Widening of Existing US 395 Project

The Widening of Existing US 395 Project, under Contract 2, involves an amendment to Incidental Take Permit ITP No. 1927-ITP-2025-004-06-A1 issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, authorizing the incidental take of twelve western Joshua trees as part of highway improvements along approximately seven miles of US-395 in San Bernardino County, from post mile R4.0 to PM 11.2. The amendment permits the removal of twelve trees, the relocation of two trees, and the avoidance of nine additional trees, all in compliance with the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act and the California Endangered Species Act. Project activities are overseen by Caltrans District 8 as the lead agency, with regulatory compliance and mitigation verification managed by CDFW under Fish and Game Code Section 1927.3 and CEQA, and a formal Mitigation Monitoring Plan must be strictly followed to ensure ecological protection. The permit amendment was signed on July 6, 2026, and publicly posted on July 7, 2026, with oversight coordinated through key environmental staff at both agencies. No federal acquisition regulations apply, as the project operates entirely under state environmental and wildlife statutes, and no formal contract value, pricing structure, or procurement evaluation criteria are disclosed in the available documentation. All environmental mitigation actions, including tree relocation and monitoring, represent the core performance requirements, with no traditional commercial or logistical conditions outlined.