California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2024-046-04 for the eTS 61647 Line 85 MP 67.60 Pipeline Replacement Project (Project)
Summary
SCH Number
2024090840
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2024-046-04 for the eTS 61647 Line 85 MP 67.60 Pipeline Replacement Project (Project)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/20/2024
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued a California Endangered Species Act (CESA; Fish & G. Code, § 2050 et seq.) Incidental Take Permit (ITP) No. 2081-2024-046-04 authorizing Southern California Gas Company to incidentally take San Joaquin antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni) and San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) which are listed as threatened species under CESA, respectively (Fish & G. Code § 2050 et seq.; see Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 670.5, subd. (b)(6)(B) and (b)(6)(E), respectively).
The ITP authorizes take of San Joaquin antelope squirrel and San Joaquin kit fox (Covered Species) for activities associated with the Project which are necessary to replace and realign an existing section of Transmission Line 85 at mile post 67.60 (L85) to resolve an anomaly, required to address safety regulatory requirements. The Project is expected to temporarily disturb 4.281 acres of Covered Species Habitat. Temporary disturbance areas will be returned to pre-project conditions.
Contact Information
Name
Shaelyn Latronica
Agency Name
CDFW
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Taft
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The Project is located east of State Route (SR) 33 and west of SR 119 within the City of Taft, Kern County, California. The approximate center of the Project Area is located approximately at latitude 35.229199° North and longitude -119.460609° West (WGS84). The Project Area is depicted on the Taft, California 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle (United States Geological Survey 2024). The Public Land Survey System depicts the Project within Township 31S, Range 23E and 24E, Sections 13, 19, and 24, Mt. Diablo Meridian.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15269, subd. (b); Public Resources Code, section 21080, subd. (b)(4)
Reasons for Exemption
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 replace and realign an existing section of Transmission Line 85 at mile post 67.60 (L85) to resolve an anomaly resulting from the encroachment of a nearby 8-inch petroleum pipeline. 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 San Joaquin Valley. Natural gas pipeline maintenance is required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) General Order (GO) 112 F. GO 112 F incorporates the United States Department of Transportation regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49, Part 192, Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline.
This encroachment urgently needs to be address 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 Transmission Line 85 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. Isolation or a reduction of natural gas along Transmission Line 85 pipeline segment would risk SoCalGas’s ability to provide reliable natural gas to customers within the San Joaquin Valley.
The Project will include excavating a trench to expose the L85 segment of interest, cross compression of the existing L85, then the removal of an approximately 76-foot segment of L85 to be replaced and realigned with approximately 81 feet of new pipeline. Additionally, the Project will include three temporary bypass routes to allow space for landowner vehicle bypass around the Project’s work area. The Project is expected to temporarily disturb 4.281 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 046 04. Measures include: 1) Weekly Compliance Reports; 2) establishment of avoidance zones; 3) worker education; 4) species relocation; and 5) permanent habitat protection.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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