05_-_20250603_-_5192_-_Fresno_-_WD_-_CEQA_NOE.pdf

NOTICE OF EXEMPTION

State of California The Natural Resources Agency California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)

PROJECT TITLE FRESNO-KINGS UNIT (FKU) AIR ATTACK BASE (AAB) BARRACKS INSTALLATION

PROJECT

LOCATION

2311 N CLOVIS AVENUE FRESNO, CA 93727

Legal Description: T. 13S; R. 21E; Section 29; MDBM COUNTY Fresno

LEAD AGENCY Fresno-Kings Unit (CAL FIRE)

CONTACT

ADDRESS

Nicolas Meyer

210 S Academy Ave.

Sanger, CA 93657

PHONE (559) 493-4300

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Fresno-Kings Unit needs to provide a permanent structure for firefighter and Department staff at the Fresno Air Attack

Base (AAB) in Fresno, California who are currently housed in a mobile office trailer on site. The project involves the installation of an approximately 4,500 square foot barracks located at 2311 N Clovis Avenue Fresno, CA 93727. The proposed building location lies on the existing paved parking lot of an administrative site adjacent to the Fresno-Yosemite International

Airport. The project area is a previously disturbed mixture of native soil, gravel, and pavement void of any native vegetation.

The existing pavement will be removed and replaced with a new concrete pad to act as a foundation to the new AAB Barracks.

The footprint of the concrete pad will be approximately 4,500 square feet. Prior to laying new concrete, the existing pavement will be demolished and removed, and the ground will be leveled to insure the quality of the foundation. In addition to the new concrete pad, minimal ground disturbing activities will occur to facilitate sewer connections to the building. The sewer line will require approximately 75’ of trenching and will be roughly 24” deep and 18” wide. Trench spoil will be mounded adjacent to the trench and immediately backfilled/compacted. Utility connections will utilize the existing conduit in place from the office/trailer being replaced. All ground disturbing activities will occur within the perimeter of the existing administrative site.

Installation activities are anticipated to take approximately 300 working days to complete.

EXEMPTION STATUS

Categorical Exemption Type/Section:

§15303 New Construction of Small Structures; Class 3

Statutory Exemption (state code section):

Ministerial (§21080(b)(1); 15268)

Declared Emergency (§21080(b)(3); 15269(a))

Emergency Project (§21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c))

REASONS PROJECT IS EXEMPT The site location has been reviewed by the CAL FIRE Unit Environmental Scientist and CAL

FIRE State Archaeologist for environmental impacts and to confirm that no exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. The department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use planning, mineral resources, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, energy, wildfire or to utilities and service systems. Review of the proposed project has identified that the Class 3 Categorical exemption to CEQA is applicable to this project. The project proposes to add/install a small, temporary, accessory office structure to an existing operational administrative site. Installation of the structure will not result in a significant increase in personnel and/or traffic on an existing administrative site. No significant environmental impact is anticipated from this project.

Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at the Fresno-Kings Unit

Headquarters in Sanger at 210 S. Academy Ave, Sanger, CA.

DATE RECEIVED FOR FILING

John Melvin, Assistant Deputy Director Date

Resource Protection and Improvement

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

DocuSign Envelope ID: BE7ADC46-619D-4D88-B151-D7E8AD82E047

3/15/2022