CEQA Notices and Documents

CDFW has completed a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the 2024 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program’s Mitigated Negative Declaration Project (PDF) (SCH No. 2024100483), located in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Marin, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. The project uses grant funds approved by the California Legislature to initiate activities that are designed to restore, enhance, and protect salmon and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus spp.) habitat in coastal and central valley streams and watersheds.

• Comments must be received by November 25, 2024, by 5:00 p.m.
• Please send any comments to Timothy.Chorey@wildlife.ca.gov

CDFW has completed an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (PDF), Notice of Completion (PDF), and Notice of Intent (PDF) (SCH No. 2024070895) for the Kern River Hatchery Siphon Replacement Project. The Kern River siphon, which supplied water necessary for operations of the Kern River Hatchery, located in Kernville, northeastern Kern County, California, has failed and no longer provides water to the hatchery. The purpose of the Proposed Project is to restore functionality of the siphon so that hatchery operations can be resumed; and a water conveyance facility that is resistant to vandalism, as well as trespass and associated environmental damage, and minimizes maintenance needs. The Proposed Project would consist of construction and operation of a siphon and inlet structure, pump vault and pipeline assembly, pipeline and anchors, and diversion and outlet structure.

• Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on September 6, 2024.
• Comments may be submitted via email to Environmental@dgs.ca.gov, or via U.S. mail to Jennifer Parson, Senior Environmental Planner, State of California Department of General Services 707 Third Street, 4th Floor, MS 509 West Sacramento, CA 95605.

CDFW has completed an Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Mission Canyon Stream Habitat Restoration Project (associated appendices available here)(SCH No. 2024020190), located along portions of Mission Creek within Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara County, California (Latitude: 34.465018, Longitude: 119.712531). The Project is to restore areas impacted by unpermitted 2019 discharge of sidecast material into Mission Creek and adjacent upland areas by Southern California Edison. The Project includes removal of all recoverable sidecast material, restoration of stream flows, stabilization of the creek bank, repair of habitat features such as pools within the stream bed, remediation of impacts to trees and sensitive plants, berm stabilization, and restoration of impacted woodland/forest and chaparral habitats. CDFW’s discretionary action includes the issuance of Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement #1600-2020-0149-R5

CDFW has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program Regulatory Amendments (PDF) (Appendix A (PDF) & Appendix B (PDF)) (SCH No. 2022090320). CDFW proposes to amend Title 14 Section 132.8 of the California Code of Regulations codifying the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP). The RAMP regulatory amendments are part of CDFW’s comprehensive strategy to avoid, minimize, mitigate, and monitor entanglements of Actionable Species: blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Central America and Mexico Distinct Population Segments of humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae), and Pacific leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear off the coast of California. The proposed amendments would modify and add new RAMP components including surface gear restrictions, active tending requirements, and new buoy and line marking requirements. The regulatory amendments also provide CDFW regulatory authority to implement Conservation Plan measures to support the National Marine Fisheries Service’s approval and issuance of an Incidental Take Permit for the potential take of specified Actionable Species under Section 10 of the federal Endangered Species Act for the California commercial Dungeness crab fishery.

• Notice of Availability (PDF)
• Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., June 10, 2024.
• Send comments to: R7CEQA@wildlife.ca.gov (subject line: “CA Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery RAMP Regulatory Amendments”).
• For more information, visit CDFW's Whale Safe Fisheries page.

CDFW has completed an Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Ash Hill Communications Site Project(PDF) (associated appendices) (SCH No. 2024020746), located in the City of Ash Hill within San Bernardino County (Central San Bernardino County, approximately 8 miles east of Ludlow). The project involves, among other things, the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a communications tower and associated facilities and infrastructure to provide communication capabilities to the area. CDFW’s discretionary actions include the proposed issuance of CESA Incidental Take Permit and the prospect of issuance of a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED

CDFW has completed a Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Mission Canyon Stream Habitat Restoration Project (associated appendices) (SCH No. 2024020190). The project site encompasses 7.24 acres within Mission Canyon along portions of Mission Creek, Santa Barbara County, California. The project involves, among other things, habitat restoration and remediation of resource impacts to native habitats, trees, sensitive plants, sensitive wildlife, and waters of Mission Creek and adjacent areas. The project includes removal of all recoverable sidecast material remaining on the project site at the time of construction as a result from unauthorized work conducted by Southern California Edison in December 2019. The project also includes restoration of stream flows, stabilization of the creek bank, repair of habitat features such as pools within the stream bed, remediation of impacts to trees and sensitive plants, berm stabilization, and restoration of impacted woodland/forest and chaparral habitats.

Comments must be received by March 21, 2024, by 5:00pm

Please send comments to AskR5@wildlife.ca.gov (subject line: “Mission Creek Project MND Comments”)

CDFW has completed an Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Ash Hill Communications Site Project (PDF) (associated appendices) (SCH No. 2024020746), located in the City of Ash Hill within San Bernardino County (Central San Bernardino County, approximately 8 miles east of Ludlow). The project involves, among other things, the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a communications tower and associated facilities and infrastructure to provide communication capabilities to the area. CDFW’s discretionary actions include the proposed issuance of CESA Incidental Take Permit and the prospect of issuance of a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement.

• Comments must be submitted by March 21st, 2024, by 5:00pm.
• Please send any comments to: AskRegion6@wildlife.ca.gov (subject line: “Ash Hill Communications Site Project Draft IS/MND Comments”)

CDFW has completed a Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Lugo-Victorville Remedial Action Scheme Project (PDF) (associated appendices available here) (SCH No. 2023120696). The Project is located within an existing utility corridor starting at Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Gale Substation in unincorporated San Bernardino County, California (approximately 1 mile east of Daggett), through SCE’s Pisgah Substation (immediately north of Interstate 40 [I-40], approximately 13 miles northwest of Ludlow, California), and ending near Nipton Road (Nevada State Route 164) in Clark County, Nevada at transmission tower M152-T2 on the Eldorado-Lugo 500 kV line. The project involves, among other things, preventing thermal overload of the existing Lugo-Victorville 500kV Transmission Line, the integration of multiple renewable generation projects onto the California Independent System Operator controlled grid, and the installation of a new telecommunication path in the existing utility corridor. CDFW’s discretionary actions include the proposed issuance of CESA Incidental Take Permit and the prospect of issuance of a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement.

• Comments must be received by January 22, 2024, by 5:00 p.m.
• Please send comments to: Heather.Brashear@wildlife.ca.gov (subject line: "LVRAS Project Draft MND Comments").

Availability of a Notice of Preparation for the Revised Environmental Impact Report for the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project (PDF) (State Clearinghouse No. 2012071090). This project will enhance and establish native coastal wetlands and upland habitat on 566 of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve’s (BWER) 577 acres south of Marina del Rey and east of Playa del Rey, restoring ecological function to currently degraded wetlands and providing a critical buffer against the effects of sea level rise.

• Scoping comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. November 27, 2023
• CDFW understands the holiday season is upon us and will extend the Draft revised EIR scoping period to 5:00 pm Friday, January 19, 2024.
• Please send scoping comments by email to: BWERcomments@wildlife.ca.gov (“Ballona REIR Scoping Comment” in the subject line)
• OR mail written comments to: Attn: Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project California Department of Fish & Wildlife, c/o ESA (jas)
  575 Market Street, Suite 3700 San Francisco, CA 94105
• CDFW has a dedicated web page for the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project which can be viewed here.

CDFW has completed a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the 2023 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program Project (SCH No. 2023090699) located throughout California.  The 2023 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program's Mitigated Negative Declaration Project activities occur in watersheds that have been subjected to significant levels of logging, road building, mining, grazing, and other activities that have reduced the quality and quantity of stream habitat available for native anadromous fish. 

• Comments must be received by November 13, 2023, by 5:00 p.m.
• Please send any comments to: Timothy.Chorey@wildlife.ca.gov (subject line: “2023 FRGP MND Comments”).

Availability of a Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report Supplement: Regulatory Amendments Allowing Incidental Take During Work on Preexisting Artificial Structure (PDF). In accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is preparing a Draft EIR Supplement to the four MPA Region EIRs on behalf of the Commission, which is the lead agency under CEQA per Public Resources Code (PRC) (Sections 21000-21177) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations [CCR], Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Sections 15000-15387). The Commission has determined that the operation and maintenance of preexisting artificial structures within MPAs and associated regulatory changes to CCR, Title 14, Division 1, Subdivision 2, Chapter 11, Section 632 (CCR 14, Section 632) (project) will require preparation of a Supplement to the four MPA Region EIRs.

• Comments must be received by March 24, 2023
• Comments can be mailed to: California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Attn: Brian Owens, 3196 South Higuera Street, Suite A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, or Via email: R7CEQA@wildlife.ca.gov (Include “MPA Artificial Structures- NOP Comments” in subject Line.

Availability of a Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Soda Mountain Solar Project (PDF). The Soda Mountain Solar Project under consideration is the construction, operation, maintenance, and future decommissioning of a 300-megawatt photovoltaic solar facility with battery energy storage systems and related facilities on approximately 1,490 acres of land administered by BLM in the unincorporated portion of San Bernardino County. As required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has prepared a Notice of Preparation (NOP). The purpose of the NOP is to inform recipients that CDFW is beginning the preparation of the EIR and to solicit comments concerning the scope and content of the environmental review.

• Comments must be received by February 16, 2023 by 5:00 pm
• Comments can be mailed to: California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Attn: Dr. Shankar Sharma 36202 Inland Empire Blvd. Suite C-220, Ontario, CA 91764 or Via E-mail: Shankar.Sharma@wildlife.ca.gov (include "Soda Mountain Solar Project NOP Comments" in subject line)

Public scoping will occur virtually on February 2, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.