California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2023-009-04 for the Line 7055 Recoat and Anode Install Project

2023030634

California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

3/24/2023

3/24/2023

Sarah Bahm

CDFW

Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)

Lead/Public Agency

1234 East Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710

(559) 243-4005

Sarah.Bahm@wildlife.ca.gov

The Project is located near the community of Derby Acres within Kern County, California (Figure 1). The Project is comprised of four separate Work Areas (the discrete zone(s) within the Project Area where Covered Activities will actively occur for the Project). The eTS 44429 Work Area is located approximately 4 miles northeast of Derby Acres, at latitude 35.263684°N, longitude -119.527953°W. The eTS 44431 Work Area is located approximately 2 miles southeast of Derby Acres, at latitude 35.237895°N, longitude -119.566150°W. The eTS 44432 Work Area is located approximately 2 miles southeast of Derby Acres along SR 33, at latitude 35.223894°N, longitude -119.572459°W. The eTS 38145 Work Area is located approximately 2 miles southeast of Derby Acres near SR 33, at latitude 35.231322°N, longitude -119.571417°W.

Statutory Exemption

California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15269, subd. (b); Public Resources Code, section 21080, subd. (b)(4)

Approval of this Project is subject to the statutory exemption for “Specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency” (Emergency Project; Pub. Resources Code, §21080, subd. (b)(4)) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; Pub. Resources Code, §21000 et seq.). “Emergency” is defined as “A sudden, unexpected occurrence, involving a clear and imminent danger, demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss of, or damage to, life, health, property, or essential public services” (Pub. Resources Code, §21060.3). The purpose of the Project is to prevent pipeline failure and distribute cathodic protection current to protect the integrity at four (4) sites along the existing high-pressure natural gas pipeline 7055 (Line 7055). Southern California Gas Company is required to prevent corrosion of metallic pipelines by maintaining minimum levels of cathodic protection (CP) and is required to take prompt remedial action to correct any deficiencies indicated by the monitoring of existing CP levels (49 CFR, Part 192, Subpart I). Line 7055 has been out of compliance for more than one year, requiring reporting regarding the status of this pipeline be sent regularly to the California Public Utilities Commission. Southern California Gas Company provided the following information regarding the urgent nature of this Project: • Failure of Line 7055 (from MP 0.4 to 4.42) would impact local customers in the community of Derby Acres and surrounding areas which would require curtailment to non-core (i.e., gas supply to non-residential customers would be shut down until the pipeline is fixed); however, regional impacts are unlikely. The Project will include excavating trenches along the pipeline to inspect, repair any detected anomalies, recoat the pipeline, and install four interference anodes adjacent to the pipeline at three separate locations. At the fourth location, the Project includes drilling an anode well and installing a 10-inch diameter anode and associated wires within the well, new panelboard-mounted appurtenances, including a rectifier, junction box, RMU, meter, safety disconnect box, and a new electrical distribution pole. Temporary disturbance areas will be returned to pre-project conditions and allowed to revegetate naturally. The total Project area will be approximately 1.4 acres, of which 0.36 acre is existing disturbed/developed areas and/or roadways and 1.04 acres is annual grassland and saltbush scrub habitat land cover types. The Project is expected to permanently disturb 0.00014 acre and temporarily disturb 1.04 acres of Covered Species habitat. The Project will include excavating trenches along the pipeline to inspect, repair any detected anomalies, recoat the pipeline, and install four interference anodes adjacent to the pipeline at three separate locations. At the fourth location, the Project includes drilling an anode well and installing a 10-inch diameter anode and associated wires within the well, new panelboard-mounted appurtenances, including a rectifier, junction box, RMU, meter, safety disconnect box, and a new electrical distribution pole. Temporary disturbance areas will be returned to pre-project conditions and allowed to revegetate naturally. The total Project area will be approximately 1.4 acres, of which 0.36 acre is existing disturbed/developed areas and/or roadways and 1.04 acres is annual grassland and saltbush scrub habitat land cover types. The Project is expected to permanently disturb 0.00014 acre and temporarily disturb 1.04 acres of Covered Species habitat.