The following is a press release issued by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:
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 Service is seeking public comment on the assessment and finding for two weeks beginning on December 14. A public information meeting will be held on December 20.
The nest proposed for removal 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 2022 to avoid 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 here: FWS Pacific Southwest Region NEPA documents for eagle permits.
We are accepting public comment for two weeks, from December 14 to December 27, 2022. Please submit written comments to fw8_eaglepermits@fws.gov.
The public is invited to attend a virtual public information meeting and Q&A opportunity on Zoom on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Please use the link below to register and participate.
Zoom meeting registration:
Tuesday, December 20, 2022, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__ECIInVwTBiLhjxZnk8Y0g
Dial-in Number (Toll Free): 877-853-5247
Webinar ID: 827 2290 9155
Passcode: 035089
I’d say move the wire’s. That dead tree would probably hold the nest for years. Especially if the Wildlife Organization reinforced the dying tree also. Dying trees are art also. Some dead trees stay standing for years. Also would be neat if they moved the nest. Secured it somehow to a post or something that would last forever. Be creative. In the long run I bet they’ll move the wire’s somehow down the road for better accessibility why not jump to it now. Let nature take it’s course. One dying tree isn’t much of a fire hazzard. Those electrical lines are more of a fire hazzard. See forest fires they’ll caused repeatedly in and around Los Angeles. Hopefully they solve that. Another thing they could do is plant a new tree into dying tree preferably a Coast Live Oak Tree so it continues to hold that Nest in it’s place for all the Bald Eagles for many years to come. Best of Luck just some Ideas.
Interesting since pg and e ignored the over grown trees around the power station in Potter Valley for years, creating the situation for the ignition of the Redwood Complex fire of 2017. I love how they are trying to give themselves a new responsible look.