Fish and Wildlife Service June 23, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability for public review of the draft Pacific Gas & Electric Company Operations and Maintenance Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan), draft Implementing Agreement (IA), and draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR). This is in response to receipt of an application from Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The Service is considering issuing a 30-year permit to the applicant for the take of 65 species (Covered Species), incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with routine operations and maintenance activities and minor construction for PG&E's gas and electrical distribution facilities, and implementation of the Plan. The activities are proposed to occur within a 12.1 million-acre planning area (Covered Area), located in the San Joaquin Valley, California. We request comments from the public on the permit application and the draft EIS/EIR, both of which are available for review. The permit application includes the proposed Plan and an accompanying draft IA. The Plan describes the proposed action and the measures the applicant will implement to minimize and mitigate take of the proposed Covered Species. To review the documents, see ``Availability of Documents'' in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.