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

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State & Local

Contract Overview

Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.

AI Contract Overview

The High Desert Operational Efficiency Project, led by Caltrans District 8 and implemented by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, involves the construction of two staging tracks and an 11-mile main track extension in Hesperia, California. The primary objective of the project is to increase operational flexibility and reduce rail delays. To accommodate this, an Incidental Take Permit amendment (No. 2081-2025-031-06-A1) was issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, authorizing the expansion of the project footprint by 101.25 acres within the BNSF right-of-way. This expansion results in the permanent removal of 10.77 acres of western Joshua tree habitat and the incidental take of 10 individual trees, a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act. The project is subject to a statutory exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act for mass transit projects on existing rights-of-way. Key personnel overseeing the project include Sameh Hegazi for Caltrans, Emily Leon for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Jason Sanchez for BNSF. The project is currently categorized as a forecast with a referenced date of August 3, 2026.

General Info

Amendment permits incidental take of Joshua trees for 11-mile rail extension and two staging tracks near Hesperia, California.

Agency

California → Caltrans, District 8 - San Bernardino/Riverside

NAICS

541620 - Environmental Consulting ServicesView NAICS

Place of Performance

Hesperia, CA

Set-Aside

NONE

Documents

(1)

Notice of Exemption for High Desert Operational Efficiency Project ITP Amendment 2081(b)-2025-031-06-A1

PDF•notice-of-exemption

AI Contract Breakdown

Uniform Contract Format

Timeline

PostedAug 3

forecast

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Organization & Contact Information

AgencyCalifornia → Caltrans, District 8 - San Bernardino/Riverside

Contacts3 people available

OfficeN/A

Organization / Agency

California → Caltrans, District 8 - San Bernardino/Riverside

Office AddressN/A

Contacts

Sameh HegaziProject Manager

contact@example.gov

+1 (555) 000-0000

Emily LeonEnvironmental Scientist

contact@example.gov

+1 (555) 000-0000

Jason SanchezProject Planner

contact@example.gov

+1 (555) 000-0000

Full Description

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued an ITP amendment (No. 2081-2024-032-06-A1), pursuant to Section 2081(b) of the Fish and Game Code to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (Permittee). According to lead agency California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Burlington Northern Santa Fe in conjunction with Caltrans proposes to construct two staging tracks and an approximately 11-milelong main track extension to increase operational flexibility and reduce rail delays. Please see Attachment 1 for more information. This ITP amendment authorizes the Permittee to expand the Project footprint boundary by additional 101.25 acres to accommodate additional grading within the Permittees right-of way. The Project will result in impacts to 10.77-acres of additional impacts to western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) habitat/seedbank including the removal of an additional 10 individuals. The Project will permanently remove an additional 10.77-acres of western Joshua tree habitat/seedbank. The Project is expected to result in incidental take of western Joshua tree, which is/are designated as a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The ITP amendment referenced above as issued by CDFW authorizes incidental take of species listed under CESA that may occur as a result of Project implementation.