Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative Project Eagle Permit NEPA Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received an application from the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative requesting eagle take coverage under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The application requested authorization for disturbance and loss of breeding productivity of golden eagles associated with activities related to a project to harden the system along a portion of the Applicant’s overhead powerline in Plumas County, California. Project activities include hazard tree removal and associated slash abatement, vegetation clearing on the utility easement, replacement of existing power poles, and clearing of seasonal roads. Project activities will occur over one construction season in 2024, with necessity for completing the Project prior to increased fire risk during the dry season of 2024. These activities may disturb a golden eagle pair nesting in the vicinity of the project, which may prevent them from breeding and producing offspring.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, to assess impacts of the proposed action of issuance of the requested eagle disturbance take Specific Permit to the applicant, as well as alternatives to the proposed action. The proposed action of issuing a permit requires implementation of measures to avoid and minimize adverse effects to eagles to the maximum extent practicable and compensatory mitigation to fully offset eagle take. Details of the minimization measures and compensatory mitigation can be found in the EA. The analysis detailed in the EA resulted in selection of the proposed action and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI and final EA documents are provided here.