High Desert Operational Efficiency Project (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2025-031-06-A1 (ITP))

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has authorized an amendment to Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2024-032-06-A1 for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, in coordination with Caltrans, to support the High Desert Operational Efficiency Project. The project entails the construction of two staging tracks and an 11-mile main track extension within the railroad’s right-of-way to enhance operational efficiency and reduce rail delays. This expansion increases the project’s footprint by 101.25 acres, primarily to accommodate additional grading activities. The project will result in the permanent loss of 10.77 acres of western Joshua tree habitat, including the removal of 10 additional individual trees, all of which are designated as candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act. The amendment legally permits the incidental take of these protected plants as an unavoidable consequence of authorized construction activities. The lead agency for the project is Caltrans District 8, with primary oversight and environmental coordination managed jointly with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The project is located near Hesperia, California, and the permitting process reflects the state’s compliance with environmental regulations for infrastructure development impacting sensitive habitats. Contact information for key personnel includes Sameh Hegazi as Project Manager at Caltrans, Emily Leon as Environmental Scientist with CDFW, and Jason Sanchez as Project Planner for Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The project remains publicly visible through the CEQA Net portal with the identifier 2026080024, and the amendment is structured to ensure mitigation and regulatory adherence while enabling critical rail infrastructure improvements.