The Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office has published the following items in the Federal Register for the public to review and submit comments to the Service. Comments can be submitted through Regulations.gov or by following additional instructions provided in the Federal Register notice.
| Proposed Rule | Description | Last Day to Comment | Links |
|---|
| Proposal to Delist White Sedge | The Service is proposing to delist white sedge (Carex albida) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) because the species no longer warrants protection under the Act. White sedge was listed as endangered in 1997. At that time, this species was known from a single site: Pitkin Marsh in Sonoma County, California. While early analysis of the population at Pitkin Marsh had indicated it to be a unique sedge species, recent thorough analyses of white sedge have found it to be indistinguishable from Lemmon’s sedge (C. lemmonii), a California endemic species that is common and wide-ranging. There is no longer a scientific justification for considering white sedge a distinct species from Lemmon’s sedge in need of protection under the ESA.
| Sept. 3, 2024 | Federal Register Notice Comment Here: The proposal is available on regulations.gov by searching for Docket Number FWS-R8-ES-2023-0088. |
| Draft Environmental Assessment and Proposed Pacific Gas and Electric Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle Operation and Maintenance Habitat Conservation Plan | The Service announced the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment and draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) for public review and comment. The draft HCP covers future operations, maintenance and minor construction associated with critical utility infrastructure and services provided by PG&E that may impact valley elderberry longhorn beetles, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The 477,746-acre permit area covers activities in 12 California counties, including Solano, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Alameda, Stanislaus, Merced, Napa, Santa Clara, San Benito, Fresno, Mariposa and Madera counties. | Aug. 9, 2024 | Federal Register Notice Comment Here: The draft EA and HCP are available on regulations.gov by searching for Docket Number FWS-R8-ES-2024-0120 |
| Draft Pelicans Jaw Hybrid Solar Project Categorical Exclusion and Habitat Conservation Plan | The Service announced the availability of a draft Categorical Exclusion and draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Pelicans Jaw Hybrid Solar Project in Kern County, California. The draft HCP, prepared by Pelicans Jaw Solar, LLC, proposes to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a 500-MW photovoltaic (PV) solar project located on 3,262 acres of privately-owned grassland. Approximately 2,975 acres of the project site would be developed with facilities to generate and store solar energy. The draft HCP also proposes to conserve 3,993 acres of high-quality grassland habitat. If finalized, the permit would extend over a 39-year term. | Aug. 9, 2024 | Federal Register Notice Comment Here: The draft HCP and CatEx are available on regulations.gov by searching for Docket Number FWS-R8-ES-2024-0076 |
