Chalan Solar and Storage Project, Kern County, California; Draft Environmental Action Statement and Draft Habitat Conservation Plan

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application and draft habitat conservation plan from Chalan Solar Storage, LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally endangered San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) and giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) incidental to development activities in Kern County, California. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's draft habitat conservation plan (HCP), and the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting action may be eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the Department of the Interior's (DOI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, which are also available for public review. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.