San Diego Gas & Electric Company Natural Community Conservation Plan Bridge Amendment
1 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022020435
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5
(CDFW)
Document Title
San Diego Gas & Electric Company Natural Community Conservation Plan Bridge Amendment
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/18/2022
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has approved a small amendment, CDFW tracking no. 2835-1995-79-5-A1 (Bridge Amendment), to the San Diego Gas & Electric Company’s (SDG&E) Natural Community Conservation Plan, CDFW tracking no. 2835-1995-79-5 (NCCP), and the associated NCCP permit. SDGE requested the Bridge Amendment because it needs take coverage for its 2022 wildfire risk reduction activities. The Bridge Amendment allows SDG&E to impact an additional 20 acres of habitat from wildfire risk reduction activities provided SDGE complies with all avoidance, minimization, and mitigation requirements of their existing NCCP permit in implementing those activities. This Bridge Amendment provides SDG&E interim take coverage for its wildfire risk reduction activities while
SDG&E and CDFW, in coordination with interested stakeholders, work on a broader
amendment (Major Amendment), and associated review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), that will provide a larger increase in the NCCP’s take coverage while also strengthening the NCCP’s avoidance, minimization, and conservation measures, leading to improved long-term conservation outcomes. The Bridge Amendment will benefit California residents and natural resources by permitting SDG&E to conduct activities to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
Contact Information
Name
Karen Drew
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist, Supervisor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
San Diego Gas & Electric Company service territory in San Diego and southern Orange Counties
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
CDFW approved the Bridge Amendment relying on the CEQA statutory exemption for specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency. (Cal. Pub. Res. Code, § 21080(b)(4); Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15269.) The Bridge Amendment falls within the class because the amendment will allow SDG&E to conduct important wildfire risk reduction activities ahead of and during the 2022 wildfire season. Delaying these activities would create a risk to public health, safety, and welfare through increased risk of catastrophic wildfire. The Bridge Amendment will
allow SDG&E to conduct its wildfire risk reduction activities in the short term while SDG&E and CDFW, and other interested parties, work on a major, long-term amendment to the NCCP and associated environmental review.
County Clerk
San Diego