California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2024-022-04 for the eTS 7119701 Line 8106 MP 23.43-0 Leak Repair Project (Project)

2024060643

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

NOE - Notice of Exemption

6/13/2024

6/13/2024

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

11N

23W

29

SBB&B

The Project is located in the southern San Joaquin Valley approximately 2.5 miles southeast of the community of Hazelton in unincorporated Kern County, California. The Project is specifically located south of Western Minerals Road and immediately adjacent to Pentland Road within the Pentland United States Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle map in Township 11 N, Range 23 West, and Section 29, San Bernardino Base and Meridian. The approximate center of the site is located at latitude 35.016597° North and longitude -119.351197° West.

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)) and California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15269, subdivision (b)) 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 replace a pipeline segment where a natural gas leak was identified on the Line 8106 natural gas transmission pipeline at approximate milepost 23.43-0. The proposed Project is required for SoCalGas to comply with federal and state pipeline safety regulations, and to prevent a loss of natural gas service to customers within the coastal region. Natural gas pipeline maintenance is required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) General Order (GO) 112 F. GO 112 F incorporates the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49, Part 192, Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline. This leak urgently needs repair based on the potential for creating a future hazard, pursuant to SoCalGas’s procedural manual prepared under CFR 192.605. The Project will need to start immediately to address safety regulatory requirements. If SoCalGas cannot complete the Project by the assigned compliance date, the CPUC may require SoCalGas to isolate or reduce the amount of natural gas running through Line 8106 to avoid safety concerns. A reduction or isolation of this segment of line could cause a loss of provision of a public service essential to the health, safety, or welfare of natural gas customers. Line 8106 provides natural gas to SoCalGas’s coastal system, as fed from Line 85 producer supplies throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Isolation or a reduction of natural gas along this Line 8106 pipeline segment would risk SoCalGas’s ability to provide reliable natural gas to customers within the coastal region. The Project will include excavating a trench to inspect the pipeline, replacing a segment of pipe up to 400 feet in length, recoating and testing the pipeline, and backfilling the excavation. Temporary disturbance areas will be returned to pre-project conditions and allowed to revegetate naturally. The Project is expected to temporarily disturb 2.32 acres of Covered Species habitat. Impacts will be minimized and fully mitigated through the implementation of measures required by Incidental Take Permit No. 2081 2024 022 04. Measures include: 1) Weekly Compliance Reports; 2) establishment of avoidance zones; 3) worker education; 4) species relocation; and 5) permanent habitat protection.