[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 148 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39978-39979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19405]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an
Application for an Incidental Take Permit for Pacific Gas and Electric
Company's Blackhawk Distribution Feeder Main Natural Gas Pipeline,
Contra Costa County, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises that the Pacific Gas and Electric Company
has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an
incidental take permit pursuant to of the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (Act). The application has been assigned permit number
PRT-817075. The proposed permit would authorize the incidental take of
the federally threatened California red-legged frog (Rana aurora
draytonii) and/or its habitat during the installation and operation of
a natural gas distribution pipeline. The permit would be in effect for
three years.
The Service also announces the availability of an environmental
assessment for the incidental take permit application, which includes
the proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) fully describing the
proposed project and mitigation, and the accompanying Implementing
Agreement. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(a) of the Act
and National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). All
comments, including names and addresses, received will become part of
the official administrative record and may be made available to the
public.
DATES: Written comments on the permit application, environmental
assessment and Implementing Agreement should be received on or before
August 30, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the application or adequacy of the
environmental assessment and Implementing Agreement should be addressed
to, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Field Office, 3310 El
Camino, Suite 130, Sacramento, California 95821-6340. Please refer to
permit number PRT-817075 when submitting comments. Individuals wishing
copies of the application, environmental assessment or Implementing
Agreement for review should immediately contact the above office.
Documents will also be available for public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Horton or Ms. Tiki Baron,
Sacramento Field Office, 916-979-2725.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act prohibits the
``taking'' of a species listed as threatened or endangered. However,
the Service, under limited circumstances, may issue permits to take
listed species incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful
activities. Regulations governing permits for threatened species are
promulgated at 50 CFR 17.32.
Background
Pacific Gas and Electric Company proposes to install and operate a
4-mile-long buried natural gas pipeline within a 50-foot-wide right-of-
way in the vicinity of San Ramon, Contra Costa County, California. The
site is located east and south of San Ramon, California. Pacific Gas
and Electric Company seeks coverage for the temporary disturbance of
habitat and potential direct take of the California red-legged frog on
approximately 5 acres of the project site. To compensate for project
impacts, Pacific Gas and Electric Company will develop and implement a
plan to acquire, enhance, maintain, restore and/or create and monitor
approximately 10 acres of suitable California red-legged frog habitat
(two acres of compensation habitat for every one acre of habitat
disturbed) within the San Francisco Bay/Suisun Bay watershed. In
addition, the approximately 5 acres of temporarily disturbed habitat
would be restored to suitable California red-legged frog habitat. Other
measures are specified in the Habitat Conservation Plan to minimize the
potential for take during installation activities.
The environmental assessment considers the environmental
consequences of four alternatives. The no project alternative would
result in no
[[Page 39979]]
immediate environmental impacts. However, this alternative does not
satisfy the purpose and need of the proposed project (to supply natural
gas in a safe and reliable manner) and may adversely impact the local
economy if natural gas service was curtailed or limited. This
alternative was rejected because it would prevent Pacific Gas and
Electric Company from meeting its customer demands, its legal mandate
and the California Public Utilities Commission's mandate to provide
safe, adequate and reliable natural gas service. Alternative 2 would
utilize an existing utility right-of-way to install and operate the
proposed natural gas pipeline. This alternative alignment is longer
than the proposed alignment and therefore more expensive to install. In
addition, this alignment would require additional seismic fault
protection and may encounter future land use conflicts. Although this
alternative would likely result in fewer initial impacts to the
California red-legged frog, the potential for significant long-term
impacts is greater than with the proposed alternative. Alternative 3
would utilize an existing road franchise along Dougherty Road for
pipeline installation. This currently unpaved road would be closed to
traffic during pipeline installation and portions of the road would
need to be reconstructed and improved following installation. Thus,
while Alternative 3 would entail fewer initial impacts to the
California red-legged frog, the potential long-term impacts resulting
from increased traffic and contaminants from road runoff would likely
be greater than with the proposed alternative. Alternative 4, the
proposed alternative, was selected because: (1) It best satisfies the
needs and purpose of the proposed project; (2) it is likely to result
in a relatively low level of incidental take; and (3) impacts are
minimized and mitigated by the conservation of suitable California red-
legged frog habitat and other measures specified in the Habitat
Conservation Plan.
This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(a) of the Act and
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
The Service will evaluate the application, associated documents, and
comments submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets
the requirements of National Environmental Policy Act regulations and
section 10(a) of the Act. If it is determined that the requirements are
met, a permit will be issued for the incidental take of the listed
species. The final permit decision will be made following a review of
all comments received in response to this notice.
Dated: July 25, 1996.
David L. McMullen,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 96-19405 Filed 7-30-96; 8:45 am]
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