SACRAMENTO - The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the issuance of incidental take permit (ITP) associated with the Maricopa Sun Solar Complex Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for their proposed solar energy facility in Kern County.
The permit covers impacts to at-risk species associated with construction, operation, and decommissioning of a 700-megawatt solar facility. The permit also covers the HCP conservation actions for the project site that covers 5,784.3 acres in southwest Kern County, California. The project is made up of multiple parcels and located approximately six to twenty miles east of Taft along South Lake Road and along Copus Road.
Under the Endangered Species Act, private landowners, like Maricopa Sun, may apply for a permit to take
federally protected species while conducting otherwise legal activities on their land. To obtain an ITP, the applicant must develop an HCP that details actions to minimize impacts and specifies measures to offset the impacts of the proposed development.
The ITP requested by Maricopa Sun, LLC from the Service will cover three federally listed species: Blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila), Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), and San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica). The following two federally non-listed species are also included: Western Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) and Nelson’s antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni). These five species are collectively referred to as Covered Species.
In addition to including avoidance and minimization measures to reduce impacts, the HCP’s conservation strategy compensates for unavoidable effects to Covered Species and their habitat. Existing Covered Species habitat totaling 1,894.4 acres will be permanently conserved and conservation easements will be placed on 3,798.2 acres of proposed solar site development land. These conservation easements will allow solar development, operation and decommissioning during the 35-year term of the HCP followed by management of these sites in perpetuity for the benefit of the Covered Species. The HCP will result in the permanent conservation of a total of 5,692.6 acres of Covered Species habitat. The issuance of an ITP may not occur until after public review of the FEIS and formal acceptance of the HCP and at least 30 days following today's published date.
More information about this project is available online at www.fws.gov/sacramento
To request further information, please use one of the following methods, and note that your information request is in reference to the Maricopa Sun Solar Complex Habitat Conservation Plan.
• U.S. Mail: 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825-1846.
• In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call (916) 414-6600 to make an appointment during regular business hours to drop off comments or view received comments at the above location.
• Fax: Justin Sloan or Mike Thomas, (916) 414-6713, Attn.: Maricopa Sun Solar Complex Habitat Conservation Plan.
