PG&E Potter Valley Project Eagle Nest Removal Permit NEPA Documents

Document - application/pdf

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received an eagle nest removal application from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The Service prepared an Environmental Assessment to assess the impacts of nest removal, which resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact.

The nest requested to be removed is in a dying tree on private property near an existing above-ground electric distribution line servicing a single customer north of the Van Arsdale Reservoir in Mendocino County, California. The pair of bald eagles using the nest in question have an alternate nest they can use in a nearby tree.

PG&E’s removal of the tree (proposed for January 2023 to avoid the eagle breeding season) would eliminate the fire ignition threat posed by the tree and address an existing safety emergency, ensuring health and safety for the public and the nesting eagles.

The Service has determined that a categorical exclusion applies to most one-time bald eagle disturbance permits, and bald eagle nest take permits. Due to public interest over this potential nest removal, the Service prepared an Environmental Assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act to assess impacts of the proposed action and issuance of an eagle nest take permit. The analysis detailed in the Environmental Assessment resulted in selection of the proposed action and a Finding of No Significant Impact. Please find the documents below.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit https://www.fws.gov/cno/or connect with us via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.

Questions:

If you have questions, you may contact:

Contact:

Heather Beeler, Eagle Permit Coordinator

Migratory Bird Program

Pacific Southwest Region

fw8_eaglepermits@fws.gov

Attachments

Attachment	Size
DraftEA-PGE-eagle-nest-removal-permit-2023.pdf797.2 KB	797.2 KB
DraftFONSI-PGE-eagle-nest-removal-permit-2023.pdf271.9 KB	271.9 KB
FinalEA-PGE-eagle-nest-removal-permit-2023.pdf901.52 KB	901.52 KB
FinalFONSI-PGE-eagle-nest-removal-permit-2023.pdf424.87 KB	424.87 KB

Publication date

Dec 14, 2022

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Migratory Birds

The Migratory Bird Program works with partners to protect, restore and conserve bird populations and their habitats for the benefit of future generations by: ensuring long-term ecological sustainability of all migratory bird populations, increasing socioeconomic benefits derived from birds,...

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Eagle Management

Forty years ago, our national symbol, the bald eagle, was in danger of extinction throughout most of its range. Habitat destruction and degradation, illegal shooting, and the contamination of its food source, largely as a consequence of DDT, decimated the eagle population. Habitat protection...

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Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

A large raptor, the bald eagle has a wingspread of about seven feet. Adults have a dark brown body and wings, white head and tail, and a yellow beak. Juveniles are mostly brown with white mottling on the body, tail, and undersides of wings. Adult plumage usually is obtained by the sixth year. In...

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Pacific Southwest

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