SCH Number 2021030571

Project Info

Title

Incidental Take Permit and Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements for PG&E’s Southern California Desert Gas Pipeline O&M Activities

Description

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in response to the request for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) to authorize take of Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis), as well as for the expected request for issuance of one or more Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) Agreements (collectively, “the permits”) for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E’s) Southern California desert gas pipeline operation and maintenance (O&M) activities. Due to the need to provide safe and reliable services, and to meet regulatory requirements, PG&E conducts O&M activities on approximately 645 miles of pipelines in the Mojave Desert region, which encompasses high-pressure gas pipelines and associated facilities. The pipeline system has been in place for more than 70 years, and O&M activities have been conducted since the pipeline system was installed. The gas transmission system consists of gas pipelines; compressor stations; associated gas transmission and distribution facilities; rights-of-way; areas up to 0.25 miles beyond the rights-of-way, where needed; and their related equipment and facilities. Since 2017, PG&E has been gathering data on temporary and permanent disturbance resulting from its O&M activities. Therefore, the type, number, and frequency of ongoing O&M activities would continue to be a part of the baseline conditions in the O&M study area. Overall, PG&E expects that total impacts over the 30-year ITP term would be in line with the baseline ranges described in the EIR. The EIR evaluates the environmental impacts that may result directly or indirectly from CDFW’s issuance of the ITP and the expected LSA Agreements.

3 documents in project