Categorical exclusion · example
Bear Creek Road (J37) Hazard Tree and Fuels Project
Removes hazard trees, limbs and brushes vegetation, and masticates or chips fuels within 300 feet of Bear Creek Road (J37) to address post-fire hazards from the Castle Fire and keep the road safe for access and emergency response.1
Facts from USDA Forest Service public records, each linked by number to its source; checked November 13, 2026. Section notes by ePlan.
At a glance
- Where
- Along County Road J37 (Bear Creek Road) where it crosses National Forest System lands in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest, Tulare County, California.1
- Size
- About 325 acres along the road, within a 300-foot buffer on both sides of Bear Creek Road1
- Lead agency
- USDA Forest Service, Sequoia National Forest, Western Divide Ranger District1
- Review
- Categorical exclusion, documented in a Finding of Applicability and No Extraordinary Circumstance2
- Legal citation
- USDA-45d-USFS (road management on up to 8 miles of NFS roads, no construction or realignment); adopted BIA H(7) (516 DM 1, Appendix B, Section 10.5)2
- Status
- Decision signed October 2, 2026; finding/decision complete1
Timeline
Documents USDA Forest Service published
What the documents say
BearCreekRd HT FuelsMgt FANEC 10022026
- Proposed Action
- Hazard-tree felling, limbing, brushing, mastication and chipping within a 300-foot buffer of J37 after the Castle Fire, relying on the Castle Fire Ecological Restoration EA.2
- Applicable Categorical Exclusion(s)
- Project fits USDA-45d-USFS, road management on up to 8 miles of NFS roads without construction or realignment.2
- Adopted Category or Categories
- Also adopts BIA H(7), covering forest stand improvement projects under 2,000 acres consistent with a management plan.2
- Finding of No Extraordinary Circumstances
- Official found no extraordinary circumstances after considering listed species, floodplains and wetlands, and special water sources.2
- Findings Required by Other Laws
- Lists compliance with laws including the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.2
R5HT DN Sequoia011323
- Decision and Reasons for the Decision
- January 2023 decision authorizes hazard tree felling next to 326 miles of roads, 83 miles of trails, 15 miles of range fence and 22 facilities, with a finding of no significant impact.3
2023 01 10 R5SouthernSierraZoneHazardTreeMgtEA
- Proposed Action: What are we proposing to do?
- The regional EA covers identifying hazard trees, abatement methods, road maintenance, design features and project location for the Southern Sierra Zone.4
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Forest Service CE finder · All Forest Service projects
Sources
- Bear Creek Road (J37) Hazard Tree and Fuels Project: Forest Service project pagefs.usda.gov
- BearCreekRd HT FuelsMgt FANEC 10022026usfs-public.app.box.com
- R5HT DN Sequoia011323usfs-public.app.box.com
- 2023 01 10 R5SouthernSierraZoneHazardTreeMgtEAusfs-public.app.box.com