California High-Speed Train Project: Merced to Fresno Major Amendment No. 8 (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2013-025-04 (ITP)
134 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2009091125
Lead Agency
California High Speed Rail Authority
Document Title
California High-Speed Train Project: Merced to Fresno Major Amendment No. 8 (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2013-025-04 (ITP)
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
5/31/2019
Document Description
The Project approved by CDFW consists of the ITP, Minor Amendment No. 1, Major
Amendment No. 2, Major Amendment No.3, Minor Amendment No.4, Major Amendment No.5, Major Amendment No.6, Major Amendment No. 7, and this Major Amendment No. 8, as referenced above and as issued by CDFW, which addresses construction and operation of the Merced to Fresno segment of the HST, as approved by the lead agency, affecting or generally related to fish and wildlife resources subject to the regulatory authority of CDFW, including natural resources subject to the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense, CTS), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni, SWHA), San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica, SJKF), and hairy Orcutt grass (Orcuttia pi/osa) (collectively, the Covered Species). CTS, SWHA, and SJKF are species designated as threatened and hairy Orcutt grass is designated as endangered under CESA.
Major Amendment No. 8 makes eight changes to the ITP, as previously amended. This Amendment No. 8 will (1) increase the covered extent of take of hairy Orcutt grass (HaOrGr) from 0.94 to 1.85 acres; (2) require an increase in the HM lands requirements commensurate with the increased impacts to HaOrGr; (3) allow the scope of botanical inventories to focus on HaOrGr; (4) eliminate the requirement for the Permittee to salvage and translocate all HaOrGr within 50 feet of the Construction Footprint; (5) replace the HaOrGr salvage and translocation requirement with a requirement for the Permittee to obtain CDFW's written approval of the HaOrGr Habitat Enhancement Plan prior to initiating vegetation or ground-disturbing activities; (6) allow the Permittee to provide Security in order to proceed with Covered Activities that would take HaOrGr; (7) update impact and mitigation values in Table 6 of the ITP to reflect the increases in this Amendment as well as changes to Table 6 that should have occurred with Amendment 7; and (8) allow Security for HaOrGr HM Lands requirements to be in the form of a binding contract with a mitigation provider, subject to CDFW's written acceptance of that contract as Security.
Contact Information
Name
Krista Tomlinson
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Central Region
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Madera
Counties
Madera
Other Location Info
The Project includes the California High Speed Train (HST) alignment beginning at the intersection of Avenue 19 and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway, in the City of Madera, Madera County, California. From this intersection, the Merced to Fresno HST alignment continues south along the west side of the BNSF Railway until south of Avenue 15, where the alignment transitions westward toward the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). Near Avenue 9, the alignment follows along the east side of the UPRR, before crossing the San Joaquin River and entering the City of Fresno, Fresno County, California. The Project ends south of State Route (SR) 41, adjacent to Los Angeles Street in the City of Fresno.
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
CDFW
Approving Agency Role
Responsible Agency
Approved On
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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