REDDING, Calif. — (RealEstateRama) — Property owners who share boundaries with Bureau of Land Management public lands may now apply for permits to clear flammable vegetation from public lands adjacent to their private properties.
The BLM Redding Field Office will issue free hazardous fuels reduction variance permits for public lands in Butte, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties. Those interested can telephone BLM Fire Education and Mitigation Specialist Jeremy Strait at the BLM Redding Field Office, 530-224-2100, or visit the office at 6640 Lockheed Dr. in Redding.
“Some property owners may find it challenging to meet California’s 100-foot defensible space clearance requirement if their homes or outbuildings share a boundary with BLM-managed public lands,” said BLM Redding Field Manager Jennifer Mata. “We want to be a good neighbor by providing permits that could help homeowners improve their defensible space.”
Mata said field office staff members would write permits specifically for each site. Each permit will contain stipulations about the project boundaries and treatment methods. Staff from the BLM will inspect each area prior to issuing permits. The BLM will complete any needed surveys for threatened and endangered plants and animals, cultural resources or other natural resources that require special attention or protection.
Mata said anyone interested should contact the BLM as soon as possible to get the permit process started. Applications received during fire season may take longer to process because agency personnel may be assigned to fires and not immediately available for site inspections and clearances.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Diverse activities authorized on these lands generated $96 billion in sales of goods and services throughout the American economy in fiscal year 2017. These activities supported more than 468,000 jobs.
