City of San Clemente Open Space Wildfire and Vegetation Management - Hazardous Fuel Reduction

2026090578

City of San Clemente

NOE - Notice of Exemption

9/15/2026

9/15/2026

Adam Atamian

City of San Clemente

Community Development Director

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

910 Calle Negocio
San Clemente, CA 92673

(949) 361-6196

AtamianA@san-clemente.org

14

678-161-04

Open space abuting Avenida Vista Hermosa and Avenida La Pata

Categorical Exemption

Class 1 (Existing Facilities, 14 CCR section 15301)

The Class 1 exemption specifically exempts from further CEQA review the operation, repair, maintenance, and minor repair of existing public or private facilities and topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. This exemption covers, but is not limited to, maintenance of existing landscape, native growth, and water supply reservoirs. The project does not change the existing general use of properties. Thus, the project qualifies for the Class 1 exemption.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15307 (14 CCR §15307, Class 7: Actions by regulatory agencies for protection of natural resources)

The Class 7 exemption specifically exempts from further CEQA review the actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource, where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. This exemption covers, but is not limited to, agency actions aimed at safeguarding natural resources through regulatory procedures, provided there’s no physical construction involved. Thus, the project qualifies for the Class 7 exemption.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15308 (14 CCR §15308 Class 8: Actions by regulatory agencies for protection of the environment)

The Class 8 exemption specifically exempts from further CEQA review actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. The purpose of the Wildfire and Vegetation Management project is to protect the City’s environmental resources by reducing risk of wildfires, and invasive and non-native vegetation that degrades the natural environment. Thus, the project qualifies for the Class 8 exemption.

Categorical Exemption

Class 4 (Minor alterations of land, Title 14, Section 15304)

The Class 4 exemption specifically exempts from further CEQA review the minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. This exemption covers, but is not limited to, fuel management activities within 30 feet of structures to reduce the volume of flammable vegetation, provided that the activities will not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant or animal species or significant erosion and sedimentation of surface waters. This exemption shall apply to fuel management activities within 100 feet of a structure if the public agency having fire protection responsibility for the area has determined that 100 feet of fuel clearance is required due to extra hazardous fire conditions. The project is, by definition, a minor alteration targeting vegetation that is invasive and/or dead in a selective manner. The selective manner of the vegetation management program, through the use of mechanical removal, hand crews, and goat grazing, avoids activities not covered by this exemption. Consulting partners provided maps and figures identifying any biological resources to consider when conducting vegetation removal. Thus, the project qualifies for the Class 4 exemption.

Statutory Exemption

Public Resources Code § 21080(b)(4) (Emergency Projects)

Project consists of specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency—namely, the imminent threat of wildfire in areas designated as Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The project’s vegetation management activities are directly intended to reduce flammable fuel loads and create defensible space to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure from catastrophic fire events. Under § 21080.49, the work qualifies for the fire prevention exemption because it involves wildfire risk reduction in compliance with applicable environmental protection measures, is located in a wildland-urban interface area, and does not exceed the acreage limitations set forth in the statute. The agencies position is supported by fire hazard maps in the Centennial General Plan’s Safety Element and other spatial analysis. Thus, the project qualifies for both the emergency project and fire prevention statutory exemptions.

Statutory Exemption

§ 21080.49 (SB 131— Fire Prevention Exemption)

Project consists of specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency—namely, the imminent threat of wildfire in areas designated as Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The project’s vegetation management activities are directly intended to reduce flammable fuel loads and create defensible space to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure from catastrophic fire events. Under § 21080.49, the work qualifies for the fire prevention exemption because it involves wildfire risk reduction in compliance with applicable environmental protection measures, is located in a wildland-urban interface area, and does not exceed the acreage limitations set forth in the statute. The agencies position is supported by fire hazard maps in the Centennial General Plan’s Safety Element and other spatial analysis. Thus, the project qualifies for both the emergency project and fire prevention statutory exemptions.