California Extends Timeline for Some On-the-ground Fuel Reduction Work Eligible for Streamlining
Following Governor Newsom’s Emergency Proclamation on wildfire, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) have approved over 100 critical fuels reduction projects spanning tens of thousands of acres across the state, moving at record pace while also ensuring environmental protections are being upheld.
Recognizing that reducing wildfire risk to landscapes and communities may require multiple stages of treatments, California recently extended regulatory suspensions to allow qualifying long-term fuels reduction projects up to five years from commencement to complete on-the-ground work. Typically, projects must be completed within two years of initiating work on-the-ground. However, extensions may be allowed for up to five years from the commencement of on-the-ground work for fuels reduction projects that have been awarded funding from the following state grant programs:
- CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grants
- CAL FIRE Forest Health Grants
- California Forest Improvement Program within the Coastal Zone (projects must have fuels reduction as a key objective)
- Climate Bond early action funding (Prop 4)
- Other programs funded through Wildfire Resilience Packages since 2020-2021
Projects that receive extensions must submit progress reports that are required under their grant agreements to the suspension review teams at CNRA and CalEPA. Additionally, state agencies within CNRA (e.g. CAL FIRE, State Parks, CDFW, State Lands Commission, State Conservancies) are eligible to apply for extensions of up to five years from the commencement of on-the-ground work for projects that they lead and directly implement.
For eligibility criteria, requirements for environmental protections, FAQs, support resources for project assistance, a map of approved projects, and the application link, visit the Task Force webpage. The deadline to submit suspension requests for projects is December 31, 2025.