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 RuleDescriptionLast Day to CommentLinks
Draft Categorical
Exclusion and 
Draft HCP for Azalea Hybrid Power Park		The Service is accepting comments on a a draft Categorical Exclusion and draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) for the Azalea Hybrid Power Project in Kern County, California. The draft HCP covers activities associated with the site preparation, infrastructure development, construction, and decommissioning of a 60-megawatt (MW) solar facility located on 560 acres of grassland. The draft HCP also covers activities related to the management of a 210-acre conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.

Learn more about conservation easement area in Kings County. If finalized, the permit would extend over a 35-year term.		June 12, 2024

Federal Register Notice

Comment Here: The draft HCP and draft Categorical Exclusion will are available on regulations.gov by searching for Docket Number FWS-R8-ES-2024-0046.