California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2017-002-04 for the Southern California Gas Company Line 103 Right of Way Maintenance Project
Summary
SCH Number
2020120194
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2017-002-04 for the Southern California Gas Company Line 103 Right of Way Maintenance Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/11/2020
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. 2081-2017-002-04, to authorize Southern California Gas Company to incidentally take San Joaquin antelope squirrel and San Joaquin kit fox which are listed as threatened species under CESA (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 for activities associated with the Project which is necessary to repair two segments of the 10-inch natural gas pipeline (Line) 103 located at Mile Post (MP) 1.39 and MP 2.20 that have been exposed due to erosion and repair and regrade 3.2 miles of ROW access roads for Line 103 in order to access those repair locations and conduct safety inspections of the entire Line.
The Project will include: 1) excavating soil to provide a full circumference exposure of pipeline segment and removing existing pipe wrap; 2) performing an integrity inspection test to detect pipe anomalies; 3) repairing a pipeline section that fails integrity testing by welding a metal sleeve over the anomaly or by removing and replacing a pipe segment a new pipe segment; 4) applying fusion-bonded epoxy pipeline wrap over the repair/inspection area, covering with a woven geotextile material prior to reburying with native fill material; 5) installing pre-cast articulated concrete revetment mattresses, rock outfalls, and rock slope protection over exposure repair areas; and 6) grading approximately 3.2 miles of existing dirt access road to a depth of up to 3 inches within its designated footprint of up to 15 feet wide with periodic vehicle turnouts.
Contact Information
Name
Craig Bailey
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Region 4
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Kern
Other Location Info
The Project is located approximately 10 miles southwest of the City of Bakersfield, in Kern County, California. The approximate center of the Project is Latitude 35.25203°N and Longitude -119.32363°W. A large portion of the Project occurs within the Coles Levee Ecosystem Preserve and adjacent to CDFW’s Elk Hills Ecological Reserve (ER), but no Project activities will occur within the ER. The Project is specifically within the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-Minute Quadrangle Maps Tupman and Buena Vista Lake Bed.
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 statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) because the Project is subject to California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15269, subdivision (b), “Emergency repairs to publicly or privately owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety, or welfare which includes those actions that require a reasonable amount of planning to address an anticipated emergency” and Public Resources Code, section 21080, subdivision (b)(4), “Specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency”. “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 Project includes the repair two segments of the 10-inch natural gas pipeline (Line) 103 located at Mile Post (MP) 1.39 and MP 2.20 that have been exposed due to erosion and repair and regrade 3.2 miles of ROW access roads for Line 103 in order to access those repair locations and conduct safety inspections of the entire Line. The repair locations have experienced additional erosion over time and repairs are needed urgently to protect the integrity and safety of the pipeline.
The proposed Project includes 1) excavating soil using heavy equipment providing a full circumference exposure of the pipeline segment and removing existing pipe wrap; 2) performing an integrity inspection test to detect pipe anomalies; 3) repairing any pipeline section that fails the integrity testing by welding a metal sleeve over the anomaly or a pipe segment will be replaced by cutting away a segment and welding in place a new pipe segment; 4) applying fusion-bonded epoxy pipeline wrap over the repair/inspection area and covering with a woven geotextile material for additional insulating protection prior to reburying the pipe with native fill material; 5) installing a series of 8-foot by 20-foot pre-cast articulated concrete revetment mattresses, water bars, rock outfalls, and rock slope protection over exposure repair areas to protect from additional erosion; and 6) regrading approximately 3.2 miles of existing dirt access road to a depth of up to 3 inches without altering its designated footprint of up to 15-foot wide road with periodic turnouts.
Project activities include: clearing; grubbing; removing vegetation; grading; excavating; removing existing pipeline coating; cutting and removing existing pipeline segments; installing replacement pipeline segments or sleeves; welding; installing new fusion-bonded epoxy pipeline wrap; installing woven geotextile material; compacting soil; installing revetment mattresses; materials laydown and storage; heavy equipment storage; transporting construction materials and other Project-related traffic; site restoration; installing and removing temporary exclusion fencing; and other activities. Impacts will be minimized and fully mitigated through the implementation of measures required by Incidental Take Permit No. 2081 2017 002 04. Measures include: 1) Monthly Compliance Reports; 2) establishment of avoidance zones; 3) worker education; 4) species relocation; and 5) permanent habitat protection.