Pelicans Jaw Hybrid Solar Project (California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2023-055-04 (ITP)) Major Amendment No.1
7 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022110558
Lead Agency
Kern County
Document Title
Pelicans Jaw Hybrid Solar Project (California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2023-055-04 (ITP)) Major Amendment No.1
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
2/4/2025
Document Description
This proposed project involves the development, operation, and maintenance of a 500 megawatt (MW) solar facility. The Project would have the capacity to generate up to 500 MW of electricity through solar power derived from either fixed-tilt or tracker technology and up to 500 MW, or up to 4,000 megawatt hours (MWh), of battery energy storage system (BESS) on approximately 3,260 acres. Major Amendment No.1 authorizes take of the CESA candidate species western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) during the construction, operations, and maintenance of the Project.
The Project is expected to result in in incidental take of the State threatened San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), the State threatened Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), the State endangered and fully-protected blunt nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila), and State candidate western burrowing owl (collectively the Covered Species) which are protected under the CESA. The Project is expected to cause impacts to 3,069 acres of non native grassland formerly in agricultural production which provides low to moderate suitable habitat for the Covered Species. The Project as authorized in Major Amendment No.1 will result in permanent impacts to western burrowing owl and its habitat over the same Project area previously identified in the original ITP.
Contact Information
Name
Jim Vang
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Sr. Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Terrance Smalls
Agency Name
Kern County
Job Title
Supervising Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Community of Lost Hills, Kettleman
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The Project is located in northwestern Kern County, adjacent to the southern border of Kings County and west of the Kern River Channel. It is approximately 12 miles southeast of Kettleman City, approximately 8 miles north of the community of Lost Hills, approximately 2 miles east of the Interstate 5 (I-5), and approximately 2.5 miles west of the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. The Project site is generally bordered by Twisselman Road to the south, Lost Hills Road to the east, Kern and Kings County line to the north, and I-5 to the west.
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Approving Agency Role
Responsible Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Kern
Final Environmental Document Available at
The EIR prepared by the lead agency for the Project is available to the general public at the office location listed above for the lead agency. CDFW’s administrative record of proceedings related to the incidental take permit is available to the public for review at CDFW’s regional office.
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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