PG&E withdraws coastal tree‑removal permit after state fast‑track for fuel reduction
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Summary
Pacific Gas and Electric withdrew its coastal permit request to remove about 43 trees in Mendocino County after obtaining state fast-track approval under a governor-declared emergency; the county will not act on the withdrawn application and the public was advised to contact PG&E directly.
Pacific Gas and Electric requested a withdrawal Dec. 12 for a Mendocino County coastal permit application to remove about 43 trees within the coastal zone, and county staff told the Coastal Permit Administrator the county will take no formal action on the withdrawn item.
Planner Jessie Waldman summarized the item (CDP2024-0018) and said the applicant used the state’s suspension/fast-track portal after the governor’s state of emergency on wildfire risk. “The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, did a state of emergency proclamation ... and the applicant received project approval through the state suspension request portal, which fast tracks critical fuel reduction,” Waldman said.
Waldman said staff prepared a staff report and initial study and that the county received multiple public comments asking which trees would be removed and about removal methods; the most recent comment was posted the morning of the hearing. PG&E employees were present on the call for questions, but because the applicant submitted a complete withdrawal the administrator did not proceed with the hearing or take formal action.
County staff recommended that residents with concerns follow up directly with PG&E regarding planned removals on private property. The transcript records the withdrawal request but does not include detail on the state portal approval documents or any timeline for PG&E’s work on the ground.