CESA Amended ITP No. 2081-2021-007-04 (Major Amendment No. 3) for the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) Pipeline Recoat and Anode Install Project.
4 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022070285
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
CESA Amended ITP No. 2081-2021-007-04 (Major Amendment No. 3) for the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) Pipeline Recoat and Anode Install Project.
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/30/2025
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued a CESA (Fish & G. Code, § 2050 et seq.) ITP, Minor Amendment No. 1, Major Amendment No. 2, and this Amended ITP (Major Amendment No. 3) to authorize SoCalGas to incidentally take giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) and Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides) which are listed as endangered under CESA (Fish & G. Code § 2050 et seq.; see Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 670.5, subd. (a)(6)(C) and (a)(6)(D)), and San Joaquin antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni) and San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) which is list which is designated as a threatened species under CESA (Fish & G. Code § 2050 et seq.; see Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 670.5, subd. (a)(6)(D), (b)(6)(B), and (b)(6)(E), respectively).
The Project includes activities associated with repair of two approximately 190-foot sections of high-pressure gas pipeline to prevent pipeline failure at two separate Work Sites, eTS 43141 Line 225 MP 3.28 (L225 Site) and eTS 44051 Line 85 MP 49.9 (L85 Site). The Project also includes installation of anodes to provide cathodic protection to the pipelines. This Amended ITP (Major Amendment No. 3) amends the original ITP issued on July 15, 2022, to incorporate all previous amendments and amends the ITP to update the Principal Officer and Contact Person on the ITP extend the expiration date to January 31, 2026; repair and remediate erosion and sinkholes that formed at the L225 site; expand L85 Work Area 5 by 1.068 acres; add San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica; SJKF) as a Covered Species; and revise Conditions of Approval to allow flexibility for work hours, temporary lighting, parking, and equipment fueling.
Contact Information
Name
Shaelyn Latronica
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Pourya Arefi
Agency Name
Southern California Gas Company
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Parcel #
184-012-051, 099-230-49, 098-113-13
State Highways
119, 33
Other Location Info
The Project is located in Kern County, California and comprised of two separate Work Sites, L225 and L85. L225 Site is located approximately one mile south of State Route 119, at 35.251245°N, -119.264576°W on California Resources Corporation-owned land; within the Tupman United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle on Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 184-012-051, Township 31S, Range 25E, and Section 11, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian (MDBM). L85 Site is located approximately one mile east of State Route 33, at 35.422375°N, 119.660266°W on California Resources Corporation and Chevron Corporation owned land; within the Belridge USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle on APNs 099 230 49 and 098-113-13, Township 29S, Range 21E and 22E, and Sections 12 and 07, MDBM.
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” and Public Resources Code, section 21080, subdivision (b)(4), “Emergency repairs 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 purpose of the Project is to prevent pipeline failure by repairing two approximately 190 foot sections of high-pressure gas pipeline at two separate Work Sites, eTS 43141 Line 225 MP 3.28 (L225 Site) and eTS 44051 Line 85 MP 49.9 (L85 Site). The Project also includes the installation of anodes to provide cathodic protection of the pipelines at both Work Sites. The repairs are needed urgently to protect the integrity and safety of the pipeline as well as to ensure service to natural gas customers.
On December 21, 2023, CDFW received a request from the Permittee for a major amendment to the ITP, as amended, and the corresponding fee payment on December 29, 2023. Prior to issuance of this major amendment, the Permittee needed to resolve a number of non-compliance issues documented in a Notice of Non-Compliance Letter dated September 26, 2023. CDFW received the Permittee’s resolution of the non compliance issues on September 25, 2024, and accepted the Permittee’s non compliance resolution on November 15, 2024. While working to resolve the non-compliance issues, the Permittee requested additional changes to the ITP, as amended. The revised request includes: updating the Principal Officer and Contact Person on the ITP, extending the expiration date to January 31, 2026; repairing and remediating erosion and sinkholes that formed at the L225 site; expanding L85 Work Area 5 by 1.068 acres; adding San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica; SJKF) as a Covered Species; and revising Conditions of Approval to allow flexibility for work hours, temporary lighting, parking, and equipment fueling.
This Amended ITP (Major Amendment No. 3) amends the original ITP issued on July 15, 2022, to incorporate all previous amendments and includes the requested revisions. CDFW has determined that although Major Amendment No. 3 may result in an increase in take of the Covered Species and increased Covered Species habitat impacts from those contemplated in the ITP as originally issued and as amended, the additional impacts of the taking will be minimized and fully mitigated through implementation of the Conditions of Approval. Because the impacts will be minimized and fully mitigated, there will be no increase in Project impacts to the Covered Species with Major Amendment No. 3. Measures include: 1) Weekly Compliance Reports; 2) establishment of avoidance zones; 3) worker education; and 4) permanent habitat protection.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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