Timber Waiver Policy

ANNOUNCEMENT OF EARLY CONSULTATION WITH RESPONSIBLE AGENCIES AND CONCURRENT REQUEST FOR EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TWO PROPOSED PROJECTS BY THE LAHONTAN WATER BOARD

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region (Lahontan Water Board), is commencing a 30-day consultation with all responsible and trustee agencies prior to determining whether negative declaration(s) or environmental impact report(s) are required for the two projects described in the June 11, 2008 - Announcement linked below with other related documents. Concurrent with this 30-day interagency consultation, the Lahontan Water Board is also requesting the public provide comments regarding these two projects. We are asking you to identify issues to be considered and potential environmental effects of the two proposed projects.

Available Documents:

• New ! Summary of comments received on Early Consultation Scoping Workshop.
  These documents provide Water Board staff's summary of the comments received on the proposed Timber Waiver revisions and Vegetation Management MOU with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. The summarized comments and follow-up actions will be reviewed at the July 23, 2008, Board Subcommittee meeting on Fuels and Vegetation Management. See link below for meeting details.
• New ! Fuels and Vegetation Management Board Subcommittee meeting – July 23, 2008 in Truckee 7/3/08
• Announcement - June 11, 2008
• Public Workshop Announcement - June 30, 2008 in South Lake Tahoe
• Notice of Completion - Revision of Conditional Waiver Related to Timber Harvest and Vegetation Management
• Early Consultation - Revision of Conditional Waiver Related to Timber Harvest and Vegetation Management
  • Table 1: Proposed Minor Revisions to the Existing Timber Waiver
  • Table 2: Proposed Substantial Revisions to the Existing Timber Waiver
• Management Activities in the Lake Tahoe Region
• Notice of Completion - Adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding for Vegetation Management Activities in the Lake Tahoe Region between the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Body
• Early Consultation - Adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding for Vegetation Management Activities in the Lake Tahoe Region between the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Body
  • Table 3: Proposed MOU between the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Lahontan Water Board Regarding Vegetation Management Activities in the Lake Tahoe Region

Please submit all written comments by July 11, 2008, to:

California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region
Attn: Andrea Stanley
2501 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151

Or by email to Andrea Stanley at astanley@waterboards.ca.gov, with the subject title "Comments for Early Consultation."

On February 14, 2007, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) adopted Resolution No. R6T-2007-0008 ("Resolution"), including Attachment A ("Waiver") and a Monitoring and Reporting Program. These documents, available below in electronic format, are the timber waiver policy of the Water Board. All timber harvest and vegetation management activities conducted within the Lahontan Region that could affect the quality of the waters of the State must comply with this new policy. Land owners and federal or state land managers must apply for and receive either a "waiver" or "waste discharge requirements" (i.e., a permit) from the Water Board before conducting timber harvest or vegetation management activities as defined in this policy.

All timber harvest activities conducted under a CDF-accepted Notice of Exemption or Notice of Emergency, or a CDF-approved Timber Harvesting Plan (THP), Nonindustrial Timber Management Plan (NTMP), Program Timber Harvesting Plan (PTHP), etc., must also apply for a waiver or individual permit from the Water Board. The policy also applies to other timber management activities, such as non-commercial fuel reduction or the application of silvicultural herbicides.The activities covered and the procedures for obtaining a waiver are contained in the Waiver.

Application forms are listed below for the specific waiver categories.

An inspection form is also provided for meeting the monitoring and reporting requirements.

Questions about this policy may be directed to any of the following staff persons:

• George Cella at (530) 542-5426
• Douglas Cushman at (530) 542-5417
• Andrea Stanley at (530) 542-5406
  

Available Documents

Timber Waiver:

• Resolution R6T-2007-0008
• Attachment A - Timber Waiver

Timber Waiver Monitoring & Reporting Program:

• Waiver Attachment 2 - Monitoring and Reporting Program
• Inspection Form
  

Timber Waiver Applications and Forms:

• Waiver Application and Certification Form for Category 1 Projects
• Waiver Application and Certification Form for Category 2-4 Projects
• Waiver Application and Certification Form for Category 5 Projects (USFS Only)
• Notice of Waiver Termination Form
• Notice of Waiver Renewal Form

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the adoption of Timber Waiver:

• Negative Declaration (2003)
• Notice of Determination (2003)

Other Documents

• Independent Review Panel Report: Vegetation Management in Sensitive Areas of the Lake Tahoe Basin: A Workshop to Evaluate Risks and Advance Existing Strategies and Practices.
  (Supplemental Appendices)
• Accomplishments Related to Fuels Reduction Efforts in the Lake Tahoe Basin - June 2007
• Memorandum of Understanding Between the Lahontan Water Board, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (2003).
• Management Agency Agreement between the State Water Resources Control Board and the U.S. Forest Service (1981).
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Lahontan Water Board and the U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (2003)
• Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Specific Types of Projects Conducted on Lands Administered by LTBMU (2003).
  
  
  

[ updated 7/21/08 ]