Proposed Project would reduce hazardous fuels on 70-80 acres of previous established shaded fuel breaks. Potential specific treatment activities to maintain the fuel break would include thinning of ladder fuels and overgrown vegetation, removal of dead and downed woody debris, hand thinning, mechanical thinning, lop & scatter, mastication, and chipping, and maintenance of defensible space around homes and structures. The fuel breaks were originally established between 2022 and 2024, and this project is maintenance activities within the existing fuel break footprints.
Contact Information
Name
Rebecca Riley
Agency Name
Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians
Job Title
Assistant Tribal Administrator
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Wendy Johnson
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
General Counsel
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Big Sandy Rancheria, near Auberry
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The perimeter of Big Sandy Rancheria. Rancheria headquarters at 37387 Auberry Mission Road. Treatment center at approximately -119.467, 37.085 degrees.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Pub. Resources Code, section 4799.05, subd. (d)(1)
Reasons for Exemption
Public Resources Code, section 4799.05 statutorily exempts from CEQA projects for 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 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) if the primary role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. The SNC has authorized/approved the use of the funding for Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians to work in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct fuel-reduction treatments on Big Sandy Rancheria Federal Trust Lands. The project was reviewed in its entirety under NEPA by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the TR-4314 P5 J51 Big Sandy Fire Grant decision signed on May 6, 2026. Additionally, as the project consist of vegetation maintenance activities on existing fuel breaks with no expansion of existing use and no significant impact on resources, it qualifies for the categorical exemption under Cal. Code Regs. Title 14 § 15301 Existing Facilities. Additionally, as the project consists of minor vegetation alterations through forestry treatments to reduce hazardous fuels and maintain an existing fuel break with no significant impacts on resources, it qualifies for the categorical exemption under Cal. Code Regs. Title 14 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs. Title 14 § 15301 Existing Facilities and Cal. Code Regs. Title 14 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
Public Resources Code, section 4799.05 statutorily exempts from CEQA projects for 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 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) if the primary role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. The SNC has authorized/approved the use of the funding for Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians to work in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct fuel-reduction treatments on Big Sandy Rancheria Federal Trust Lands. The project was reviewed in its entirety under NEPA by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the TR-4314 P5 J51 Big Sandy Fire Grant decision signed on May 6, 2026. Additionally, as the project consist of vegetation maintenance activities on existing fuel breaks with no expansion of existing use and no significant impact on resources, it qualifies for the categorical exemption under Cal. Code Regs. Title 14 § 15301 Existing Facilities. Additionally, as the project consists of minor vegetation alterations through forestry treatments to reduce hazardous fuels and maintain an existing fuel break with no significant impacts on resources, it qualifies for the categorical exemption under Cal. Code Regs. Title 14 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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