[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71668-71672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27925]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2008-N0296; 1112-000-81420-F2]


Habitat Conservation Plan for Pacific Gas & Electric Company's 
Operation, Maintenance, and Minor New Construction Activities in the 
North Coast, Central Coast, Sacramento Valley, and Sierra Regions, 
California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
and notice of public scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are issuing this notice 
to advise the public that we intend to gather information necessary to 
prepare, in coordination with the California Department of Fish and 
Game (DFG) and Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), a joint 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) on 
the PG&E Multiple-Region (North Coast, Central Coast, Sacramento 
Valley, Sierra) Operations, Maintenance, and Minor New Construction 
Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The HCP is being prepared under 
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Endangered

[[Page 71669]]

Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). PG&E intends to request a permit 
to cover 75 species federally listed as threatened or endangered and 34 
unlisted species that may become listed during the term of the permit. 
The permit is needed to authorize incidental take of listed species 
that could occur as a result of implementing activities covered under 
the HCP.
    The Service provides this notice to: (1) Describe the proposed 
action and possible alternatives; (2) advise other Federal and State 
agencies, affected Tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare an 
EIS/EIR; (3) announce the initiation of a public scoping period; and 
(4) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and 
alternatives to be included in the EIS/EIR.

DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before December 26, 
2008. We will hold a public meeting on Thursday, December 4, 2008, 2 
p.m. to 4 p.m., Sacramento CA.
    A Web conference is scheduled for the same date as the public 
meeting, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Conference Title: PG&E Multiple Region 
HCP EIS/EIR Scoping. In order to hear the audio for the conference, you 
must dial: 877-741-4242, and enter passcode: 1495039, for the operator 
or automated response system. If needed, dial 0 for technical 
assistance. First you must test your browser for compatibility at the 
following URL prior to the web event date: https://www112.livemeeting.com/cc/test2007/join?id=LiveMeeting2007Test&role=attend&cn=user&pw=&recording&_agreement=accepted&placewareLicenseCookie=true
    Please note that this is only the browser check link and not the 
link to the actual event. Once you have successfully joined the test 
meeting, you may exit. Second, join conference 10 minutes prior to 
event start: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/vcc/join?id=w1495039&role=attend&pw=A149503. If you have problems entering 
the conference using the above link, please type in the meeting URL: 
https://www119.livemeeting.com/cc/vcc/join and enter the Meeting ID: 
w1495039, and Entry Code: A149503, when prompted.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the following location: 
Thursday, December 4, 2008, at the Evelyn Moore Community Center, 1402 
Dickson Street, Sacramento, CA.
    Information, written comments, or questions related to the 
preparation of the EIS/EIR and NEPA process should be submitted to Eric 
Tattersall, Chief, Conservation Planning and Recovery Division, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 
Cottage Way, W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825; Fax 916-414-6713.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Tattersall, Chief, Conservation 
Planning and Recovery Division, at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife 
Office at 916-414-6600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Reasonable Accommodation

    Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and 
participate in the public meeting should contact Eric Tattersall at 
916-414-6600 as soon as possible. In order to allow sufficient time to 
process requests, please submit them at least 1 week before the public 
meeting. Information regarding this proposed action is available in 
alternative formats upon request.

Background

    Section 9 of the Act and Federal regulations prohibit the ``take'' 
of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. Under 
the Act, the following activities are defined as take: To harass, harm, 
pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect listed 
animal species, or attempt to engage in such conduct [16 U.S.C. 
1532(19)]. However, under Section 10(a) of the Act, we may issue 
permits to authorize ``incidental take'' of listed species. 
``Incidental take'' is defined by the Act as take that is incidental 
to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. 
Regulations governing permits for threatened species and endangered 
species, respectively, are at 50 CFR 17.32 and 50 CFR 17.22.
    Take of listed plant species is not prohibited under the Act and 
cannot be authorized under a Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit. However, plant 
species may be included on a permit in recognition of conservation 
benefits provided for them under the HCP. All species included on the 
permit would receive assurances under the Service's ``No Surprises'' 
regulation 50 CFR 17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5).
    Currently, PG&E intends to request a permit for 109 species under 
the HCP: 75 listed and 34 unlisted species (covered species) (Table 1). 
This proposed species list may change during the development of the 
HCP. Specific PG&E regions in the Plan Area are abbreviated as follows: 
CC = Central Coast, NC = North Coast, S = Sierra, and SV = Sacramento 
Valley. Categories of listing status (Federal, under the Act) are 
abbreviated as follows: N = not listed, D = de-listed, C = candidate, T 
= threatened, and E = endangered.

                                        Table 1--Proposed Covered Species
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              PG&E regions
                             Species                              ------------------------------------  Listing
                                                                      CC       NC       S        SV     status *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invertebrates
    Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio)..........  .......  .......  .......       X          E
    Vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi)...............       X   .......  .......       X          T
    Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela ohlone).......................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus     .......  .......  .......       X          T
     dimorphus)..................................................
    Smith's blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi)...........       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Kern primrose sphinx moth (Euproserpinus euterpe)............       X   .......  .......  .......         T
    Morro shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta walkeriana)........       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi)..............       X   .......  .......       X          E
    Lotis blue butterfly (Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis)..........  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Shasta crayfish (Pacifastacus fortis)........................  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata)................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Behren's silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene behrensii)....  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Zayante band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis)...       X   .......  .......  .......         E
Amphibians:
    California tiger salamander--Central California Distinct       .......  .......       X        X          T
     Population Segment (Ambystoma californiense)................

[[Page 71670]]

 
    California tiger salamander--Santa Barbara County Distinct          X   .......  .......  .......         E
     Population Segment (Ambystoma californiense)................
    Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum            X   .......  .......  .......         E
     croceum)....................................................
    Tehachapi slender salamander (Batrachoseps stebbinsi)........       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Arroyo toad (Bufo californicus)..............................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Shasta salamander (Hydromantes shastae)......................  .......       X   .......       X          N
    California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii)...........       X        X        X        X          T
    Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii)....................  .......       X   .......       X          N
    Mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa)...................  .......  .......       X   .......          C
    Southern torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus)........  .......       X   .......  .......         N
Reptiles:
    Western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata).       X        X   .......       X          N
    Blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia silus)..................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas)........................  .......  .......  .......       X          T
Birds:
    Tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor).....................       X        X        X        X          N
    Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).............................       X        X        X        X          N
    Western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia)...................       X   .......  .......       X          N
    Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)..................       X        X   .......  .......         T
    Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni)............................  .......  .......  .......       X          N
    Western snowy plover--Pacific Coast Population (Charadrius          X        X   .......  .......         T
     alexandrinus nivosus).......................................
    Western yellow-bill cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis)       X   .......  .......       X           C
    Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii).......................       X   .......  .......       X          N
    Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)..       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum)..........       X        X        X        X          D
    Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)........................       X        X        X        X          D
    California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus)..       X        X   .......       X          N
    California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis                    X   .......  .......  .......       E**
     californicus)...............................................
    Purple martin (Progne subis).................................  .......  .......  .......       X          N
    California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus)......       X        X   .......       X          E
    Great gray owl (Strix nebulosa)..............................  .......       X        X        X          N
    Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)............  .......       X   .......       X          T
    Least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus)...................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
Mammals:
    San Joaquin antelope ground squirrel (Ammospermophilus              X   .......  .......  .......         N
     nelsoni)....................................................
    Point Arena mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra)..........  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens)........................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Fisher--West Coast Distinct Population Segment (Martes         .......       X        X        X           C
     pennanti)...................................................
    San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica).................       X   .......  .......       X          E
Plants:
    McDonald's rock-cress (Arabis mcdonaldiana)..................  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Hearst's Manzanita (Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. hearstiorum).       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Morro Manzanita (Arctostaphylos morroensis)..................       X   .......  .......  .......         T
    Marsh sandwort (Arenaria paludicola).........................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Coastal dunes milk-vetch (Astragalus tener var. titi)........       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    San Benito evening-primrose (Camissonia benitensis)..........       X   .......  .......  .......         T
    California jewel-flower (Caulanthus californicus)............       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Hearst's ceanothus (Ceanothus hearstiorum)...................       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Maritime ceanothus (Ceanothus maritimus).....................       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Purple amole (Chlorogalum purpureum)--includes both                 X   .......  .......  .......         T
     Chlorogalum purpureum var. purpureum and Chlorogalum
     purpureum var. reductum.....................................
    Howell's spineflower (Chorizanthe howellii)..................  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana)       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Monterey spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens)......       X   .......  .......  .......         T
    Scott's Valley spineflower (Chorizanthe robusta var.                X   .......  .......  .......         E
     hartwegii)..................................................
    Robust spineflower (Chorizanthe robusta var. robusta)........       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Chorro Creek bog thistle (Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense).       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    La Graciosa thistle (Cirsium loncholepis)....................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Pismo clarkia (Clarkia speciosa ssp. immaculata).............       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Salt marsh bird's-beak (Cordylanthus maritimus ssp.                 X   .......  .......  .......         E
     maritimus)..................................................
    Palmate-bracted bird's beak (Cordylanthus palmatus)..........  .......  .......  .......       X          E
    Seaside bird's-beak (Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. littoralis)...       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Santa Cruz cypress (Cupressus abramsiana)....................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Gowen cypress (Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana)...........       X   .......  .......  .......         T
    Gaviota tarplant (Deinandra increscens ssp. villosa).........       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Indian Knob mountain balm (Eriodictyon altissimum)...........       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Lompoc yerba santa (Eriodictyon capitatum)...................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Butterworth's buckwheat (Eriogonum butterworthianum).........       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Red Mountain (Kelloggs') buckwheat (Eriogonum kelloggii).....  .......       X   .......  .......          C
    Loch Lomond button-celery (Eryngium constancei)..............  .......       X   .......  .......         E

[[Page 71671]]

 
    Menzies' wallflower (Erysimum menziesii)--includes both......
    Erysimum menziesii ssp. eurekense and Erysimum menziesii ssp.  .......       X   .......  .......         E
     yadonii.....................................................
    Santa Cruz wallflower (Erysimum teretifolium)................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Monterey gilia (Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria)..............       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Santa Cruz tarplant (Holocarpha macradenia)..................       X   .......  .......  .......         T
    Burke's goldfields (Lasthenia burkei)........................  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Contra Costa goldfields (Lasthenia conjugens)................  .......       X   .......       X          E
    Beach layia (Layia carnosa)..................................  .......       X   .......       X          E
    Western lily (Lilium occidentale)............................  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Nipomo Mesa lupine (Lupinus nipomensis)......................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Tidestrom's (clover) lupine (Lupinus tidestromii)............       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    San Joaquin woolly-threads (Monolopia congdonii).............       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Few-flowered navarretia (Navarretia leucocephala ssp.          .......       X   .......  .......         E
     pauciflora).................................................
    Many-flowered navarretia (Navarretia leucocephala ssp.         .......       X   .......  .......         E
     plieantha)..................................................
    Lake County stonecrop (Parvisedum leiocarpum)................  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Dudley's lousewort (Pedicularis dudleyi).....................       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    White-rayed pentachaeta (Pentachaeta bellidiflora)...........       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Yadon's piperia (Piperia yadonii)............................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    San Francisco popcorn-flower (Plagiobothrys diffusus)........       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Santa Lucia mint (Pogogyne clareana).........................       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Scott's Valley polygonum (Polygonum hickmanii)...............       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Hickman's cinquefoil (Potentilla hickmanii)..................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Gambel's watercress (Rorippa gambellii)......................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Adobe sanicle (Sanicula maritime)............................       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Red Mountain stonecrop (Sedum eastwoodiae)...................  .......       X   .......  .......          C
    Cuesta Pass checkerbloom (Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. anomala)...       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Parish's checkerbloom (Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. parishii).....       X   .......  .......  .......          C
    California seablite (Suaeda californica).....................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
    Santa Ynez false lupine (Thermopsis macrophylla).............       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Kneeland Prairie penny-cress (Thlaspi californicum)..........  .......       X   .......  .......         E
    Pacific Grove clover (Trifolium polyodon)....................       X   .......  .......  .......         N
    Monterey clover (Trifolium trichocalyx)......................       X   .......  .......  .......         E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
* Species with listing status of D or N are included in the Plan as covered species, in case they become listed
  during the course of the HCP.
** The California brown pelican was proposed for delisting by the Service on February 20, 2008 (73 FR 9408).

    The Plan Area includes approximately 550,000 acres and includes the 
right-of-way surrounding gas and electric transmission and distribution 
facilities, the lands owned by PG&E and/or subject to PG&E easements 
for these facilities, private access routes associated with PG&E's 
activities, future minor new construction areas, and mitigation areas 
for impacts resulting from PG&E's activities. The Plan Area includes 
the network of PG&E facilities in 36 counties, including 18 counties 
within the Sacramento Valley region, 20 counties within the Sierra 
region (of which 12 overlap with Sacramento Valley), 6 counties within 
the Central Coast region, and 4 counties within the North Coast region. 
The Sacramento Valley region includes the following counties: Tuolumne, 
Calaveras, Amador, Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Butte, Glenn, Yuba, El 
Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumas, Colusa, Tehama, Trinity, and 
Shasta. The counties within the Sierra region include: Modoc, Siskiyou, 
Lassen, Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yuba, El 
Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Alpine, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, 
and Tulare. The Central Coast region consists of the following 
counties: Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa 
Barbara, and Kern. The North Coast region consists of the following 
counties: Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, and Lake.
    Activities that may be covered under the HCP include a variety of 
tasks associated with the operation, maintenance, and minor new 
construction of PG&E's gas and electric transmission and distribution 
system, as mandated for public safety by the California Public 
Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission, and the 
California Department of Transportation. More specifically, these 
activities may include: gas pipeline protection, recoating, repair, and 
replacement; electric line protection, repair, reconductoring, and 
replacement; electric pole repair/replacement; vegetation management to 
maintain clearances around facilities; and minor construction for new 
gas and electric extensions. The HCP would not cover operation, 
maintenance, or construction of power generation facilities. The 
Service, DFG, and PG&E are now considering components of a conservation 
program in the HCP. These components would include measures to avoid, 
minimize, and mitigate take, such as preservation, restoration, and 
enhancement of habitat. The HCP will also include measures for 
monitoring and adaptive management. This conservation program would 
focus on providing long-term protection of covered species by 
protecting biological communities in the Plan Area. The Service 
anticipates that PG&E will request a permit duration of 50 years.

Environmental Impact Statement/Report

    The joint document will be prepared in compliance with NEPA and the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Service and DFG will 
prepare the EIS/EIR, the Service will be responsible for the scope and 
content of the document for NEPA purposes, and DFG will be responsible 
for the scope

[[Page 71672]]

and content of the CEQA document, as the State lead agency pursuant to 
CEQA and the permitting entity pursuant to the California Endangered 
Species Act and Fish and Game Code 2081.
    The EIS/EIR will consider the proposed action (i.e., the issuance 
of a Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit under the Act based on the proposed 
HCP) and a reasonable range of alternatives. A detailed description of 
the proposed action and alternatives will be included in the EIS/EIR. 
It is anticipated that several alternatives will be developed, which 
may vary by the level of conservation, impacts caused by the proposed 
activities, permit area, covered species, or a combination of these 
factors. Additionally, a No Action alternative will be considered. 
Under the No Action alternative, the Service would not issue a Section 
10(a)(1)(B) permit.
    The EIS/EIR will also identify potentially significant impacts on 
land use and planning, agricultural resources, biological resources, 
aesthetics, geology and soils, water resources, cultural resources, 
transportation and circulation, noise and vibration, air quality, 
public health/environmental hazards, recreation, environmental justice, 
socioeconomics, and other environmental issues that could occur 
directly or indirectly with implementation of the proposed action and 
alternatives. For all potentially significant impacts, the EIS/EIR will 
identify mitigation measures, where feasible, to reduce these impacts 
to a level below significance.
    This notice of intent is being furnished in accordance with 40 CFR 
Sections 1501.2, 1501.7, 1506.6, and 1508.22 to obtain suggestions, 
comments, and useful information from other agencies and the public on 
the scope of the proposed EIS/EIR, including the significant 
environmental issues deserving of study, the range of actions, the 
range of alternatives, and the range of impacts to be considered. 
Written comments from interested parties are invited to ensure that all 
issues related to the proposed Section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take 
permit application are identified. Comments will only be accepted in 
written form. You may submit written comments by mail, facsimile 
transmission, or in person (see ADDRESSES). Before including your 
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: November 18, 2008.
Richard E. Sayers,
Acting Deputy Regional Director, California and Nevada Region, 
Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. E8-27925 Filed 11-24-08; 8:45 am]
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