Kern River 2003 Expansion Project

The Kern River 2003 Expansion Project, specifically under Major Amendment No. 2 to Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2011-081-06-A2, authorizes the continued operation and maintenance of the Kern River Gas Transmission Company's infrastructure. This scope includes pipelines, meter stations, valve sites, and compressor stations located within San Bernardino County, California. The project area is bounded by Primm, Nevada, to the northeast, Daggett, California, to the southwest, and extends from Freemont Peak near the Kramer Junction to the meter station in Victorville. Approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on September 30, 2025, this amendment extends the project duration for ten years. A primary objective of the amendment is to expand environmental protections under the California Endangered Species Act by adding the western Joshua tree and western burrowing owl as covered species. The permit authorizes the incidental take of these two species, along with the Mohave ground squirrel, desert tortoise, and gilded northern flicker, provided that the company adheres to specific avoidance and minimization conditions. The project is managed through the California State Lands Commission and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.