California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) information
Forest management activities including conservation practices may impact special environmental and/or cultural values such as threatened or endangered species and archaeological sites. Landowners need to know their locations and what they can do to protect them. Landowners also need to know that environmental and cultural reviews by regulatory agencies are required when a ground practice is proposed, and a permit and/or government assistance becomes part of the project.
Any projects that are partially or fully funded by the Federal Government or State of California or that require a permit from the State, will need to have a records check done for recorded historical, archaeological, and/or cultural sites and a field survey done to discover the occurrence of such sites. If historical, archaeological, or cultural sites are discovered during project layout, a mitigation plan should be developed before any ground disturbing activities are started. If the discovery is during project implementation, work should stop until mitigations are developed. Refer to the 2013 FPRs for the requirements in this regard.
There are no known historical, archaeological, or cultural sites on the Ranch. In 1980 the USFS made and reported on an archaeological survey for the Powerline Timber Sale (I.C. Report #464 by Janet P. Eidsness). Five archaeological sites were discovered but not recorded. None of these were in the Underwood THP, THP 2-01-212-TRI(4).
In 1992 the USFS did an archaeological survey for the Buck-Allen Timber Sale (I.C. Report #TR-L-288 by Mark Q. Arnold) to the east of the southeast portion of the Ranch. Three archaeological sites were discovered and recorded. None of these were in the Underwood THP, THP 2-01-212-TRI(4) or within ¼-mile of the proposed Buck-Allen T.S., which would have included the area of the main house.
A check of the archaeological records for the area in and within ¼-mile of the Underwood THP, THP 2-01-212-TRI(4) (see three maps in Appendix 4), did not reveal any recorded sites. A field survey of portions of this area, which included some of the APZ parcel to the west and south of the THP, also produced no finds of historical, archaeological, or cultural sites.
Any projects that are partially or fully funded by the Federal Government or State of California or that require a permit from the State, will need to have a check done of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife NDDB and BIOS information sites for within three miles of the property boundaries to determine whether any observations have been made of threatened or endangered (T&E) species. If it is likely that such species do occur on the property, field surveys may also be required. If T&E species are discovered or their habitat exists, a mitigation plan should be developed before any ground disturbing activities are started. If the discovery is during project implementation, work should stop until mitigations are developed. Refer to the 2013 FPRs for the requirements in this regard.
NRCS did a NDDB check in 2012, which is included in Appendix 4. The results of this check are displayed above in “Current Property Conditions” – “Threatened or Endangered Species – plants or animals”.
ADDITIONAL CEQA/NEPA NOTIFICATION FOR GROUND PRACTICES
Any future ground practice to implement this plan using public entity reimbursement funds requires a signed CAL FIRE CFIP Environmental Checklist (CEQA) or an NRCS CPA-52 (NEPA) Checklist. Along with this checklist a process of “discovery” or survey for unknown values along with a discussion of possible mitigations is required. Additionally the checklist must be filled out by an RPF or Certified Planner. Archaeological values require an Archaeological Records Check, an entity Archaeologist review and Native American notification for the practice area.
PROVIDE A PROJECT NOTIFICATION TO THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES:
Trinity County Planning Department
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
FOR GROUND-DISTRUBING PROJECTS, PROVIDE A PROJECT NOTIFICATION TO:
Native American Heritage Commission
Local Historical Society