CESA Amended ITP No. 2081-2022-064-04 (Major Amendment No. 5) for SoCalGas eTS 58713.01 Line 85 Milepost 75.85 Remediation Digs Project (Project)
6 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022110521
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
CESA Amended ITP No. 2081-2022-064-04 (Major Amendment No. 5) for SoCalGas eTS 58713.01 Line 85 Milepost 75.85 Remediation Digs Project (Project)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/28/2025
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued a CESA (Fish & G. Code, § 2050 et seq.) ITP, Major Amendment No. 1, Major Amendment No. 2, Amended ITP (Major Amendment No. 3), Amended ITP (Minor Amendment No. 4), and this Amended ITP (Major Amendment No. 5) to authorize SoCalGas (Permittee) to incidentally take Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides) which is as an endangered species under CESA, San Joaquin antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni) which is designated as a threatened species under CESA, 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 necessary to inspect and repair five segments of the 26-inch natural gas pipeline (Line) 85 near MP 75.85 where anomalies were identified and to install cathodic protection for integrity and safety of the pipeline. This Amended ITP (Major Amendment No. 5) extends the expiration date for an additional 6 months, updates the Contact Person, adds a new work area (Work Area 6) to the Project Location, updates the Project Description, adds Figure 6, and adds the removal and replacement of the Thermal Electric Generator and installation of new concrete pads within Work Area 6 to the Project Description and Covered Activities sections. The resulting impacts of the Project to the Covered Species remain the same.
Contact Information
Name
Sarah Bahm
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Chloe Phan
Agency Name
Southern California Gas Company
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Taft
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The Project is located in the southern San Joaquin Valley approximately 6 miles east of the City of Taft in Kern County, California. The Project is specifically located at six distinct Work Areas adjacent to and on both sides of the California Aqueduct near Lake Station Road within the United States Geological Survey 7.5-Minute Quadrangle Map Buena Vista Lake Bed. Work Areas 1 - 4 are within California Department of Water Resources-owned land in Section 12 of Township 32 South, Range 24 East, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian (MDB&M). Work Area 5 is within privately-owned land in Section 7 of Township 32 South, Range 25 East, MDB&M. Work Area 6 is within California Department of Water Resources owned land in Section 12 of Township 32 South, Range 24 East, MDB&M. Work Areas are located at approximately 35.158518°, 119.349025°; 35.157883°, -119.346292°; 35.158184°, -119.345164°; 35.164648°, 119.349428°; 35.155344°, 119.335747°; and 35.158649°, 119.349604°.
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 purpose of the Project is to prevent pipeline failure by inspecting and repairing five segments of the 26-inch natural gas pipeline (Line) 85 near Milepost 75.85 where potential anomalies have been identified via remote pigging equipment and installing cathodic protection. Repairs are needed to ensure the integrity and safety of the pipeline and to reduce potential impacts to other pipelines in the vicinity of the California Aqueduct, and possibly to the California Aqueduct itself. The Project has been subject to numerous delays and scheduling conflicts from the California Department of Water Resources and Gas Control to accommodate gas needs for winter, as well as additional locations where repairs have been identified as the Project progressed.
On May 29, 2025, the Permittee requested to extend the expiration date for an additional 6 months, updating the Contact Person, adding a new work area to the Project Location, updating the Project Description and Figures, and adding the replacement of the Thermal Electric Generator (TEG) and installation of new concrete pads within Work Area 6 to the Project Description and Covered Activities sections. SoCalGas has identified the urgent need to restore the cathodic protection current being generated by the TEG. This TEG has met its useful lifespan and needs to be replaced to meet the minimum cathodic protection criteria and to prevent corrosion and pipeline failure.
This Amended ITP (Major Amendment No. 5) amends the ITP to extend the expiration date to December 31, 2025, changes the Contact Person, adds a new work area (Work Area 6) to the Project Location, Project Description, and a new figure (Figure 6), and adds the removal and replacement of the Thermal Electric Generator and installation of new concrete pads within Work Area 6 to the Project Description and Covered Activities sections. The resulting impacts of the Project to the Covered Species remain the same.
CDFW has determined that Major Amendment No. 5 may increase the amount take of the Covered Species, but it will not increase Covered Species habitat impacts. Impacts will be minimized and fully mitigated through the implementation of measures required by Incidental Take Permit No. 2081 2022 064 04, as amended. Measures include: 1) Monthly 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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