CEQA Notices and Documents

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CEQA Lead Agency Notices

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  • February 23, 2023

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.

Categories: General
  • January 18, 2023

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.

Categories: General
  • January 3, 2023

CDFW has completed the Final Environmental Impact Report for Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Southern California Desert Gas Pipeline Operation and Maintenance Activities (PDF) (SCH No. 2021030571) project (associated appendices: Appendix A (PDF), Appendix B (PDF), Appendix C (PDF), Appendix D (PDF), Appendix E (PDF), Appendix F (PDF)), located in San Bernardino and Kern Counties. The project involves the operation and maintenance of a gas pipeline system in the Mojave Desert region that Pacific Gas and Electric Company is proposing to continue to carry out as conditioned by the proposed issuance of a CESA Incidental Take Permit (ITP), and the expected issuance of one or more Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) Agreements.

Categories: General
  • November 28, 2022

Availability of The 2022 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program's Mitigated Negative Declaration Project (PDF) (SCH No. 2022090444). This project uses grant funds approved by the California Legislature to initiate activities that are designed to restore salmon and steelhead habitat in coastal and Central Valley streams and watersheds. More information is available at the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program's website.

Categories: General
  • November 14, 2022

CDFW is seeking public comment and identification of issues for preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Report regarding changes in hunting regulations for the 2023-24 season. Members of the public can provide comments by attending the virtual meeting at the following day and time:

  • Virtual Meeting
    Wednesday, December 21, 2022
    3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
  • For attending the virtual meeting, please contact Melanie Weaver at Melanie.Weaver@wildlife.ca.gov for participation information.
  • In lieu of attending the virtual meeting, interested parties can submit written comments either by e-mail to Melanie Weaver at Melanie.Weaver@wildlife.ca.gov or by regular mail sent to her attention at: Department of Fish and Wildlife, Attention: Melanie Weaver - Wildlife Branch, PO Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94299-2090

Categories: General
  • September 19, 2022

Availability of Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report on the Conservation Plan (CP) for the California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery (PDF). CDFW is seeking an incidental take permit (ITP) under Section 10 of the federal Endangered Species Act for humpback whale (Central America Distinct Population Segment [DPS] and Mexico DPS), blue whale, and Pacific leatherback sea turtle (“Covered Species”) to provide authorization of limited incidental take of Covered Species by the California commercial Dungeness crab fishery. CDFW is proposing to adopt and implement a CP, make regulatory changes to implement the CP, and approve an implementing agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to support issuance of the ITP.

  • Comments must be received by October 18, 2022
  • Comments can be mailed to: California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Attn: Ryan Bartling; 3637 Westwind Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403; or Via E-mail: Whalesafefisheries@wildlife.ca.gov (include "Conservation Plan – NOP Comments" in subject line)
  • Public scoping will occur on October 4, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. The public scoping meeting will be held virtually via Zoom webinar. Participants must register in advance at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7zcaPdLbQyiynXT48G8ntg. After registering, participants will receive the meeting link via email to log into the webinar on October 4, 2022.

Categories: General
  • August 29, 2022

CDFW has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Southern California Desert Gas Pipeline Operation and Maintenance Activities (PDF) (SCH No. 2021030571) project (associated appendices: Appendix A (PDF), Appendix B (PDF), Appendix C (PDF), Appendix D (PDF), Appendix E (PDF), Appendix F (PDF)), located in San Bernardino and Kern Counties. The project involves the operation and maintenance of a gas pipeline system in the Mojave Desert region that Pacific Gas and Electric Company is proposing to continue to carry out as conditioned by the proposed issuance of a CESA Incidental Take Permit (ITP), and the expected issuance of one or more Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) Agreements.

  • Comments for the NOP (PDF) were due April 26, 2021, by 5:00 p.m.
  • By this notice, CDFW is announcing the opening of the 45-day comment period for the draft environmental impact report (August 29, 2022, to October 13, 2022). All written comments must be received by October 13, 2022, by 5:00 p.m.
  • Send comments to: Ashley.Rosales@wildlife.ca.gov (subject line: "PG&E O&M Draft EIR Comments").
  • OR mail written comments addressed to: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Deserts Region Attention: Ashley Rosales, Project Manager 3602 Inland Empire Boulevard, Suite C-220, Ontario, California 91764

Categories: General
  • June 16, 2022

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has completed the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company Bay Area Operations and Maintenance Incidental Take Permit Project ( PG&E FEIR Vol 1 (PDF), PG&E FEIR Vol 2 (PDF)) (SCH No. 2017122028). The Final EIR is accessible electronically at the CEQAnet Web Portal maintained by the State Clearinghouse at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The FEIR provides an assessment of impacts limited to those caused by the proposed project, which consists of issuance of the proposed Incidental Take Permit and the effects of its requirements for avoiding and minimizing take of three covered species on Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s ongoing operations and maintenance and minor new construction activities.

  • Please send inquiries to: askbdr@wildlife.ca.gov with the subject line: PG&E Bay Area Operations and Maintenance Incidental Take Permit Project FEIR
  • If you have any trouble accessing the document, please let us know.

Categories: General
  • April 26, 2022

Availability of the Negative Declaration for the Chinook Salmon Coastal Release: Pillar Point (PDF) (SCH No. 2022030031) in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County. The negative declaration involves the planned release of 750,000 Mokelumne River Hatchery raised Central Valley fall-run Chinook Salmon smolts from Johnson Pier in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Categories: General
  • April 26, 2022

Availability of the Negative Declaration for the Chinook Salmon Coastal Release: Monterey Harbor (PDF) (SCH No. 2022030030) in Monterey, Monterey County. The negative declaration involves the planned release of 160,000 Mokelumne River Hatchery raised Central Valley fall-run Chinook Salmon smolts from Municipal Wharf 2 in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Categories: General
  • March 25, 2022

Availability of an Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration (PDF) and associated Appendices (PDF) for a Communication Site Project (SCH No. 2022030712) within the California Desert Conservation Area, in San Bernardino County. The project involves the construction, operations and maintenance (O&M), and decommissioning and restoration of a multi-carrier communication site and ancillary components. Project activities also include the construction of an access road, which would occur entirely on BLM-administered land.

Categories: General
  • February 7, 2022

CDFW has prepared a Notice of Availability for a Draft Environmental Document pertaining to the 2022-2023 Waterfowl Game Bird Hunting Season (PDF) (SCH No. 2021110452) on behalf of the California Fish and Game Commission. The document outlines modifications to the current hunting regulations which may include season and or bag limit changes.

  • Comments must be received by April 1, 2022, by 5:00 p.m.
  • Send comments to: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Attention: Melanie Weaver, Waterfowl Program Leader; P.O. Box 94244-2090, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
  • Comments may also be emailed to: Waterfowlmgmt@wildlife.ca.gov.

Categories: General

SERP Concurrences

Section 21080.56 of the California Public Resources Code(opens in new tab), also known as the Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects (SERP), provides a California Environmental Quality Act statutory exemption for fish and wildlife restoration projects that meet certain requirements. CDFW’s Cutting the Green Tape Program is responsible for coordinating with lead agencies seeking SERP concurrence. SERP is currently anticipated to sunset on January 1, 2030.

Learn more about SERP.

Recent Concurrences

Zanker Farm Salmonid Restoration Project

3/27/2025

The Director of CDFW has concurred with the lead agency determination by the Stanislaus County Department of Public Works that the Zanker Farm Salmonid Restoration Project (PDF) qualifies as a statutorily exempt restoration project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Pub. Resources Code, § 21080.56, subd. (e).).

Ventura River Watershed Riparian Resilience Program

3/27/2025

The Director of CDFW has concurred with the lead agency determination by the Ventura County Resource Conservation District that the Ventura River Watershed Riparian Resilience Program (PDF) qualifies as a statutorily exempt restoration project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Pub. Resources Code, § 21080.56, subd. (e).)

Deer Creek Meadows / North Fork Deer Creek Bridges Restoration Project

3/14/2025

The Director of CDFW has concurred with the lead agency determination by the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County that the Deer Creek Meadows / North Fork Deer Creek Bridges Restoration Project (PDF) qualifies as a statutorily exempt restoration project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Pub. Resources Code, § 21080.56, subd. (e).)

Salmon and Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project

2/19/2025

The Director of CDFW has concurred with the lead agency determination by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board that the Salmon and Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project (PDF) qualifies as a statutorily exempt restoration project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Pub. Resources Code, § 21080.56, subd. (e).)

Skey-wok Kee’ We Mech (It Needs Fire) Phase 1 Project

12/31/2024

The Director of CDFW has concurred with the lead agency determination by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection that the Skey-wok Kee’ We Mech (It Needs Fire) Phase 1 Project (PDF) qualifies as a statutorily exempt restoration project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Pub. Resources Code, § 21080.56, subd. (e).)

 See All SERP Concurrences

Alternate formats of these documents will be made available upon request. If reasonable accommodation is needed, call CDFW at (916) 322-8911. The California Relay Service for the deaf or hearing-impaired can be utilized from TDD phones at (800) 735-2929. For information on CDFW's CEQA program visit its page.