California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2024-030-04 for the eTS 7072601 Line 8110 Gate Valve Leak Repair Project

2024061204

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

NOE - Notice of Exemption

6/27/2024

6/27/2024

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

32S

24E

23

MDB&M

The Project is located in the southern San Joaquin Valley approximately 5 miles east-southeast of the city of Taft in Kern County, California. The Project is specifically located adjacent to and south of Lake Station Road approximately 0.5 mile east of Gardner Field Road within the Buena Vista Lake Bed United States Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle map in Township 32 South, Range 24 East, and Section 23, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. The approximate center of the Project site is located at latitude 35.131588°, longitude -119.358900°.

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 and associated cathodic protection where a natural gas leak was identified on the Line 8110 natural gas transmission pipeline at approximate milepost 11.67. 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 8110 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 8110 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 8110 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 200 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 0.25 acre of Covered Species habitat. Impacts will be minimized and fully mitigated through the implementation of measures required by Incidental Take Permit No. 2081 2024 030 04. Measures include: 1) Weekly Compliance Reports; 2) establishment of avoidance zones; 3) worker education; 4) species relocation; and 5) permanent habitat protection.