Orr Springs Road Fuels Reduction Project

The Orr Springs Road Fuels Reduction Project is a wildfire mitigation initiative led by Mendocino County to establish emergency ingress and egress routes by creating a 30-foot shaded fuel break along two road alignments: Ukiah to Orr Springs and Comptche to Ukiah. The work involves manually removing shrubs and trees 10 inches in diameter or smaller at 4.5 feet above ground, while pruning larger trees to a height of 6 feet above ground and 15 feet above the paved road surface. All operations are conducted using manual and manual-mechanical methods only, with no ground-disturbing activities permitted. Cut vegetation is dragged by hand to chippers located on established roads, with chips either broadcast on-site or hauled to approved locations, ensuring no impact to drainages or watercourses. The project complies with Mendocino Department of Transportation traffic control requirements and avoids archaeological sites. It operates under a statutory exemption from environmental review under California Public Resources Code Section 21080.49(b), which applies to fuel reduction activities within 100 feet of public roadways serving evacuation routes for 30 or more dwellings, including the Comptche Community. The project area is confined to parcels along the specified road alignments, identified by Assessor’s Parcel Numbers in Exhibits 1 and 2, and Attachment A, which includes the exemption findings. No contractor is named; the County of Mendocino is both the applicant and the responsible entity for execution. No contract value, pricing, payment terms, invoicing method, or accounting codes are provided, as this is an exemption notice, not a traditional procurement contract. There are no federal acquisition regulation clauses, special contract requirements beyond environmental and operational constraints, or offeror certifications included. Performance occurs exclusively within Mendocino County, with inspection and oversight handled by county personnel. The work is designed to enhance forest health, preserve biodiversity, improve road visibility for emergency response, and increase overall forest resilience by reducing hazardous fuel loads without altering soil structure or disturbing sensitive areas.