Maricopa Sun Solar Complex Project (Project) (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2014-060-04 (ITP), Major Amendment No. 5).

Maricopa Sun Solar Complex Project (Project) (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2014-060-04 (ITP), Major Amendment No. 5).

The Project, as permitted by CDFW, involves the construction, operation, and decommissioning of a 3,856.1-acre photovoltaic solar facility and associated on-site distribution lines, as well as the permanent conservation of 5,692.6 acres of on-site and nearby off-site lands. The Project will result in permanent impacts to 3,798.2 acres of San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), San Joaquin antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelson,), and Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides) (collectively, Covered Species) habitat and temporary impacts to 57.9 acres of utility and railroad easements. The Project is expected to result in incidental take of San Joaquin kit fox and San Joaquin antelope squirrel, which are designated as threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and Tipton kangaroo rat, which is designated as an endangered species under CESA. The ITP and Amendments No. 1, 2, and 3, as issued by CDFW, authorizes incidental take of the Covered Species that may occur as a result of Project implementation. Amendment No. 4 was issued by CDFW, but it was not executed and was subsequently rescinded by the Permittee. Major Amendment No. 5 clarifies the definition of the Bitterwater Switching Station, adds a total of 24 acres associated with the Bitterwater Switching Station and its facilities to the Easements acreage, modifies the Conditions of Approval to add protective measures resulting from the addition of construction of storm water retention ponds to the Project description, modifies the off-site HM lands requirement by adding 24 acres to the off-site mitigation obligation to be completed before starting work on the Bitterwater Switching Station, modifies the on-site HM lands requirement by subtracting 24 acres from the on-site springing conservation easement and decommissioning requirements, replaces Figure 2 with a new Figure 2 that shows the location of the Bitterwater Switching Station and the additional 24 acres of off-site HM lands and adds Figure 3 that shows the design of the Bitterwater Switching Station.

Kern