2010-27338. Habitat Conservation Plan for Pacific Gas & Electric Company's Operation, Maintenance, and Minor New Construction Activities in the North Coast, Central Coast, Sacramento Valley, Sierra, and Mojave Regions, CA
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AGENCY:
Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION:
Revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement and notice of public scoping meeting.
SUMMARY:
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding an expected application from Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) for a permit authorizing incidental take Start Printed Page 66782of Federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA).We are revising our previous notice of intent (NOI) of November 2008 in order to gather information necessary to prepare a joint EIS/environmental impact report (EIR) on the habitat conservation plan (HCP) for PG&E's operation, maintenance, and minor new construction activities in the North Coast, Central Coast, Sacramento Valley, and Sierra regions.
DATES:
Please send written comments on or before November 29, 2010. A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sacramento, CA.
ADDRESSES:
The public meeting will be held at the South Notamas Community Center—Conference Room, 2921 Truxel Road, Sacramento, CA. Submit information, written comments, or questions related to the preparation of the EIS/EIR and NEPA process by U.S. mail to Mike Thomas, Branch Chief, Conservation Planning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825; or by facsimile to (916) 414-6713.
Start Further InfoFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Thomas, Branch Chief, Conservation Planning; or Eric Tattersall, Deputy Assistant Field Supervisor/Division Chief, Conservation Planning and Recovery, at the address above or at (916) 414-6600 (telephone).
End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental InformationSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
We intend to prepare an EIS under NEPA regarding an expected application from PG&E for a permit authorizing incidental take of Federally listed species under the ESA. We are revising our previously published NOI (November 25, 2008; 73 FR 71668) to gather information necessary to prepare, in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and PG&E, a joint EIS/EIR on the HCP for PG&E's operation, maintenance, and minor new construction activities in the North Coast, Central Coast, Sacramento Valley, and Sierra regions. This revised notice describes the two main changes to the proposed action, which are the addition of the Mojave Region (Figure 1) to the study area and a change in proposed covered species list (Table 1).
We are providing this notice to: (1) Describe revisions to the proposed action; (2) update other Federal and State agencies, affected Tribes, and the public of the revised scope of the environmental review for this EIS/EIR; (3) announce the initiation of a new public scoping period; and (4) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives to be included in the EIS/EIR.
The following table (Table 1) shows the changes by status and number of proposed covered species for which PG&E is anticipating requesting a permit:
Table 1—Changes in Proposed Covered Species
Species category Numbers of species November 2008 Revised Federally listed as threatened or endangered 75 85 Candidates 0 4 Unlisted species that may become listed during permit term 34 91 Total numbers of species 109 180 Background Information
The 2008 NOI specified that the plan area encompassed approximately 550,000 acres, including the right of way surrounding PG&E's gas and electric transmission and distribution facilities, lands owned by PG&E and/or subject to PG&E easements for these facilities, private access routes associated with PG&E's activities, future minor new construction areas, and mitigation areas for impacts resulting from PG&E's covered activities. The plan area included the network of PG&E facilities in 36 counties, including 18 counties within the Sacramento Valley Region, 20 counties within the Sierra Region (of which 12 overlap with the Sacramento Valley), 6 counties within the Central Coast Region, and 4 counties within the North Coast Region (of which 1 overlaps with the Sacramento Valley). PG&E originally intended to request a permit for 109 species under the HCP: 75 Federally listed and 34 unlisted species (covered species). We anticipated that PG&E would request a permit duration of 50 years. We held a public scoping meeting and Web conference in Sacramento, California, on December 4, 2008. We received public and agency comments through December 26, 2008.
Revisions to Project/Proposed Action
PG&E proposes to add approximately 23,000 acres to the plan area with the inclusion of the Mojave Region, which would increase the total plan area to approximately 573,000 acres in 36 counties. Within the 23,000 acres of the Mohave Region, PG&E proposes to implement operations and maintenance activities along an existing gas transmission line, which stretches from central Kern County to eastern San Bernardino County. A map of the new region to be added is attached (see Figure 1). Activities that may be covered under the HCP in the Mojave Region include a variety of tasks associated with the operation and maintenance of PG&E's gas transmission system, as mandated for public safety by the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission, and the California Department of Transportation. More specifically, these activities would be restricted to: Gas pipeline protection, recoating, repair, and replacement, and vegetation management to maintain clearances around facilities. Preliminary analysis conducted by PG&E to date suggests that up to 5 acres of permanent impacts and 555 acres of temporary impacts are likely to occur as a result of proposed covered activities in the Mojave Region over a 50-year timeframe.
Because some species were inadvertently omitted from the original NOI and the present addition of the Mojave Region to the proposed action, PG&E added 71 species to the proposed covered species list since the 2008 NOI. The proposed covered species list has increased from a total of 109 species to 180 species. The 180 species PG&E currently proposes to address in the HCP include 57 animal species and 123 plant species (Table 2). Additional changes to the proposed covered species list may occur during the development of the HCP.
TABLE 2—Revised Proposed Covered Species List
Scientific name Common name Federal Status Invertebrates: Branchinectaconservatio Conservancy fairy shrimp E Branchinectalongiantenna Longhorn fairy shrimp E Branchinectalynchi Vernal pool fairy shrimp T Start Printed Page 66783 Branchinectamesovallensis Midvalley fairy shrimp — Desmoceruscalifornicusdimorphus Valley elderberry longhorn beetle T Euphilotesenoptessmithi Smith's blue butterfly E Euproserpinuseuterpe Kern primrose sphinx moth T Helminthoglyptawalkeriana Morro shoulderband E Lepiduruspackardi Vernal pool tadpole shrimp E Lycaeidesargyrognomonlotis Lotis blue butterfly E Pacifastacusfortis Shasta crayfish E Polyphyllabarbata Mount Hermon (=barbate) june beetle E Speyeriazerenebehrensii Behren's silverspot butterfly E Trimerotropisinfantilis Zayante band-winged grasshopper E Amphibians: Ambystomacaliforniense California tiger salamander—Central Distinct Population Segment T Ambystomacaliforniense California tiger salamander—Santa Barbara County Distinct Population Segment E Ambystomamacrodactylumcroceum Santa Cruz long-toed salamander E Anaxyruscalifornicus Arroyo toad E Batrachosepsstebbinsi Tehachapi slender salamander — Bufocanorus Yosemite toad C Hydromantesshastae Shasta salamander — Ranaboylii Foothill yellow-legged frog — Ranadraytonii California red-legged frog T Ranamuscosa Southern mountain (=Sierra Madre) yellow-legged frog E Ranasierrae Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog C Rhyacotritonvariegatus Southern torrent salamander — Scaphiopushammondi Western spadefoot toad — Reptiles: Emys(=Clemmys)marmorata Western pond turtle — Gambeliasila Blunt-nosed leopard lizard E Gopherusagassizii Desert tortoise T Thamnophisgigas Giant garter snake T Thamnophissirtalistetrataenia San Francisco garter snake E Birds: Agelaius tricolor Tricolored blackbird — Aquila chrysaetos Golden eagle — Athenecunicularia Western burrowing owl — Brachyramphusmarmoratus Marbled murrelet T Buteoswainsoni Swainson's hawk — Coccyzusamericanusoccidentalis Western yellow-billed cuckoo C Empidonaxtraillii Willow flycatcher — Empidonaxtrailliiextimus Southwestern willow flycatcher (CA) E Falco peregrinusanatum American peregrine falcon — Gruscanadensistabida Greater sandhill crane — Haliaeetusleucocephalus Bald eagle — Laterallusjamaicensiscoturniculus Black rail (CA) — Prognesubis Purple martin — Strixnebulosa Great gray owl — Strixoccidentaliscaurina Northern spotted owl T Vireo belliipusillus Least Bell's vireo E Mammals: Ammospermophilus nelson Nelson's antelope squirrel — Aplodontiarufaniger Point Arena mountain beaver E Dipodomysingens Giant kangaroo rat E Dipodomysnitratoidesnitratoides Tipton kangaroo rat E Martesamericanahumboldtensis Humboldt marten — Martespennanti Fisher—west coast Distinct Population Segment C Vulpesmacrotismutica San Joaquin kit fox E Vulpesvulpesnecator Sierra Nevada red fox — Xerospermophilusmohavensis Mohave ground squirrel — Plants: Abroniaumbellata ssp. breviflora Pink sand-verbena — Ancistrocarphuskeilii Santa Ynezgroundstar — Arabisconstancei Constance's rock cress — Arctostaphyloshookeri ssp. hearstiorum Hearst's manzanita — Arctostaphylosmorroensis Morro manzanita T Arctostaphylosmyrtifolia Ione manzanita T Arctostaphylospajaroensis Pajaromanzanita — Arctostaphylospurissima La Purisimamanzanita — Arctostaphylosstanfordiana ssp. raichei Raiche's manzanita — Arctostaphylostomentosa ssp. daciticola Dacitemanzanita — Arctostaphyloswellsii Wells' manzanita — Start Printed Page 66784 Astragalusagnicidus Humboldt milk-vetch — Astragalusalbens Cushenbury milk-vetch E Astragalustener var. ferrisiae Ferris' milk-vetch — Atriplexparishii Parish's brittlescale — Bensoniellaoregona Bensoniella — California macrophylla Round-leaved filaree — Calycadeniavillosa Dwarf calycadenia — Calystegiastebbinsii Stebbins' morning-glory E Camissoniabenitensis San Benito evening-primrose T Carpenteriacalifornica Tree-anemone — Caulanthuscalifornicus California jewel-flower E Ceanothusconfusus Rincon Ridge ceanothus — Ceanothusmaritimus Maritime ceanothus — Ceanothusroderickii Pine Hill ceanothus E Chamaesycehooveri Hoover's spurge T Chlorogalumpurpureum var. purpureum Purple amole T Chorizanthehowellii Howell's spineflower E Chorizanthepungens var. hartwegiana Ben Lomond spineflower E Chorizanthepungens var. pungens Monterey spineflower T Chorizantherobusta var. robusta Robust spineflower E Cirsiumfontinale var. obispoense San Luis Obispo fountain thistle E Cirsiumrhothophilum Surf thistle — Clarkia amoena ssp. whitneyi Whitney's farewell-to-spring — Clarkia borealis ssp. arida Shasta clarkia — Clarkia mosquinii Mosquin's clarkia — Clarkia speciosa ssp. immaculata Pismo clarkia E Cordylanthusmollis ssp. hispidus Hispid bird's-beak — Cordylanthuspalmatus Palmate-bracted bird's-beak E Cordylanthusrigidus ssp. littoralis Seaside bird's-beak — Cryptanthaclevelandii var. dissita Serpentine cryptantha — Cupressusabramsiana Santa Cruz cypress E Cupressusgoveniana ssp. goveniana Gowen cypress T Deinandrahalliana Hall's tarplant — Dithyreamaritima Beach spectaclepod — Dudleyablochmaniae ssp. blochmaniae Blochman's dudleya — Eriastrumtracyi Tracy's eriastrum — Ericameriafasciculata Eastwood's goldenbush — Erigeron parishii Parish's daisy T Eriodictyoncapitatum Lompoc yerba santa E Eriogonumapricum var. apricum Ione buckwheat E Eriogonumnudum var. decurrens Ben Lomond buckwheat — Eryngiumaristulatum var. hooveri Hoover's button-celery — Eryngiumconstancei Loch Lomond button-celery E Eryngiumracemosum Delta button-celery — Erysimummenziesii ssp. eurekense Humboldt Bay wallflower E Erysimummenziesii ssp. menziesii Menzies' wallflower E Erysimumteretifolium Santa Cruz wallflower E Eschscholziarhombipetala Diamond-petaled California poppy — Fremontodendrondecumbens Pine Hill flannelbush E Fritillariaroderickii Roderick's fritillary — Galiumcalifornicum ssp. sierrae El Dorado bedstraw E Giliatenuiflora ssp. arenaria Sand gilia E Gratiolaheterosepala Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop — Guggolz' harmonia Harmoniaguggolziorum — Holocarphamacradenia Santa Cruz tarplant T Horkeliacuneata ssp. puberula Mesa horkelia — Horkeliacuneata ssp. sericea Kellogg's horkelia — Juncusleiospermus var. leiospermus Red Bluff dwarf rush — Lastheniaburkei Burke's goldfields E Lastheniaconjugens Contra Costa goldfields E Lastheniaglabrata ssp. coulteri Coulter's goldfields — Layiacarnosa Beach layia E Layiadiscoidea Rayless layia — Layiaheterotricha Pale-yellow layia — Legenerelimosa Legenere — Lilaeopsismasonii Mason's lilaeopsis — Liliummaritimum Coast lily — Liliumoccidentale Western lily E Limnanthesbakeri Baker's meadowfoam — Limnanthesfloccosa ssp. californica Butte County meadowfoam E Lomatiumstebbinsii Stebbins' lomatium — Start Printed Page 66785 Lotus rubriflorus Red-flowered lotus — Lupinus milo-bakeri Milo Baker's lupine — Lupinusnipomensis Nipomo Mesa lupine E Lupinustidestromii Tidestrom's lupine E Madiaradiata Showy madia — Malacothamnusabbottii Abbott's bush mallow — Monardelladouglasii ssp. venosa Veiny monardella — Monolopiacongdonii San Joaquin woollythreads E Navarretialeucocephala ssp. bakeri Baker's navarretia — Navarretialeucocephala ssp. pauciflora Few-flowered navarretia E Navarretialeucocephala ssp. plieantha Many-flowered navarretia E Navarretiamyersii ssp. deminuta Small pincushion navarretia — Navarretiamyersii ssp. myersii Pincushion navarretia — Navarretiaprostrata Prostrate navarretia — Oenotheradeltoidesssp. howellii Antioch Dunes evening-primrose E Oenotherawolfii Wolf's evening-primrose — Orcuttiapilosa Hairy orcutt grass E Orcuttiatenuis Slender orcutt grass T Orcuttiaviscida Sacramento orcutt grass E Packeralayneae Layne's ragwort T Paronychia ahartii Ahart's paronychia — Pentachaetabellidiflora White-rayed pentachaeta E Pinusradiata Monterey pine — Piperiayadonii Yadon's rein orchid E Pleuropogonhooverianus North Coast semaphore grass — Polygonumhickmanii Scotts Valley polygonum E Pseudobahiabahiifolia Hartweg's golden sunburst E Puccinelliahowellii Howell's alkali grass — Rhynchosporacalifornica California beaked-rush — Saniculamaritima Adobe sanicle — Sedellaleiocarpa Lake County stonecrop E Sidalceahickmanii ssp. anomala Cuesta Pass checkerbloom — Styloclinemasonii Mason's neststraw — Suaedacalifornica California seablite E Thlaspicalifornicum (=Noccaeafendleri ssp. californicum) Kneeland Prairie pennycress E Trifoliumbuckwestiorum Santa Cruz clover — Trifoliumpolyodon Pacific Grove clover — Trifoliumtrichocalyx Monterey clover E Tropidocarpumcapparideum Caper-fruited tropidocarpum — Tuctoriagreenei Greene's tuctoria E Verbena californica California vervain T E = Federally listed as Endangered. T = Federally listed as Threatened. C = Federal candidate species. — = no Federal listing status. Comments
Please direct any comments to the Service contact listed in the ADDRESSES section, and any questions to the Service contacts listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. All comments and materials we receive, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Reasonable Accommodation
Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and participate in the public meeting should contact Mike Thomas at 916-414-6600 as soon as possible. In order to allow sufficient time to process requests, please call no later than 1 week before the public meeting. Information regarding this proposed action is available in alternative formats upon request. Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to view the proposed action should contact Mike Thomas at (916) 414-6600 as soon as possible.
Start SignatureEnd Signature Start Printed Page 66786Dated: October 22, 2010.
Alexander Pitts,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
End Supplemental Information
Document Information
- Published:
- 10/29/2010
- Department:
- Fish and Wildlife Service
- Entry Type:
- Notice
- Action:
- Revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement and notice of public scoping meeting.
- Document Number:
- 2010-27338
- Dates:
- Please send written comments on or before November 29, 2010. A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sacramento, CA.
- Pages:
- 66781-66786 (6 pages)
- Docket Numbers:
- FWS-R8-ES-2010-N186, 1112-0000-81420-F2
- PDF File:
- 2010-27338.pdf