Line 7055 Recoat and Anode Install Project (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2023-009-04 Major Amendment No. 1)

2023030634

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

NOE - Notice of Exemption

9/26/2023

9/26/2023

Shaelyn Latronica

CDFW

Environmental Scientist

Lead/Public Agency

1234 East Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710

(559) 243-4005

shaelyn.latronica@wildlife.ca.gov

35°13'52.8"N 119°34'17.1"W

The Project is located near the community of Derby Acres within Kern County, California (Figure 1). The Project is comprised of one Work Area (the discrete zone within the Project Area where Covered Activities will actively occur for the Project). 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 one site 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. Major Amendment No. 1 removes giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) as a Covered Species and removes associated ITP Conditions of Approval, removes work areas eTS 44429, eTS 44431, and eTS 44432 and associated Covered activities, updates the impacts and compensatory mitigation strategy to reflect actual loss based on the removal of the above referenced work areas, and extends the expiration date of the ITP from September 30, 2023 to March 30, 2024.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 .15 acre, of which 0.13 acre is existing disturbed/developed areas and/or roadways and .02 acre is annual grassland and saltbush scrub habitat land cover types. The Project is expected to permanently disturb 0.00014 acre and temporarily disturb 0.15 acre of Covered Species habitat. Impacts will be minimized and fully mitigated through the implementation of measures required by Incidental Take Permit No. 2081 2023 009 04. Measures include: 1) Monthly Compliance Reports; 2) establishment of avoidance zones; 3) worker education; 4) species relocation; and 5) permanent habitat protection.