CEQA Notices and Documents

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

• Comments must be received by April 24, 2022, by 5:00 p.m.
• Please send all comments to: Julia.Karo@wildlife.ca.gov (subject line: "Nipton Communications Site Project IS/MND Comments").
• Final Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration (PDF) and associated appendices (PDF)

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.

Availability of the Notice of Preparation for the Southern California Gas Company California Desert Conservation Area Operations and Maintenance Long-Term Incidental Take Permit (PDF) (SCH No. 2022010302). Southern California Gas operates and maintains approximately 1,100 miles of transmission pipelines and 308 miles of main distribution pipelines with the California Desert Conservation Area and have been conducting operations and maintenance on its pipeline network within the area for more than 70 years. Southern California Gas proposes to pursue an Incidental Take Permit from CDFW for its operations and maintenance activities in the California Desert Conservation Area. The Project area encompasses San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Kern County.

• Revised Notice of Preparation for the Southern California Gas Company California Desert Conservation Area Operations and Maintenance Long-Term Incidental Take Permit (PDF)
• Comments must be received by March 28, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. 
• Comments may be emailed to: Alisa.Ellsworth@wildlife.ca.gov; subject line: "SoCalGas O&M - NOP Scoping Comments"
• An online Public Scoping Meeting was be held on February 2, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact for the Shasta River Template Safe Harbor Agreement (SCH No. 2022010174). The Project is the issuance of up to 11 Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) agreements for ranches and irrigation districts located in the Shasta River and Parks Creek basins. Project activities covered include operation and maintenance of surface water diversions, maintaining stream crossings and cattle watering lanes, and implementing Beneficial Management Activities.

• Comments must be received by February 28, 2022, by 5:00 p.m.
• Send comments to: R1CEQARedding@wildlife.ca.gov (subject line: "MND Comments for Shasta River Template Safe Harbor Agreement Klamath River Basin, California").