1 Attachment 

Hi Gerardo:

Please find attached the Biological Assessment for the Pio Pico Energy Center Project for your review and 

comment. 

I have also sent a hard copy to your office via FedEx for delivery this morning. 

Please also confirm that upon EPA approval, you will forward this document to the USFWS and initiate a formal 

BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER, OTAY MESA, SAN 

DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 

Hulse, Lincoln 

to: 

Gerardo Rios 

11/30/2011 09:06 AM 

Cc: 

"Fitzgerald, Maggie", "Dave Jenkins (Apex) (djenkins@apexpowergroup.com)", "Foster, 

Melissa A. (mafoster@stoel.com)", "Steve Hill (SHill@sierraresearch.com)", Gary 

Rubenstein 

Hide Details 

From: "Hulse, Lincoln" <lincoln.hulse@urs.com> Sort List... 

To: Gerardo Rios/R9/USEPA/US@EPA 

Cc: "Fitzgerald, Maggie" <maggie.fitzgerald@urs.com>, "Dave Jenkins (Apex) 

(djenkins@apexpowergroup.com)" <djenkins@apexpowergroup.com>, "Foster, Melissa A. 

(mafoster@stoel.com)" <mafoster@stoel.com>, "Steve Hill (SHill@sierraresearch.com)" 

<SHill@sierraresearch.com>, Gary Rubenstein <GRubenstein@sierraresearch.com>

History: This message has been forwarded. 

Pio Pico Draft Biological Assessment 29Nov2011_Final.pdf

Page 1 of 2

file://C:\Documents and Settings\grios\Local Settings\Temp\notesBAAA25\~web2343.htm 2/27/2012
Section 7 consultation. 

If you have any questions regarding the Biological Assessment, please contact me at 714-648-2824 or 

lincoln.hulse@urs.com 

Thanks,

Lincoln Hulse

Natural Resources Division Manager 

URS Corporation

2020 East 1st Street, Suite 400

Santa Ana, CA 92705

Phone 714-648-2824

Fax 714-433-7701

Mobile 714-227-1992

 

This e-mail and any attachments contain URS Corporation confidential information that may be 

proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or are not the intended recipient, you should 

not retain, distribute, disclose or use any of this information and you should destroy the e-mail and any 

attachments or copies.

Page 2 of 2

file://C:\Documents and Settings\grios\Local Settings\Temp\notesBAAA25\~web2343.htm 2/27/2012
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER

Prepared for

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 9

75 Hawthorne Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

November 2011

Prepared by

2020 East First Street, Suite 400

Santa Ana, CA 92705

Applicant:

Pio Pico Energy Center, LLC
Lincoln Hulse

URS Project Biologist

Maggie Fitzgerald

URS Program Manager
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................... 1-1

2.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 2-1

2.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION.......................................................................................... 2-1

2.2 PURPOSE AND NEED.............................................................................................. 2-6

2.3 HISTORY OF CONSULTATION TO DATE.................................................................. 2-6

3.0 PROPOSED ACTION.................................................................................................................... 3-1

3.1 CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE, SCHEDULE, AND EQUIPMENT.................................... 3-1

3.2 PROJECT FEATURES AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES .......................................... 3-3

3.3 FACILITY OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................... 3-9

3.4 GENERAL AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION MEASURES ..................................... 3-10

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE .................................................................................................... 4-1

4.1 METHODS FOR EVALUATION ................................................................................ 4-1

4.2 GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING................................................................... 4-2

4.3 VEGETATION COMMUNITIES ................................................................................. 4-2

4.4 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS .................................... 4-4

5.0 EFFECTS DETERMINATION ....................................................................................................... 5-1

5.1 DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS ........................................................................... 5-1

5.2 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS.......................................................................................... 5-3

5.2.1 Cumulative Projects................................................................................. 5-3

5.2.2 Nitrogen Deposition................................................................................. 5-9

5.2.3 Determination of Cumulative Effect...................................................... 5-10

5.3 NITROGEN DEPOSITION MITIGATION MEASURES................................................ 5-15

5.4 CONCLUSION....................................................................................................... 5-15

6.0 PREPARERS AND REVIEWERS ................................................................................................. 6-1

7.0 REFERENCES CITED .................................................................................................................. 7-1

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A - RESUMES OF NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIALISTS
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

ii

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1-1. REGIONAL LOCATION ............................................................................................... 2-2

FIGURE 1-2. SITE VICINITY ........................................................................................................... 2-3

FIGURE 4-1. VEGETATION COMMUNITIES/LAND COVER TYPES.................................................... 4-3

FIGURE 5-1. NITROGEN DEPOSITION RESULTING FROM PROJECT ................................................. 5-2

FIGURE 5-2. CUMULATIVE PROJECT LOCATIONS ........................................................................ 5-11

FIGURE 5-3. CUMULATIVE NITROGEN DEPOSITION, NOT INCLUDING PROJECT 

CONTRIBUTION ..................................................................................................................... 5-12

FIGURE 5-4. CUMULATIVE NITROGEN DEPOSITION, INCLUDING PROJECT CONTRIBUTION ......... 5-13

FIGURE 5-5. PROJECT CONTRIBUTION AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL CUMULATIVE 

NITROGEN DEPOSITION......................................................................................................... 5-14

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 3-1. PROJECT SCHEDULE ................................................................................................... 3-1

TABLE 5-1. POTENTIAL PROJECTS CONSIDERED FOR CUMULATIVE EFFECTS................................ 5-3
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

iii

LIST OF ACRONYMS

AFC Application for Certification

amp amperes

API American Petroleum Institute

APN assessor’s parcel number

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials (former name)

BA Biological Assessment

BMPs Best Management Practices

BOP balance-of-plant

CalOSHA California Division of Occupational Safety and Health

CDFG California Department of Fish & Game

CEC California Energy Commission

CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database

CNPS California Native Plant Society

CO Carbon Monoxide

CPUC California Public Utilities Commission

CTG combustion turbine generator

DCS distributed control system

EIR Environmental Impact Report

EPC Engineering, Procurement, and Construction

ESA Endangered Species Act

EWT Enhanced Water Treatment

FWST Final Wastewater Storage Tank

GE General Electric

GPS Global Positioning System

kcmil kilo-circular mil

kg/ha/yr kilograms per hectare per year

km kilometers

kV kilovolts

LHV lower heating value

MMBtu/hr Million British thermal units per hour

MSL Mean Sea Level

MUP Minor Use Permit

MW megawatt

NH3 ammonia

NOx Nitrogen Oxides

OMGP Otay Mesa Generating Project

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OWD Otay Water District

PDCS partial dry-cooling system

PPEC Pio Pico Energy Center

ppmvd parts per million, volumetric dry
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

iv

RFO Request for Offers

RO reverse osmosis

ROW Right of Way

SCR Selective Catalytic Reduction

SDG&E San Diego Gas & Electric

SF6 sulfur hexaflouride

SPA Specific Plan Amendment

SWPPP Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan

TDS total dissolved solids

TM Tentative Map

UF ultra filtration

URS URS Corporation

U.S. United States

USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USGS United States Geological Survey
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

1-1

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Biological Assessment (BA) has been prepared for the Pio Pico Energy Center (PPEC, 

Applicant) project (project) pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.§§ 1531 et seq.). This BA identifies and assesses the potential 

direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the project on any designated critical habitat for the 

Federally-threatened Otay Mesa Tarplant (Dienandra conjugens), the Federally-endangered 

Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino), and the Federally-threatened Coastal 

California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica). 

The project is a proposed simple-cycle power generation project that consists of three General 

Electric (GE) LMS100 natural gas-fired combustion turbine generators (CTGs), emissions 

control systems, and other associated equipment. The total net generating capacity would be 300 

megawatts (MW), with each CTG capable of generating 100MW. The project is located in an 

unincorporated area of San Diego County known as Otay Mesa. The project footprint, defined 

as the area of direct physical disturbance, consists of previously disturbed and developed land 

within the Otay Mesa Business Park, in San Diego County, and is adjacent to the existing Otay 

Mesa Generating Project (OMGP). For the purposes of this document, the project action area is 

defined as the project footprint including areas potentially subject to indirect and/or cumulative 

impacts from nitrogen deposition contributed by the project. 

Based on field studies (e.g., habitat-level and focused-field surveys), consultation with experts, 

and consultation with resource specialists, URS biologists have determined that U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated critical habitat for Federally-listed Otay Tarplant, Quino 

Checkerspot Butterfly, and Coastal California Gnatcatcher occurs approximately 1,500 feet (ft) 

to the east of the project footprint and that only nitrogen deposition resulting from the proposed 

project may indirectly affect these ESA protected species. The San Diego Fairy Shrimp 

(Branchinecta sandiegonensis) is a Federally-listed endangered species that was initially 

considered to have the potential to occur within the project footprint; however, based on field 

studies (e.g., protocol and habitat-level surveys), and consultation with resource specialists 

(Porter 2011), this species is not expected to occur within the action area and the USFWS has 

determined that the project would not affect this species. Consequently, this species is not 

addressed further in this BA. 
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

2-1

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Section 7 of the ESA directs all federal agencies to use their existing authorities to conserve 

threatened and endangered species and, in consultation with the Secretary (i.e., USFWS and/or

National Marine Fisheries Service), ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by 

such agency does not jeopardize listed species or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. 

Section 7 applies to management of federal lands as well as other federal actions that may affect 

listed species such as federal approval of private activities through the issuance of federal 

permits, licenses, or other actions. This document identifies the potential environmental 

biological effects that may result from implementation of the construction and operation of the 

proposed project and a range of other reasonable alternatives. 

An extensive literature search was performed, including resource management plans and other 

available documents containing pertinent information on the species discussed in this BA. For 

the purposes of this document, the action area is defined as the project footprint plus any areas 

indirectly or cumulatively impacted from nitrogen deposition contributed by the project. The 

action area will allow for the adequate assessment of the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects 

of the proposed action on Otay Tarplant, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, and Coastal California 

Gnatcatcher and their respective USFWS-designated critical habitat. The project footprint is 

comprised of a 9.99 acre plant site, a 6.00 acre temporary laydown and parking area, adjacent 

water and stormwater connections, a natural gas pipeline, having a maximum length of 

approximately 10,300 feet, and an electrical transmission line, having a maximum length of 

approximately 2,650 feet.

2.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Facility Location

The project is located in an unincorporated area of San Diego County known as Otay Mesa. It 

occurs within the San Bernardino Meridian, Section 30, Township 18 South, and Range 1 East of 

the Otay Mesa United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-Minute Topographic Quadrangle 

Map (USGS 1975). It is comprised of a 9.99-acre parcel located in the southeast quadrant of the 

Alta Road and Calzada de la Fuente intersection in an industrial park entitled the Otay Mesa 

Business Park (Figure 1-2). The proposed project footprint comprises the entire Assessor’s 

Parcel Number (APN) 648-040-45, and the laydown area is 6.00 acres of APN 648-040-46. A 

natural gas supply pipeline will be constructed along one of two routes to connect the project to 

an existing natural gas supply pipeline. A 230-kilovolts (kV) transmission line will be 

constructed on one of two routes to connect the project to an existing 230-kV switchyard. 

The project is located approximately 2 miles east of Highway 125, 11.5 miles southeast of 

Imperial Beach, 17 miles southeast of the City of San Diego, and 1.5 miles north of the U.S.-

Mexico border (Figures 1-1 and 1-2). Surrounding land uses include two correctional facilities 

(State and County) and the adjacent OMGP, a natural gas-fired electrical generating station.
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PIO PICO

ENERGY CENTER

PROJECT NO.: 29874827

DATE: NOVEMBER 2011

FIGURE 1-1

REGIONAL LOCATION

PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

2-4

Facility Description

PPEC is designed to directly satisfy the San Diego area’s current and long-term requirements for 

peaking and load-shaping generation. As previously stated, the generating facility would consist 

of three GE LMS100 natural gas-fired CTGs. Each CTG is equipped with water injection for 

reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system with 

aqueous ammonia (NH3) injection to further reduce NOx, and an oxidation catalyst to reduce 

carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds emissions. The total net generating 

capacity would be approximately 300MW.

Each CTG would generate approximately 100MW at summer-design ambient conditions. The 

project would have a maximum annual capacity factor of 46% (4,000 hours per year). 

Associated equipment would include emission control systems necessary to meet the proposed 

emission limits. Stack emission NOx in normal operation would be controlled to 2.5 parts per 

million, volumetric dry (ppmvd) corrected to 15% oxygen through a combination of water 

injection in the combustors and operation of the SCR system. The oxidation catalyst would limit 

normal-operation CO stack emissions to 4 ppmvd corrected to 15% oxygen.

Fuel Gas Supply

The CTGs would fire natural gas exclusively. At full load, each CTG would require up to 

approximately 825 million British thermal units per hour (MMBtu/hr) low heating value (LHV) 

of natural gas, for a total plant demand of approximately 2,475 MMBtu/hr LHV. San Diego Gas 

and Electric (SDG&E) would build, own, and operate a gas pipeline from SDG&E’s existing gas 

pipeline to the south and west. The Application for Certification (AFC) filed with the California 

Energy Commission (CEC) proposes two alternate routes for the gas supply line. The June 2011 

AFC Refinement describes the modifications to one of the alternate routes (Modified Gas Line 

Route A). Both routes would connect to an existing SDG&E natural gas pipeline, but at different 

locations. The Modified Gas Line Route A extends approximately 2,375 feet (ft) south along 

Alta Road, then turns west on Otay Mesa Road for approximately 2,700 ft, and then turns south 

on Enrico Fermi Drive for approximately 2,700 ft to Airway Road, at which point it would 

connect to an existing SDG&E natural gas pipeline, for a total of approximately 7,775 ft (Figure 

1-2).. Route B would extend approximately 2,375 ft south along Alta Road, turn west on Otay 

Mesa Road, and continue approximately 7,920 ft to Harvest Road, at which point it would 

connect to the existing SDG&E natural gas pipeline, for a total of approximately 10,300 ft 

(Figure 1-2). The pipeline will be constructed, owned, and operated by SDG&E. 

Water Supply and Discharge

PPEC is designed and intended to use recycled water. Process water uses include plant service 

water, cooling system makeup, combustion turbine NOx injection (after treatment), combustion 

turbine inlet air evaporative cooler makeup, and secondary fire protection water. The CTG 

injection water would be treated using an ultra-filtration (UF) system, a reverse osmosis (RO) 

system, and skid mounted ion exchange vessels. Process water would also serve as a secondary 

source of fire protection water. 

A connection to the Otay Water District (OWD) potable water will supply facility drinking 

water, showers, sinks, toilets, eye wash stations, and safety showers in hazardous chemical areas. 

It would also serve as the facility’s primary source of fire protection water. In the event that 
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

2-5

recycled water is not available upon startup of the project, the project will rely on potable water 

supplied by OWD for all plant needs until such time as recycled water is available.

The project will make a short connection to the potable service system either at an existing 12-

inch main along Calzada de la Fuente or at an existing 24-inch main along Alta Road. Upon the 

OWD’s completion of the planned Otay Mesa area recycled water system, the project will make 

a connection to an existing 8-inch recycled water main along Calzada de la Fuente or a new 

recycled water main to be constructed in Alta Road.

As originally defined in the February 2011 AFC, the two process wastewater streams are the 

cooling system blowdown and the oil/water separator effluent. Both of these streams will be 

routed to the Process Wastewater Collection Tank. Rather than discharge the process wastewater 

from the Process Wastewater Collection Tank to the sewer as originally defined in the February 

2011 AFC, the process wastewater will be conveyed to an added onsite high-pH RO system as 

described in the Enhanced Water Treatment (EWT) System October 2011 AFC Refinement. The 

RO system will recycle 80 to 90% of the treated process wastewater for reuse as makeup water. 

The EWT System reduces both the required supply volume and the final discharge volume. Due 

to high total dissolved solids (TDS), the final wastewater will not be discharged directly to the 

local sewer, but rather stored in a new 20,000 gallon wastewater treatment RO reject tank, to be 

called the Final Wastewater Storage Tank (FWST). Water from the FWST will then be pumped 

into a tanker truck and transported to the City of San Diego’s industrial wastewater disposal 

facility referred to as Pump Station Number 1.. 

The sanitary system will consist of a sewer connection to the existing San Diego County sewer 

designed to handle the sanitary flow from the administration and control building and any 

restrooms located on the site. The sewer connection will be on-site near the administration and 

control building, connecting to the linear sewer line.

Storm water will be managed by employing Best Management Practices (BMPs) that prevent 

soil erosion and impacts on surrounding vegetation. Generally, gravel will be used in lieu of 

concrete and asphalt paving, where possible, to allow for on-site storm water infiltration. 

Remaining storm water will be routed through culverts and swales to an onsite storm water pond 

and then discharged to the Otay Mesa storm water drainage system located along Calzada de la 

Fuente.

Transmission Facilities

The PPEC facility will be interconnected to the SDG&E transmission grid through a newly 

constructed transmission line, which will connect to the existing Otay Mesa switchyard east of 

the facility via one of two proposed new transmission lines. The transmission line route will have 

a right-of-way (ROW) width of 80 ft. The 230-kV generation-tie line connecting the project to 

the existing Otay Mesa switchyard will be constructed using overhead and potentially some 

underground conductors, to be approved by SDG&E. The transmission line will have shield or 

ground wires in place. The transmission structures associated with the PPEC 230-kV 

interconnecting transmission line will include 230-kV pole structures designed to accommodate 

overhead shield/ground wire.
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

2-6

2.2 PURPOSE AND NEED

PPEC is designed to directly satisfy the San Diego area demand for peaking and load-shaping 

generation, both near and long term. The project will improve reliability within the SDG&E 

service territory, complement the increasing use of renewable energy sources through its 10-

minute start and high-efficiency characteristics, and will help offset the loss of power generation 

that resulted from the retirement of the South Bay Power Plant. Upon approval by the California 

Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), SDG&E issued an all-source Request for Offers (RFO) in 

June 2009. The RFO sought demand responses and supply resources to: support reliability within 

the SDG&E service territory; to supply energy to bundled customers; and/or to meet other 

portfolio needs, including Resource Adequacy requirements. The RFO sought seven different 

products, and PPEC, LLC (the Applicant) responded to a request for new local generation 

projects coming online between 2010 and 2014.

2.3 HISTORY OF CONSULTATION TO DATE

This BA reflects the salient discussions, data, and species information exchanged between the 

USFWS, California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), California Energy Commission 

(CEC), and the Applicant during the informal consultation period. The USFWS office in 

Carlsbad, California was contacted in March 2011 to assist PPEC, LLC in determining which, if 

any, threatened, endangered, and/or candidate species occur or could potentially occur in the 

project action area. On March 21, 2011, a site visit was conducted with USFWS, CDFG, and 

CEC to further discuss the project. On August 24, 2011, the CEC Staff held a workshop with 

representatives from the CEC, PPEC, agencies, and members of the public. The agency 

representatives were asked to review the project, draft project documents, and ancillary project 

features to help identify significant environmental issues, species of concern, and the potential 

scope and intensity of direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts to federal and state protected 

species.

In addition to field and office meetings, Applicant convened and facilitated telephone 

conferences with the USFWS and other resource agency staff to gather biological data relating to 

Federally-protected species. These telephone conversations yielded a better understanding of the 

CEC and resource agency perspectives on potential effects and identified pertinent technical 

documents that could be applied to the analysis of effects. Based on these interactions and 

communications, the initial species list and potential construction, operation, and maintenancerelated impacts and proposed mitigation were augmented and refined. The results were then 

further supplemented with findings from the focused field surveys performed in 2010 (URS 

2011). As a result of the informal consultation process, the PPEC’s project-related proposed 

compensation measures were refined to include the following: 

A commitment by the Applicant to contribute funds in support of periodic weeding efforts at 

an approved research and habitat management area that would include periodic weeding of 

non-native plants. Applicant’s contributions will help ensure that the project will have no 

significant adverse effects on biological resources.
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

3-1

3.0 PROPOSED ACTION

3.1 CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE, SCHEDULE, AND EQUIPMENT

Construction for PPEC, from site preparation and grading to commercial operation, is expected 

to require 16 months and begin in 2013, following the CEC approval of the AFC. Startup, 

testing, and commercial operation would begin in 2014.

Project Schedule and Workforce

The major construction schedule milestones are listed in Table 3-1 below. 

Table 3-1. Project Schedule

Activity Date

Begin construction February 2013

Startup and test March 2014

Commercial operation May 2014

The average monthly and peak monthly workforce are projected to be 148 and 284, respectively, 

construction craft people, supervisory, support, and construction management personnel on site 

during construction. The peak construction site workforce level is expected to last from Month 6 

through Month 10 of the construction period following commencement of construction.

Execution Plans – Engineering and Construction Phases

This is an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) type project. As such, a single 

general contractor will be selected for the design, procurement of equipment and services, and 

construction of the facility. Subcontractors will be selected by the general contractor for specialty 

work portions as needed.

Engineering and Pre-Construction Mobilization

Engineering activities will begin with a Limited Notice to Proceed following the CEC Final 

Approval of the project and completion of obligatory discretionary permitting process; which is 

anticipated by Fall 2012. Staff from the engineering and construction groups will work together 

in the same office to prepare a safe, qualitative, cost effective, and sequentially effective plan for 

the project. The initial focus will include the purchase and delivery of engineered equipment and 

specialty, long-lead material. Facility design will include early milestones to complete the civil, 

structural, and mechanical equipment aspects of the project. As the ground breaking occurs and 

site grading commences, the design and procurement will continue to support the overall 

schedule and reliability of the final project. The Contractor is anticipated to mobilize within four 

months after the Limited Notice to Proceed, to begin construction in February 2013.

Construction Facilities

Mobile trailers or similar suitable facilities (e.g., modular offices) will be used as construction 

offices for owner, contractor, and subcontractor personnel.
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

3-2

Construction Parking

Construction parking areas will be within the laydown area, which is to the south of and 

contiguous with the project site. Access to the PPEC site would be via Calzada de la Fuente, 

west of the OMGP, as shown on Figure 1-2. These areas will provide adequate parking space for 

construction personnel and visitors during construction and will be maintained for stability and 

safety.

Laydown and Storage

Areas within the energy center boundary and the 6-acre laydown area immediately to the south 

of the proposed energy center locale will be used as off-load and staging areas (Figure 1-2).

Emergency Facilities

The general contractor will have a safety coordinator who will prepare a site-specific safety plan. 

Emergency services will be coordinated with the County of San Diego Fire Authority and local 

hospital in the City of Chula Vista. An urgent care facility will be contacted to set up nonemergency physician referrals. First aid kits will be provided in the construction offices and 

regularly maintained. At least one person trained in first aid will be part of the construction 

crew. In addition, all foremen and supervisors will be given first aid training.

Construction Utilities

During construction, temporary utilities will be provided for the construction offices, laydown 

area, and the project site. Temporary construction power will initially be provided by a 

connection to the local utility electrical distribution system. Eventually, temporary construction 

power for startup will be supplied by a backfeed connection to the adjacent Otay Mesa 

switchyard. Water trucks and potable water delivery will initially provide construction water. As 

the project matures and the water line connection is completed, the OWD potable water will then 

be used as the source of construction water. Portable toilets will be provided throughout the site 

during construction.

Site Services

The general contractor will provide the following site services:

Environmental health and safety training;

Site security;

Site first aid;

Construction testing (e.g., nondestructive examination, soil compaction);

Site fire protection and extinguisher maintenance;

Furnishing and servicing of sanitary facilities;

Trash collection and disposal; and

Disposal of hazardous materials and waste in accordance with local, state, and federal 

regulations.
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

3-3

Construction Equipment and Materials Delivery

Materials and supplies will be delivered to the project site by truck. Truck deliveries of 

construction materials and equipment will generally occur on weekdays between 6:00 a.m. and 

6:00 p.m.; however, some larger, heavy-load deliveries may be delivered outside those hours. 

PPEC site access will be controlled for both personnel and delivery vehicles.

3.2 PROJECT FEATURES AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES

The following subsections describe the specific project features and construction-related 

activities.

Civil/Structural Features

Overview

The power block will consist of three separate simple-cycle combustion turbine power 

generation trains, each consisting of one GE LMS100 CTG, an air inlet system, an intercooler 

and variable bleed valve silencer, an emission control system, one stack, a power control module, 

an intercooler motor control center, a fuel gas filter/separator, and a generator step-up 

transformer.

In addition to the three combustion turbine power generation trains, there will be a cooling 

system (PDCS), an NH3 storage tank, natural gas compressors, a water treatment facility, and 

two auxiliary transformers. Balance-of-plant (BOP) mechanical and electrical equipment will 

also be present.

The major equipment will be supported on reinforced concrete foundations at grade. Individual 

reinforced pads at grade will be used to support the BOP mechanical and electrical equipment. 

The gas compressors and water treatment equipment will be in an enclosed building(s). 

Stacks

The emission control system will include an integral stack/silencer system. The stack will be a 

100-foot tall self-supporting steel stack and will include the associated appurtenances, such as 

sampling ports, exterior ladders, side step platforms, and electrical grounding.

Buildings

The plant buildings will include a main plant building consisting of an administration and control 

area and warehouse area, a water treatment building, switchgear modules, and gas compressor 

modules. All of the buildings or modules will be supported on mat foundations or individual 

spread footings.

Transformer Foundations and Firewalls

There will be three 13.8-kV to 230-kV generator step-up oil-filled transformers and two 13.8-kV 

to 4.16-kV auxiliary oil-filled transformers. Each will be supported on reinforced concrete 

foundations at grade. Construction of a concrete retention basin around each transformer will 

provide oil containment in the event of a transformer failure. Concrete firewalls will be provided 

as required by the National Fire Protection Association 850, Recommended Practice for Fire 
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

3-4

Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations,

for each step-up transformer and auxiliary transformer to limit a potential transformer fire to its 

concrete basin area.

Yard Tanks

The yard water storage tanks will include the raw water storage tank (500,000 gallons), the 

demineralized water storage tank (240,000 gallons), the process wastewater collection tank 

(95,000 gallons), and final wastewater storage tank (20,000 gallons).

The yard storage tanks will be vertical, cylindrical, field-erected, or shop-fabricated steel tanks. 

Each tank will be supported on a suitable foundation consisting of either a reinforced concrete 

ring wall with an interior bearing layer of compacted sand for the tank bottom or a reinforced 

concrete mat.

Roads

Access to the project site will be through controlled access gates. New roads, miscellaneous 

access drives, and permanent parking areas within the project site boundaries will be asphalt or 

aggregate surfaced roads. Surrounding the equipment will be a perimeter road for fire equipment 

and facility maintenance access. Primary access to the site will be from Calzada de la Fuente, 

and the construction and laydown area access will be from Alta Road or Paseo de la Fuente.

Site Security Fencing

A temporary chain-link security fence surrounding the project site perimeter will enclose the new 

facility during construction. Upon completion of the project, a permanent chain-link security 

fence will encompass the facility. In addition, the facility switchyard will be enclosed within a 

chain-link fence for the safety of the workforce. A controlled-access gate will be located at the 

main entrance from Calzada de la Fuente. During construction, a temporary chain-link security 

fence will be erected around the outside perimeter of the laydown site. This fence will be 

removed at the conclusion of the construction phase.

Site Grading and Drainage

The PPEC plant site will consist of paved roads, paved parking areas, and graveled areas. Storm 

water that does not infiltrate the project site will be routed through culverts and swales to an 

onsite detention pond and then discharged to the Otay Mesa storm water system along Calzada 

de la Fuente. Storm water entering the property from off site will be diverted away from the 

plant area using ditches. The grading and drainage facilities will be designed in accordance with 

the San Diego County Drainage Design Manual, San Diego County Hydrology Manual, and the 

County of San Diego Standard Urban Storm Water Mitigation, and BMPs will be implemented

to reduce erosion and remove silt. 

Prior to construction of PPEC, a Storm water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) will be 

prepared in accordance with the State Water Resources Control Board General Permit for 

Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activities. The SWPPP will be used at 

PPEC to control storm water during the facility’s construction. PPEC will use BMPs, such as 

stabilized construction entrances, silt fencing, berms, hay bales, and detention basins to control 

runoff from all construction areas.
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Site Flood Issues

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the site is outside of the 100-year 

floodplain. 

Earthwork

Excavation activities are expected to be minimal based on previous grading activities conducted 

by the landowner. Excavation work will consist of the removal, storage, and/or disposal of earth, 

sand, gravel, vegetation, organic matter, loose rock, boulders, and debris to the lines and grades 

necessary for construction. Materials suitable for backfill will be stockpiled at designated 

locations using proper erosion-protection methods. 

The site is currently vacant industrial land located immediately west of the OMGP. Graded areas 

will be smooth, compacted, free from irregular surface changes, and sloped to drain. Cut-and-fill 

slopes for permanent embankments will be designed to withstand horizontal ground 

accelerations for Seismic Zone 4. For slopes requiring soil reinforcement to resist seismic 

loading, geogrid reinforcement will be used for fills and soil nailing for cuts. Slopes for 

embankments will be no steeper than 4:1 (horizontal:vertical). Construction will be at existing 

grade, which is fairly level; therefore, major cuts and fills are not anticipated. 

Areas to be backfilled will be prepared by removing unsuitable material and rocks. The bottom 

of an excavation will be examined for loose or soft areas. Such areas will be excavated fully and 

backfilled with compacted fill. 

Backfilling will be done in layers of uniform, specified thickness. Soil in each layer will be 

properly moistened to facilitate compaction to achieve the specified density. To verify 

compaction, representative field-density and moisture-content tests will be performed during 

compaction. Structural fill supporting foundations, roads, and parking areas will be compacted to 

at least 95% of the maximum dry density, as determined by American Society for Testing 

Materials (ASTM) D698. Embankments, dikes, bedding for buried piping, and backfill 

surrounding structures will be compacted to a minimum of 90% of the maximum dry density. 

Backfill placed in remote and/or unsurfaced areas will be compacted to at least 85% of the 

maximum dry density.

Where fills are to be placed on subgrades sloped at 6:1 (horizontal:vertical) or greater, keys into 

the existing subgrade may be provided to help withstand horizontal seismic ground accelerations.

Electrical Interconnection

The new generation will be interconnected to the SDG&E transmission grid through a newly 

constructed transmission line, which will connect to the existing Otay Mesa switchyard east of 

the facility. Two transmission route alternatives are presented in the AFC proceeding. The 

transmission line route will have a ROW width of 80 ft.

Route

Two possible routes are provided for a 230-kV transmission line that will connect the project 

into the existing 230-kV Otay Mesa switchyard. Route A would begin as an overhead power 

line leaving the project site and traverse along Calzada de la Fuente, extend approximately 1,700 
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ft east where it would then be routed underground for approximately 400 ft into the Otay Mesa 

switchyard (total length of Route A would be approximately 2,100 ft). Route B would begin on 

the project site as an underground line and reach an above-ground point within the southwest 

corner of the OMGP project site. From this pole, the above ground portion will remain within the 

OMGP and the Otay Mesa Switchyard, which is a single parcel - APN 648-040-48 (Figure 1-2). 

Access to Structures

The entire interconnection, including construction and O&M phases of the project, will be 

located within the confines of the project site, OMGP site and the SDG&E Otay Mesa 

switchyard. The transmission line will have a 2,100 (Route A) to 2,650-ft span (Route B), 

depending on which alternative route is selected. No access to the electrical interconnection 

facilities will be required across any protected County easements. The public will not have 

access to any portions of the transmission lines or the switchyard.

Natural Gas Supply Pipeline

Natural gas will be delivered to the PPEC plant site from a connection to an SDG&E gas 

transmission line. A new metering and regulator station will be provided on the project site. The 

gas will be metered as it enters the plant. The gas will be compressed as required and directed to 

each CTG. Additional flow metering will be provided at each CTG.

Piping will be installed underground from the connection at the SDG&E gas transmission line to 

the point where it enters the project site. At the project site boundary, the piping will be routed 

to the aboveground gas metering and regulation station and either routed aboveground or below 

ground to the gas compressors. From the gas compressors, the pipeline will be routed 

underground to each CTG. The gas piping system will be constructed of carbon steel materials 

suitable for the design pressures and temperatures. Isolation and control valves will be provided 

as required by design, operational, and safety requirements.

Pipeline Routes

The PPEC project will require the construction of an off-site pipeline to supply natural gas to the 

project site. Two possible routes are proposed. The Modified Gas Line Route A extends 

approximately 2,375 feet south along Alta Road, then turns west on Otay Mesa Road for 

approximately 2,700 feet, and then turns south on Enrico Fermi Drive for approximately 2,700 

feet to Airway Road, at which point it would connect to an existing SDG&E natural gas pipeline, 

for a total of approximately 7,775 ft (Figure 1-2). . Route B would extend approximately 2,375 

ft south along Alta Road, turn west on Otay Mesa Road, and continue approximately 7,920 ft to 

Harvest Road, at which point it would connect to the existing SDG&E natural gas pipeline, for a 

total of approximately 10,300 ft (Figure 1-2).

Buried Pipe

SDG&E will construct all gas pipelines outside of the project site limits up to and including the 

new metering station. Construction will primarily use an open trench method and will comply 

with all requirements for the protection of biological resources.

The pipeline will be constructed of carbon steel in accordance with the American Petroleum 

Institute (API) specifications for gas pipelines or specifications of the ASTM. The pipe will 
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have corrosion-protection coating that is either factory- or field-applied. Joints will be welded, 

inspected using x-ray, and wrapped with a corrosion-protection coating.

Trenching

The trench width depends on the soil type encountered. The pipeline will be buried with a 

minimum 36-inch cover. The excavated soil will be piled on one side of the trench and later 

used for backfilling after the pipe is installed in the trench.

Stringing

The pipe will be laid out (stringing) on wooden skids along the side of the open trench during 

installation.

Installation

Installation consists of:

Welding, coating, and bending of pipe;

Laying sand or fine spoil on the trench floor; and

Lowering the pipe string into the trench.

Welding will meet the applicable API and ASTM standards and will be performed by qualified 

welders. Welds will undergo radiographical inspection by an independent, qualified radiography 

contractor. All coatings will be checked for holidays (i.e. defects) and will be repaired before 

lowering the pipe into the trench.

Backfilling

Backfilling consists of returning excavated soil or slurry fill back into the trench around and on 

top of the pipe and up to the original grade of the surface. The backfill will be compacted to 

protect the stability of the pipe and minimize subsequent subsidence. Backfilling will return the 

trench to the original grade.

Plating

Plating consists of covering any open trenches, for safety purposes, with solid rectangular plates 

in areas of foot or vehicular traffic at the end of a workday. Plywood plates can be used in areas 

of foot traffic and steel plates on areas of vehicular traffic.

Pneumatic Testing

Pneumatic testing consists of plugging both open ends of a pipeline that is to be tested, filling the 

pipe with air up to a pressure specified by code requirements, and maintaining the pressure for a 

period of time.

Cleanup

Cleanup consists of restoring the ground surface by removing construction debris, grading the

surface to its original state, and replanting vegetation.
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Commissioning

Commissioning consists of cleaning and drying the interior of the pipeline, purging air from the 

pipeline, and filling the pipeline with natural gas.

Safety

Measures to ensure safety during construction and maintenance of the pipeline include 

complying with all applicable California Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

(Cal/OSHA), OSHA, and other regulations and standards as well as the contractor’s specific 

safety plans for the project, which will address specific pipeline safety issues. This installation 

will also comply with all of the County of San Diego regulations, as required.

Water Supply

The OWD plans to establish additional recycled water supply in the Otay Mesa area. Recycled 

water will be the primary source of process water for the PPEC. Process water uses include plant 

service water, cooling system make-up, combustion turbine injection, combustion turbine 

evaporative cooler make-up, and secondary fire protection water. Upon the District’s 

commissioning of the proposed Otay Mesa area recycled water system, the project will make a 

connection to a recycled water main either along Calzada de la Fuente or along Alta Road. 

In the event that this system is not available, the project plans to rely on potable water supplied 

by OWD. The project would make short connections to the potable service system either at an 

existing 12-inch main along Calzada de la Fuente, or at an existing 24-inch main along Alta 

Road. Once the project’s process water needs are supplied using recycled water, PPEC’s 

permanent potable water needs would consist of drinking water, showers, sinks, toilets, eye wash 

stations, safety showers, and primary fire protection water. 

Process water uses include plant service water, cooling system makeup, combustion turbine NOx 

injection (after demineralization), and combustion turbine inlet air evaporative cooler makeup. 

The CTG injection water will be demineralized using an UF system, a RO system, and skidmounted ion exchange vessels. Process water will also serve as a secondary source of fire 

protection water.

The connection to OWD potable water will supply facility drinking water, showers, sinks, toilets, 

eye wash stations, and safety showers in hazardous chemical areas. It will also serve as the 

facility’s primary source of fire protection water.

Sewer Line

Sanitary wastewater from the project site will be connected to an existing 12-inch sewer main 

along Calzada de la Fuente along the northern project site boundary.

Industrial wastewater will not be discharged directly to the local sewer, but rather stored in a new 

20,000 gallon FWST. Water from the FWST will then be pumped into a tanker truck and 

transported to the City of San Diego’s industrial wastewater disposal facility.
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3.3 FACILITY OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 

This section discusses operation and maintenance procedures that will be followed by the PPEC 

staff to ensure safe, reliable, and environmentally acceptable operation of the power plant, 

transmission system, and pipelines.

Power Plant Facility

PPEC is designed as a simple-cycle, peaking, and intermediate load facility with three LMS100 

CTGs. The project will be designed to emphasize efficiency and flexibility. Plant operations 

staff will include a total of four operators, four maintenance technicians, one environmental 

technician, one administrative staff member, one operations supervisor, and a plant manager. 

The plant will operate and be staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Plant operations will be 

directed from a control room. All system equipment will be controlled through a programmable 

logic controller or distributed control system (DCS) system, and the project equipment will be 

integrated into this proven control system.

As an intermediate load and peaking facility, each unit will be limited to operate no more than 

the equivalent of approximately 4,000 full-load hours per year. The plant will be dispatched by 

SDG&E in accordance with its economic dispatch procedures. The time required for startup is 

approximately 10 minutes. The SDG&E contract provides for up to 500 startups and shutdowns 

per unit per calendar year in addition to the 4,000 hours of normal operation.

The plant control system will consist of a state-of-the-art, integrated, microprocessor-based DCS. 

The control system will provide for startup, shutdown, and control of plant operation limits and 

will provide protection for the equipment.

The PPEC plant will be designed with automation where practical to reduce the required actions 

performed by operating personnel. Through subsystem automation and use of the DCS, the 

number of individual control switches and indicators that confront the operator will be greatly 

reduced.

The majority of the equipment required to support plant operation will be located in the control 

room and electrical equipment rooms. The control room will contain the DCS-based operator 

workstations and any auxiliary control panels. In addition, the control room will contain the 

alarm, utility, and log printers.

Local control panels or stations will be furnished where operator attention is required to set up a 

system for operation, or where the equipment requires intermittent attention during plant 

operation. Main control room indicators and control functions will be duplicated for those 

variables critical to plant availability.

Transmission System Operation and Maintenance

PPEC will be responsible for the maintenance, inspection, and normal operation of the new 230-

kV interconnecting transmission line, which will be operated and maintained in accordance with 

industry general practice and SDG&E interconnection requirements.
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Pipelines

SDG&E will own, operate, and maintain the natural gas pipeline from the existing fuel gas 

supply lines in accordance with applicable Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and U.S. 

Department of Transportation regulations. This piping system will be inspected periodically as 

part of SDG&E’s pipeline maintenance program. 

Sanitary wastewater will be discharged to the San Diego County’s sewer system via a short 

connection to an existing sewer main in Calzada de la Fuente along the north project site 

boundary. As previously described industrial wastewater, will not be discharged directly to the 

local sewer, but rather stored in a new 20,000 gallon FWST. Water from the FWST will then be 

pumped into a tanker truck and transported to the City of San Diego’s industrial wastewater 

disposal facility. 

3.4 GENERAL AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION MEASURES

The minimization and avoidance measures provided below are part of the overall commitment to 

avoid or minimize impacts on the local biological resources. project. Section 5.3 includes 

mitigation to specifically address potential effects on Federally-listed species and their critical 

habitat.

The project owner will assign a Designated Biologist to the project during construction 

who shall:

o Advise the project owner’s Construction and Operation Managers on the 

implementation of the biological resources Conditions of Certification;

o Be available to supervise, conduct, and coordinate mitigation, monitoring, and other 

biological resources compliance efforts, particularly in areas requiring avoidance or 

containing sensitive biological resources, such as special-status species or their 

habitat;

o Clearly mark sensitive biological resource areas and inspect these areas at appropriate 

intervals for compliance with regulatory terms and conditions;

o Inspect active construction areas where animals may have become trapped prior to 

construction commencing each day. At the end of the day, inspect for the installation 

of structures that prevent entrapment or allow escape during periods of construction 

inactivity. Periodically inspect areas with high vehicle activity (i.e., parking lots) for 

animals in harm’s way;

o Notify the project owner of any noncompliance with any biological resources 

Condition of Certification; and

o Require a halt to all activities in any area when determined that there would be an 

unauthorized adverse impact to biological resources if the activities continued.

The project owner will develop and implement a Worker Environmental Awareness 

Program (WEAP) by which each of its employees, as well as employees of contractors 

and subcontractors who work on the project site or any related facilities during site 

mobilization, ground disturbance, grading, construction, operation and closure, is 
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informed about sensitive biological resources associated with the project. The WEAP 

must:

o Be developed by or in consultation with the Designated Biologist and consist of an 

on-site or training center presentation through which supporting written material and 

electronic media (video or DVD) is made available to all participants.

o Discuss the locations and types of sensitive biological resources on the project site 

and adjacent areas

o Present the reasons for protecting these resources.

o Present the meaning of various temporary and permanent habitat protection measures.

o Identify whom to contact if there are further comments and questions about the 

material discussed in the program.

o Include a training acknowledgment form to be signed by each worker indicating that 

they received training and will abide by the guidelines.

o The specific program can be administered by a competent individual(s) acceptable to 

the Designated Biologist.

The project owner shall implement the following measures to manage their construction 

site and related facilities in a manner to avoid or minimize impacts on the local biological 

resources.

o Install temporary fencing and provide wildlife escape ramps for construction areas 

that contain steep-walled holes or trenches if outside of an approved, permanent 

exclusionary fence. The temporary fence shall be hardware cloth or similar materials 

that are approved by USFWS and CDFG. Before such holes or trenches are filled, 

they should be thoroughly inspected for trapped animals by the Designated Biologist 

or Biological Monitor.

o Make certain all food-related trash is disposed of in closed containers and removed at 

least once a week from the project site.

o Prohibit feeding of wildlife by staff and subcontractors.

o Prohibit firearms or weapons from being brought to the project site, with the 

exception of security-related weapons.

o Prohibit pets from being brought to the project site. 

o Report all inadvertent deaths of special-status species to the appropriate project 

representative. 

o Injured animals shall be reported to CDFG, and the project owner shall follow 

instructions that are provided by CDFG. The USFWS Office shall be notified in 

writing within 3 working days of the accidental death or injury to special-status 

species during project-related activities.

o Contact USFWS and CDFG for specific notification procedures.
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o Minimize use of rodenticides and herbicides in the project area and prohibit the use of 

chemicals and pesticides known to cause harm to amphibians. If rodent control must 

be conducted, zinc phosphide or an equivalent product shall be used.

Any time the project owner modifies or finalizes the project design, he shall incorporate 

all feasible measures to avoid or minimize impacts to the local biological resources, 

including:

o Design, install, and maintain transmission line poles, access roads, pulling sites, and 

storage and parking areas to avoid identified sensitive resources.;

o Design, install, and maintain transmission lines and all electrical components in 

accordance with the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee’s (APLIC) Suggested 

Practices for Raptor Protection on Power Lines: The State of the Art in 2006 (APLIC 

2006) to reduce the likelihood of electrocutions of large birds

o Eliminate any California Exotic Pest Plants of Concern (Cal-IPC, 2007) List A 

species from landscaping plans.

o Prescribe a road sealant that is nontoxic to wildlife and plants.

o Design, install, and maintain facility lighting to prevent side casting of light towards 

wildlife habitat.

o Use straw wattles or silt fences to prevent sediment from reaching irrigation and 

drainage canals.

o Fence buffer zones during construction to minimize habitat disturbance.

o Restore temporarily impacted areas to approximate original site conditions.

In order to comply with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and relevant sections of the CDFG 

Code (e.g., 3503, 3503.4, 3504, 3505, et seq.), any vegetation clearing would take place 

outside of the typical avian nesting season (i.e., February 1st – August 31st), to the 

maximum extent practical. If this is not possible, prior to ground-disturbing activities, 

construction, and so forth within the action area, a qualified biologist will conduct and 

submit a migratory nesting bird and raptor survey report. A qualified biologist is an 

individual with sufficient education and field experience in local California ecology and 

biology to adequately identify local plant and wildlife species. The survey shall occur not 

more than 72 hours prior to initiation of project activities and any occupied passerines 

and/or raptor nests occurring within or adjacent to the project footprint will be delineated. 

To the maximum extent practicable, a minimum buffer zone from occupied nests will be 

maintained during physical ground-disturbing activities. Once nesting has been 

determined to cease, the buffer may be removed.
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4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE

4.1 METHODS FOR EVALUATION

Biological field surveys were conducted by URS biologists in November 2010 according to the 

CEC regulations (CEC 2000). The “project study area” is the physical ground disturbance 

footprint (i.e., generating facility site, construction laydown area, transmission line pole locales, 

gas line, etc.) plus a 1,000-foot buffer where field surveys were conducted for botanical and 

wildlife resources (Figure 4-1). The action area includes the project footprint plus adjacent areas 

where indirect and/or cumulative impacts may occur. 

Prior to beginning field surveys, URS consulted resource specialists and reviewed available 

information from resource management plans and relevant documents to determine the locations 

and types of biological resources with the potential to exist within the action area; resources were 

evaluated within one mile and ten miles of the project pursuant to CEC evaluation guidelines. 

The materials reviewed included, but were not limited to, the following:

County of San Diego, Biological Mitigation Ordinance (1996).

County of San Diego in Conjunction with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS) and California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG). Multiple Species 

Conservation Program (1997).

USFWS Critical Habitat Mapper and File Data (USFWS 2010b).

USFWS Carlsbad Field Office Species List for San Diego County (USFWS 2010c).

The California Natural Diversity Database (CDFG 2010).

California Native Plant Society Electronic Inventory (CNPS 2010).

Aerial Photographs (Digital Globe 2010).

Fenn et al. 2003. Ecological Effects of Nitrogen Deposition in the Western United States.

BioScience. Volume 54 Number 4. April 2003.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1997. Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila 

californica californica) Presence/Absence Survey Guidelines. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service. Carlsbad, California. February 1997.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2002. Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha 

quino), Survey Protocol Information. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Carlsbad, 

California. February 2002.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Recovery Plan for the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly

(Euphydryas editha quino). Portland, Oregon. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2004. Recovery Plan for Deinandra conjugens (Otay 

Tarplant). Portland, Oregon. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2010. Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila 

californica californica) Five Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service. Carlsbad, California. September 2010.
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Weiss. 2006. Impacts of Nitrogen Deposition on California Ecosystems and Biodiversity.

Bren School of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Californa, Santa 

Barbara. Santa Barbara, California. Prepared for: Public Interest Energy Research 

Program, California Energy Commission.

Porter, E. USFWS Biologist, Carlsbad, California, Personal communications with URS 

Corporation.

Lucas, L. CDFG Biologist, San Diego, California, Personal communications with URS.

Pedestrian-based field surveys were performed to assess the biological resources present within 

the project study area. All botanical and wildlife species observed were documented, and all 

plant communities and habitats that could potentially support special-status species were 

described (URS 2011).

Nitrogen deposition modeling rates were calculated using atmospheric dispersion modeling

system (AERMOD) (Sierra Research 2011). 

4.2 GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

The project is located in an unincorporated area of San Diego County known as Otay Mesa. It 

consists of previously disturbed land and is comprised of a 9.99-acre parcel located in the 

southeast quadrant of the Alta Road and Calzada de la Fuente intersection the Otay Mesa 

Business Park. The elevation of the project is approximately 635 ft above mean sea level 

(MSL).The majority of the project footprint has been previously disturbed and the region 

includes developed areas containing commercial and public infrastructure. Existing site and 

surrounding land uses include two correctional facilities (State and County) and an existing 

natural gas-fired electrical generating station, the OMGP. The project footprint is relatively flat 

and buffered from an adjacent drainage and open space by roughly 200 ft. The industrial park 

developer graded the project footprint in the first quarter 2011 as described in the 2009-2010 

County of San Diego Grading Permit 2700-1555. This soil removal and grading was already 

planned prior to the inception of this project and occurred regardless of this project. 

4.3 VEGETATION COMMUNITIES

The dominant vegetation community present within the project study area is non-native 

grassland, which is a disturbance-related community and is comprised primarily of non-native 

grass and forb species. Riparian habitat composed primarily of native species occurs along a 

drainage located in the northeastern portion of the project study area. The remainder of the 

project study area is developed/disturbed lands and includes roadways, parking lots, vacant lots, 

and other private/public infrastructure with ornamental plantings. Species composition in 

developed areas varied and was dominated by non-native cultivar species. Vegetation 

communities present within the project study area are shown on Figure 4-1.

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4.4 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS

Biological field surveys determined that no special-status species were present within the project 

study area. However, historical occurrences, suitable habitat, and USFWS-designated critical 

habitat for the following Federally-threatened and endangered species is present within the 

project action area: 

Otay Tarplant

Status and Distribution

Otay Tarplant is currently listed as a threatened species by the federal government (USFWS 

2004). This species has a narrow geographic and elevational range, occurring between 80 to 

1,000 ft above MSL in southwest San Diego County, California, and in northern Baja California, 

Mexico; its range in Mexico is unclear (USFWS 2004). Otay Tarplant is an annual herb in the 

Family Asteraceae (sunflower family) and occurs in clay soils in coastal scrub and valley and 

foothill grassland habitats (CNPS 2011). It is a glandular, aromatic plant that is 0.3-1.3 ft tall, 

with branching stems on its upper portion and deep green or grey-green leaves covered with 

hairs (Hickman 1993). The yellow flower heads are composed of 8 to 10 ray flowers and 13 to 

21 disk flowers with hairless or sparingly downy corollas (fused petals). Its phyllaries are ridged 

and have short-stalked glands and large, stalkless, flat glands near the margins (USFWS 2004). 

The blooming period for Otay Tarplant is from May to June (CNPS 2011). 

Threats/Reasons for Decline. 

The primary threat to Otay Tarplant is the loss and degradation of occupied and suitable habitat, 

primarily due to urban development and agriculture, resulting in the fragmentation and isolation 

of remaining populations (USFWS 2004). Otay Tarplant has a self-incompatible breeding 

system, requiring pollination from an individual with a different genetic structure. This breeding 

type exacerbates the threat from fragmentation, as isolated populations and suitable pollinators 

may be unable to interact, ceasing gene flow and forming isolated islands (USFWS 2004).

In addition to loss and degradation of habitat and the resulting fragmentation and isolation of 

populations, Otay Tarplant is also threatened by illegal dumping, off-road vehicle use, Border 

Patrol activity, habitat disturbance, and competition with invasive, non-native species (CNPS 

2011). 

Quino Checkerspot Butterfly

Status and Distribution

Quino Checkerspot Butterfly is currently listed as an endangered species by the federal 

government (USFWS 2003). Populations have been located in San Diego and western Riverside 

counties and Baja California Norte, Mexico. The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly inhabits 

grassland and open areas in sage scrub, chaparral, and sparse native woodlands. It is in the 

Family Nymphalidae (brushfooted butterflies) and the Subfamily Melitaeinae (checkerspots and 

fritillaries). The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly is a subspecies of the Edith’s Checkerspot 

Butterfly (Euphydryas editha). The dorsal (top) side of the wings has bands of black, cream, and 

red that create a checkered pattern. The ventral (bottom) side of the wings are checkered, with a 

red and cream pattern. Its abdomen has red stripes across the top and it has a wingspan of 
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approximately 1.5 inches, with forewings that are disproportionately short and rounded (USFWS 

2003).

The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly has two distinctive life phases, the egg/larval/pupa stage and 

the adult stage. Each stage requires different habitat elements for growth and sustainment. 

During the early stages of its life cycle, the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly requires its larval host 

and food plants, which it feeds upon immediately after hatching. California Plantain (Plantago 

erecta) and Woolly Plantain (Plantago patagonica), which are small, often inconspicuous annual 

plants, are two of Quino Checkerspot Butterfly primary host plants (USFWS 2002). Female 

Quino Checkerspot Butterfly often select lone plants found on bare soil or in open areas for 

depositing eggs. Patches of host plants or nectar sources, ridgelines and hilltops, bare or sparsely 

vegetated areas between shrubs, and areas of cryptobiotic soil crusts have an especially high 

potential for Quino Checkerspot Butterfly use (USFWS 2002). Field observations indicate that 

females may deposit eggs on California Plantain, Woolly Plantain, Coulter’s Snapdragon 

(Antirrhinum coulterianum), Rigid Bird’s Beak (Cordylanthus rigidus), and/or Owl’s Clover 

(Castilleja exserta). Nectar plants most likely to be visited by Quino Checkerspot Butterfly 

include, but are not limited to, members of the Asteraceae Family (e.g. Goldfields [Lasthenia

spp.], Tidy Tips [Layia spp.], Rabbitbrush [Ericameria spp.]), Cryptantha [Cryptantha spp.], and 

Wild Onion [Allium spp.]) (USFWS 2002). In addition to food requirements, the Quino 

Checkerspot Butterfly utilizes locations containing diverse topography, such as areas with a 

mixture of north, south, east, and west facing slopes. Adult males exhibit a behavior called 

hilltopping, in which males form territories on hilltops and other prominent geographic features. 

Threats/Reasons for Decline. 

The decline of the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly has been attributed to habitat degradation and 

destruction. Urban and agricultural development, invasion of non-native species, habitat 

fragmentation and degradation, and other anthropogenic disturbances have resulted in substantial 

losses of habitat and declines in habitat suitability throughout the species historic range (USFWS 

2003).

Coastal California Gnatcatcher

Status and Distribution

Coastal California Gnatcatcher is currently listed as an endangered species by the federal 

government (USFWS 2010a). This species is non-migratory and ranges from coastal southern 

California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico, from southern Ventura and San Bernardino 

counties, California, south to approximately El Rosario, Mexico (USFWS 2010a). Coastal 

California Gnatcatchers are closely associated with coastal scrub habitats, with their range 

following that of the vegetation community. The northern and eastern limits of the coastal scrub 

vegetation communities used by Coastal California Gnatcatcher are largely bound by 

mountainous areas, while the southern limit is defined by the transition to the Vizcaíno desert. 

This species may also occur in other nearby vegetation communities, especially during the nonbreeding season, but it is closely tied to coastal scrub for reproduction (USFWS 2010a). Coastal 

California Gnatcatcher is in the Family Polioptilidae and is a small, slender, songbird. It is gray, 

with a long, black tail that has fine white edging. Breeding males have a glossy, black cap. The 

upperparts are darker gray than the underparts, with females having warmer, brownish tones on 

back, flanks, and belly. The species’ kitten-like mewing calls best distinguish it from the similar 
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and largely allopatric (non-overlapping) Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)

(Atwood and Bontrager 2001). The breeding season of the Coastal California Gnatcatcher 

extends from about February 15 through August 30, with the peak of nesting activity occurring 

from mid-March through mid-May (USFWS 1997). Clutch size averages four eggs. The 

incubation and nestling periods encompass about 14 and 16 days, respectively. Juveniles are 

dependent upon, or remain closely associated with, their parents for up to several months 

following departure from the nest and dispersal from their natal (place of birth) territory 

(USFWS 2010a).

Threats/Reasons for Decline. 

The primary threat to Coastal California Gnatcatcher is the loss of occupied and suitable habitat, 

primarily due to urban and agricultural development. Coastal scrub has been significantly 

reduced and was stated to be one of the most depleted habitat types in the U.S. by the USFWS 

(USFWS 2010a). Habitat type conversion, which is the modification of one habitat type to 

another through the effects of one or more stressors working individually or in combination, 

ultimately resulting in the destruction of the original habitat type, is another threat to Coastal 

California Gnatcatcher (USFWS 2010a). Grazing animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, eat 

and trample coastal scrub plants, destroying and modifying Coastal California Gnatcatcher 

habitat. Areas of native coastal sage scrub vegetation that have been disturbed by livestock 

appear to be more susceptible to invasion by non-native plants and, thus, habitat-type conversion. 

Although grazing has diminished in the U.S., it continues in Mexico. Wildland fires are another 

cause of habitat type conversion, as well as a temporary loss of habitat as fires in coastal scrub 

burn all or most of the above-ground vegetation. Often, when coastal scrub burns, it results in a 

conversion of the area to grassland habitat dominated by non-native weed species. Other threats 

to Coastal California Gnatcatcher include fragmentation of habitat and nest parasitism from 

Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) (USFWS 2010a). 
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5.0 EFFECTS DETERMINATION

This section includes the analysis of the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the proposed 

action on Otay Tarplant, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, and Coastal California Gnatcatcher and 

their designated critical habitat. Direct effects are defined as actions that cause an immediate 

effect on the species or its habitat (e.g., temporary or permanent impacts to ESA species or 

critical habitat). Direct effects resulting from the proposed action include the effects of 

interrelated actions and interdependent actions. Indirect effects are caused by, or result from, the 

proposed action, are later in time, and are reasonably certain to occur. Indirect effects may occur 

outside of the area directly affected by the proposed project (i.e., the action area).

5.1 DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS

The construction, operation, and maintenance of the PPEC project will not result in any direct 

impacts to suitable habitat for the Otay Tarplant, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, or the Coastal 

California Gnatcatcher and their respective designated critical habitat. The project’s facility 

placement and design were intended to avoid populations of special-status species within the 

region. The majority of the project footprint has been previously disturbed and includes 

developed areas containing commercial and public infrastructure; it does not contain suitable 

habitat for Federally-listed species and no Federally-listed species occur within the study area 

(URS 2011). 

The only potential impact to Otay Tarplant, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, and Coastal California

Gnatcatcher and their designated critical habitat that may result from the project is an indirect 

impact from nitrogen deposition. Based on a California-wide study of atmospheric nitrogen 

deposition, 5 kilograms/hectare/year (kg/ha/yr) has been used as a benchmark to assess potential 

effects of nitrogen deposition on plant communities; however, this benchmark does not imply 

that 5 kg/ha/yr is the critical load for negative impacts for all ecosystems since some ecosystems 

may be more sensitive whereas others may be less sensitive (Weiss 2006). Rather, this CECderived threshold serves as a benchmark for coarse screening of nitrogen deposition on plant 

communities and it is not a federal regulation related to the ESA. 

The PPEC project’s contribution of nitrogen deposition is estimated to be roughly 1.6 kg/ha/yr 

(Sierra Research 2011), which is considerably below the CEC-derived threshold of 5 kg/ha/yr. 

Accordingly, the project will result in a cumulative minor increase in nitrogen concentrations in 

the action area, particularly to the east (as shown on Figure 5-1). As such, nitrogen deposition 

from the project is not expected to result in direct or indirect adverse impacts to the surrounding 

area. The project will, however, contribute to the total cumulative regional nitrogen background; 

as such, nitrogen deposition resulting from the project is assessed in Section 5.2, Cumulative 

Impacts.

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5.2 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

Cumulative effects analyses are limited to future state and private actions that are reasonably 

certain to occur within the area prior to the completion of the federal project. For Section 7 

consultations, the cumulative impacts should not include future federal actions (e.g., 

undertakings that require federal authorization or federal funding) since they are actions that 

themselves would be subject to the restraints of Section 7 at some later date. Indicators of 

"reasonably certain" projects must show more than the possibility that the non-federal project 

would occur. They must demonstrate with reasonable certainty that it would occur. 

Accordingly, only those state or private projects that satisfy all major land use requirements and 

that appear to be economically viable are considered. Cumulative effects involve only future 

non-federal actions: past and present impacts of non-federal actions are part of the 

environmental baseline. The following subsections identify and describe potential cumulative 

effects that could result from the project in combination with other reasonably foreseeable future 

non-federal actions or natural events in or near the PPEC project area. 

5.2.1 Cumulative Projects

Projects that would potentially contribute to cumulative impacts are those located in the same 

general geographic area of influence of PPEC. For this cumulative assessment, the area of 

influence is defined as the area within a three-mile radius of PPEC. Projects or proposed projects 

of potential regional significance are also considered in the cumulative analysis. Table 5-1

presents a summary of potential projects considered in the cumulative impacts assessment, which 

are described in further detail below and are organized by applicable general use categories. The 

potential cumulative projects described below and listed in Table 5-1 are identified with a map 

identification number, which corresponds to the respective project’s location on Figure 5-2.

The PPEC site is located approximately 1 mile from the City of San Diego, and is within the 

County of San Diego. Thus, both jurisdictions were contacted for information on future planned 

projects. Information was gathered on projects that: 1) have construction and operational 

timeframes potentially overlapping with PPEC; 2) have submitted a defined project application 

for required approvals or permits; or 3) have been previously approved and may be implemented 

in the near future. The cumulative assessment focuses on the potential overlap of construction 

and operation impacts among various projects meeting the criteria described above.

Table 5-1. Potential Projects Considered for Cumulative Effects 

Map

ID

No. Project Name Project Description

Status/

Timing Location

County of San Diego

1 Vulcan Batch Plant Proposed asphalt and 

ready-mix concrete plant

Pending 7522 Paseo De La Fuente

2 Otay Hills Construction 

Aggregate Extraction 

Operation

Proposed aggregate 

quarry

Pending Approximately 0.5 miles east of the 

intersection of Otay Mesa Road and 

Alta Road
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Map

ID

No. Project Name Project Description

Status/

Timing Location

3 Corrections Corporation of 

America Correctional Facility

Detention facility Approved Northeast quadrant of Alta Road and 

Calzada de la Fuente (north of 

existing Otay Mesa Generating 

Project property and northeast of the 

proposed PPEC), 

4 East Mesa Detention Center Proposed wireless 

communication facility 

within Detention Center

Pending 446 Alta Road, County of San Diego

5 Paragon Management 

Project (Hawano Subdivision)

Proposed light industrial 

development

Pending APN 648-070-17-00, east of Alta 

Road and immediately north of 

U.S.–Mexico border

6 Piper Otay Park Industrial development Approved West of SR-125, north of Otay Mesa 

Road, and east of Piper Ranch 

Road

7 Otay Crossings Commerce 

Park

Proposed industrial 

development

Pending Southeast quadrant of Otay Mesa 

Road and Alta Road

8 Otay Business Park Proposed industrial 

development

Pending Southeast corner of Alta Road and 

Airway Road

9 International Industrial Park Proposed business park Pending Northeast of Alta Road and Lone 

Star Road

10 Sunroad/Otay Tech Center Proposed business park Pending North of Otay Mesa Road between 

Harvest Road and Vann Centre 

Boulevard

11 California Crossings Proposed commercial 

complex

Pending Northwest corner of Otay Mesa 

Road and Harvest Road

12 East Otay Mesa Specific Plan Specific Plan for industrial 

and business center

Approved Southeast corner of Alta Road and 

future extension of Airway Road, 

immediately north of the U.S.-

Mexico border

13 Sunroad Nursery Proposed nursery Pending North of Otay Mesa Road between 

Harvest Road and Vann Centre 

Boulevard

20 Otay Mesa Generating 

Project

Existing Power Plant (in 

operation)

In operation North of Otay Mesa Road and east 

of Alta Roadd, directly east of the 

PPEC site. 

City of San Diego

14 Sunroad/Interstate Industrial 

Center

Proposed warehouse 

development 

Pending East side of Piper Ranch Road and 

south of Otay Mesa Road

15 Sunroad Otay Park Proposed industrial 

development

Pending West side of Piper Ranch Road, 

between Otay Mesa Road and 

Airway Road

16 Siempre Viva Business Park Proposed foreign trade 

zone

Pending South of Siempre Viva Road and 

east of La Media Road

17 Esplande Proposed 1,337 unit 

single-family residential 

development

Pending Southeast corner of Otay Mesa 

Road and La Media Road
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Map

ID

No. Project Name Project Description

Status/

Timing Location

18 World Petro III Proposed service station Pending 1599 La Media Road (on northeast 

corner of Otay Mesa Road and La 

Media Road)

19 Cross Border Facility Proposed international 

pedestrian bridge

Pending South of Siempre Viva Road 

between Britannia Boulevard and La 

Media Road

APN = Assessor’s Parcel Number

Aggregate Production

Vulcan Batch Plant (Map Identification Number: 1). The application is for a modification to 

an existing permit for industrial use as an asphalt and ready-mix concrete batch plant. The 

project site is located in East Otay Mesa in unincorporated San Diego County, approximately 

0.25 miles southeast of the proposed project. The site is currently graded and vacant. The project 

would be implemented in two phases, with the hot mix asphalt plant in the first phase and the 

ready-mix concrete plant in the second phase. Site Plan 07-038 was approved by the Director on 

July 14, 2010. Where the approved Site Plan showed six, 60-ft high, 400-ton aggregate storage 

bins, the revised plan shows five aggregate piles separated by 20-ft high concrete divider walls, 

combined with six, 20-ft tall, 40-ton storage bins. In addition, the proposal would realign the onsite sewer line, rotate the hot mix asphalt plant about 10 degrees clockwise (to the southwest), 

and shift the concrete plant equipment to the northwest. The project would also reduce the height 

and length of a conveyor belt, identify the general location on the ground of active daily 

operations piles for aggregate materials and make refinements to the parking and the amount of 

paved area around the production facilities. The planned modification to the Vulcan Batch Plant 

is currently undergoing environmental review, and the timeframe of construction is not yet 

known. Since the timeframe of construction and operation are unknown, analysis of potential

impacts cannot be concluded at this time. 

Otay Hills Construction Aggregate Extraction Operation (Map Identification Number: 2).

This project is a Minor Use Permit (MUP) for an aggregate quarry and associated activities on a 

210-acre site at the eastern extension of Otay Mesa in the foothills of the San Ysidro Mountains. 

The project is expected to last 50 years with extraction ranging from 250,000 to 1,250,000 tons 

of material per year. The project also includes a Reclamation Plan to implement the activities 

necessary for the reclamation of land that have been disturbed through activities permitted by the 

MUP. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is currently being prepared for this project. 

Correctional Facility

Corrections Corporation of America Correctional Facility (Map Identification Number: 3).

The County of San Diego KivaNet database indicates that a modification of a MUP has been 

approved on November 19, 2010 for a correctional facility. The project is a modification to the 

previously approved (April 10, 2009) MUP for a secure detention facility, and involved moving 

the future detention facility 400 ft from the previously approved site. Other changes included 

relocating the parking lot, addition of building space, and minor changes to the building layouts. 

The new facility would be located within a Heavy Industrial land use designation, north of the 
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existing OMGP, and would be located approximately 600 ft northeast across Calzada de la 

Fuente from the PPEC. 

The proposed facility is designed for the short-stay of inmates awaiting transfer to permanent 

facilities. Based on the Land Use analysis evaluated during the MUP’s environmental review 

process, the facility has been determined to be compatible with surrounding industrial land uses, 

and land use designations assigned in the adopted East Otay Mesa Specific Plan. The Otay Mesa 

Specific Plan supersedes the County’s Zoning Ordinance, and provides land use designations and 

development standards for the site and surrounding properties within the specific plan boundaries 

(County of San Diego 2010). If the project proceeds on schedule, the project would be expected 

to commence construction in 2012, and begin operation in 2014.

East Mesa Detention Center (Map Identification Number: 4). This project is a MUP for an 

unmanned wireless telecommunications facility within an existing county detention facility. The 

project site is located at 446 Alta Road in the Otay Community Plan area, in unincorporated San 

Diego County, approximately 0.4 miles north of the proposed PPEC project. The MUP consists 

of a proposed 45-ft high mono-pine with twelve panel antennas and one directional antenna. 

Supporting equipment would consist of indoor equipment cabinets inside a slump block wall 

equipment building. An emergency back-up generator would be located inside a slump block 

wall equipment shelter with a chain link lid attached to the equipment building. Two global 

positioning system (GPS) antennas would be mounted to the equipment building. The project 

would also include trenching from the proposed mono-pine to the equipment shelter for the 

coaxial cable and trenching from the proposed mono-pine 295 ft southwest to an existing utility 

pole. This project is not anticipated to have cumulative impacts when considered with PPEC, due

to its size and type of use. 

Industrial Uses

Paragon Management Project (Hawano Subdivision) (Map Identification Number: 5). This 

project is a Tentative Map (TM) for 23 light industrial lots and one detention basin lot on 80 

acres in the East Otay Mesa Specific Plan Area, within unincorporated San Diego County. The 

site is subject to the General Plan Regional Category Current Urban Development Area and Land 

Use Designation 21 Specific Plan. The specific use of each proposed parcel will be established 

through a Site Plan submittal. The site is currently vacant and vegetated in non-native grassland. 

Access is proposed via Airway Road and Siempre Viva Road. The project includes roadway 

improvements to Airway Road along the project frontage, Enrico Fermi Place on-site, Siempre 

Viva Road on-site, and partial improvements off-site to the west, Via de la Amistad along the 

project frontage, Alta Road along the project frontage, and proposed on-site Enterprise Road and 

Hawano Drive. Phasing information was not provided. This project is currently preparing an 

EIR. Construction details for the project are not known yet, and the project would be subject to 

environmental review. Development may increase vehicle trips during construction. 

Construction impacts are relatively short-term and are not anticipated to have cumulative 

impacts. During operation, vehicle trips would be reduced. Neither construction nor operational 

related traffic would contribute to cumulative impacts. 

Piper Otay Park (Map Identification Number: 6). Piper Otay Park (TM 5527/ER 93-19-

006AA), is a proposed tentative subdivision map to subdivide an undeveloped 24.84-gross acre 

parcel into 13 industrial lots ranging from 1.03 acres to 2.61 acres. The project site (APN 646-
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240-74-00) is located in the 600 block of Piper Ranch Road, immediately west of the right-ofway for the future SR-125, and north of Otay Mesa Road, within unincorporated San Diego 

County. City of San Diego jurisdiction lies immediately to the west and south of the site. The

proposed uses include industrial commercial with limited and related support office uses. This 

project was approved by the County in February 2010.

Otay Crossings Commerce Park (Map Identification Number: 7). The Otay Crossings 

Commerce Park is a proposed TM and Specific Plan Amendment (SPA) to a 311-acre site. The 

SPA will re-align SR-11 and Circulation Element roads. The TM will create 31 industrial lots. A 

Final EIR is currently being prepared for this project. Specific construction details for the project 

are not known yet. Neither construction nor operational related traffic would contribute to 

cumulative impacts. 

Sunroad/Interstate Industrial Center (Map Identification Number: 14). This project is a TM 

to develop 453,000 sq ft of warehousing on three lots. No environmental document is available 

to review at this time. 

Sunroad Otay Park (Map Identification Number: 15). This project is a TM to develop 

1,337,000 sq ft of small industrial park on 33 lots. No environmental document is available for 

review at this time.

Otay Mesa Generating Project (Map Identification Number: 20). Calpine Corporation owns 

and operates the 590MW natural gas-fired, combined cycle Otay Mesa Generation Project, 

which includes a new 230-kV switchyard on a 46-acre site. This project is located directly 

adjacent to PPEC to the east. The plant was certified by the CEC in April 2001, and commenced 

commercial operation in 2009. 

Business Parks

Otay Business Park (Map Identification Number: 8). Otay Business Park is a proposed TM to 

subdivide a 161.6-gross acre parcel into 59 industrial lots, 3 drainage/detention basin lots, and 

25.35 acres of on-site roads. No specific uses have been identified. The project site (APN 648-

070-21) is located immediately north of the U.S.-Mexico border, approximately 0.5 mile east of 

Enrico Fermi Drive, in East Otay Mesa, within unincorporated San Diego County. Zoning is 

established by the East Otay Mesa Specific Plan, Subarea 2, with a designation of Mixed 

Industrial. The site is undeveloped. A Final EIR is currently being prepared for this project. The 

project is proposing a total of four development phases to commence in 2011, with full project 

build-out anticipated by 2014. 

International Industrial Park (Map Identification Number: 9). The project is a TM to 

subdivide approximately 170 acres of vacant land into 10 parcels for technology/business park 

use. Approximately 127 acres of the project site will be developed, 33 acres will be placed in 

open space, and 10 acres will be used for internal circulation streets. The project site is located 

in Subarea 1 in the East Otay Mesa Specific Plan Area, part of the Otay Subregional Planning 

Area, within unincorporated San Diego County. 

Sunroad/Otay Tech Center (10). This project is a TM 5538 to subdivide 54 lots on 253.1 acres 

ranging in size from 1.8 to 5.3 acres. The project site is located within the East Otay Mesa 
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Specific Plan. The site is located at the northeast corner of Otay Mesa Road and Harvest Road, in 

San Diego County.

Siempre Viva Business Park (Map Identification Number: 16). No additional information 

was available for this project at this time. No environmental document is available for review at 

this time. 

Commercial Uses 

California Crossings (Map Identification Number: 11). The project is a three parcel 

commercial complex located in the East Otay Mesa Specific Plan Area, part of the Otay 

Subregional Planning Area, within unincorporated San Diego County. An EIR is currently being 

prepared for this project.

Residential 

Esplande (Map Identification Number: 17). This project is proposing to develop 1,337 single 

family residential units. No additional information was available for this project at this time. An

application has been filed with the City of San Diego. No environmental document is available 

to review at this time. 

Specific Plan

East Otay Mesa Specific Plan (Map Identification Number: 12). The East Otay Mesa 

Specific Plan that plans for the long-term development of approximately 3,300 acres for 

industrial and business center in San Diego County. This planning document establishes a 

framework for future development, including policies, guidelines, implementation programs, and 

phasing for infrastructure and financing. The Specific Plan was originally approved by the 

County in 1994. Since then two amendments have been made to the Specific Plan. In the 2002 

amendment, the Specific Plan was divided into two Subareas and property located outside 

Subarea 1 was renamed Subarea 2. The plan was divided due to the time required to evaluate 

environmental constraints and the uncertainty of the alignment of SR-11 and the proposed third 

Port-of-Entry in Subarea 2. The 2010 amendment re-combined Subarea 1 and 2 into a single 

Specific Plan. No major revisions were made to the land use or circulation plans with the 2010 

amendment, except for a boundary change that resulted from a voter initiative. Its primary 

purpose was to simplify and clarify permitting and development requirements during a period 

when numerous landowners were processing permits.

Although the East Otay Mesa Specific Plan has been approved, future developments may overlap 

with PPEC. At this early stage in the development of the specific plan area, it is not possible to 

predict the time when, or specific location where, these impacts may occur. Several projects 

described above, including the Otay Business Park, Piper Otay Park, Otay Crossings Commerce 

Park, California Crossings, and Sunroad/Otay Tech Center are proposed as part of the Specific 

Plan. Buildout of the East Otay Mesa Specific Mesa Specific Plan is anticipated to have 

significant cumulative impacts, even without the proposed project. 

Other

Sunroad Nursery (Map Identification Number: 13). The project is a MUP for a Wholesale 

Nursery, on about 68 acres in the East Otay Mesa Specific Plan. The project consists of 
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wholesale production of field and container grown ornamental horticulture crops. The project 

site is located east of SR-125, at the southwest corner of Lone Star Road and Harvest Road in the 

East Otay Mesa Subregional Plan, within unincorporated San Diego County. 

World Petrol III (Map Identification Number: 18). This project is a proposed service station, 

with 22 fueling stations. The proposed service station will also include a 3,632 square feet mini 

mart, a car wash, a 2,042-sq ft restaurant and a 290-sq ft office. No environmental document is 

available for review at this time.

Cross Border Facility (Map Identification Number: 19). This approved project is for the 

construction and operation of an international pedestrian bridge called San Diego-Tijuana 

Airport Cross Border Facility near San Diego, California, at the international boundary between 

the U.S. and Mexico. Construction is expected to begin in 2011, and the facility could start 

operating in late 2012 or early 2013. The plans call for an enclosed, 525-ft pedestrian bridge 

leading to the Tijuana airport and a two-story, 45,000-sq ft building on the U.S. side of the 

border that would house U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities. A Finding of No 

Significant Impact was made by the Department of State, which was issued a Presidential permit, 

effective August 3, 2010. In making this determination, the Department consulted with other 

federal agencies, as required by Executive Order 11423, as amended.

5.2.2 Nitrogen Deposition

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition has been shown to have a number of detrimental effects on 

terrestrial ecosystems, particularly sensitive communities that are nitrogen-poor. Nitrogen 

deposition alters the structure and function of ecosystems by increasing the levels of nitrogen in 

the environment, encouraging the growth of nitrogen-loving plants (generally non-native 

Mediterranean grasses) which out-compete native species, resulting in decreased levels of 

biodiversity in many of California’s sensitive habitats (Weiss 2006). 

Many terrestrial ecosystems in the western United States, particularly forests, shrublands, and 

grasslands, are nitrogen limited and are likely to show growth responses to increased nitrogen 

deposition (Fenn et al. 2003). Nitrogen deposition is a cumulative process, eventually leading to 

nitrogen saturation (Weiss 2006). Nitrogen saturation can result in a number of adverse impacts, 

including decreased plant function as a result of leached nutrients (e.g., calcium) from the soil; 

loss of fine root biomass; decreases in symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi; leaching losses of base 

cations and nitrate into surface waters and ground waters, which increases soil and surface water 

acidification; and the promotion of exotic invasive species, such as Mediterranean grasses 

(Weiss 2006). Mediterranean grasses can be very detrimental to native communities as they outcompete native forbs and suppress shrub recruitment.

In California, a number of the occurring sensitive plant communities are nitrogen-poor, making 

them particularly vulnerable to nitrogen deposition. Impacts of nitrogen deposition on sensitive 

species include direct toxicity, changes in species composition among native plants, and 

enhancement of invasive species (Weiss 2006). In addition, the increased growth of nitrogenloving plants due to elevated nitrogen levels leads to biomass accumulation, which increases the 

chance of and intensity of fires (Ochoa-Hueso et al. 2010). Research has shown that the 

conversion of coastal sage scrub habitats to annual grassland occurs very rapidly when two 

sequential fires, a few years apart, burn through the area (Fenn et al. 2003). 
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Studies of southern California coastal sage scrub, a habitat in which Otay Tarplant, Quino 

Checkerspot Butterfly, and Coastal California Gnatcatcher occur, found that diversity and 

density of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores declined from 19 to 12 species with increasing 

nitrogen in the soils (Fenn et al. 2003). Native shrub species in coastal sage scrub habitat have a 

symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi and the decline of the fungi resulted in loss of 

growth of the dominant species in this habitat, California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), 

whereas non-native grasses were not negatively affected. The study found that mycorrhizal 

feedbacks under nitrogen deposition may contribute to the decline of the dominant coastal sage 

scrub shrub species and its replacement by an abundant exotic grass, resulting in a conversion of 

shrubland to grassland (Fenn et al. 2003).

Large-scale combustion of fossil fuels, fertilizer applications, emissions from livestock, and 

other sources have greatly increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition rates. Electric power plants 

in California, primarily fired by natural gas, are major point sources of NOx from combustion 

and NH3 from SCR units used to control NOx emissions (Weiss 2006). Pre-industrial 

atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the western U.S. is estimated at 0.25 kg/ha/yr (Weiss 2006). 

Current nitrogen atmospheric deposition in California includes areas of the state encompassing 

55,000 sq km which are exposed to more than 5 kg/ha/yr and 10,000 sq km which are exposed to 

more than 10 kg/ha/yr of nitrogen deposition. Deposition hotspots include the Los Angeles-San 

Diego Area, the Central Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Sierra Nevada foothills 

(Weiss 2006). 

5.2.3 Determination of Cumulative Effect

Lands approximately 1,500 ft from the project include USFWS-designated critical habitat for 

Otay Tarplant, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, and California Gnatcatcher. Emissions from 

current infrastructure result in nitrogen deposition within these critical habitat areas (Figure 5-3). 

The operation of the proposed PPEC project will contribute nitrogen emissions into the 

atmosphere, increasing the regional nitrogen background. . The regional background deposition 

of nitrogen without the PPEC project is estimated to be 11.56 kg/ha/yr (Tonneson et al. 2007), 

which is more than double the threshold for significance in sensitive areas (i.e., 5 kg/ha/yr). This 

is not taking into account the unquantifiable emissions being produced in Mexico, which is 

located only 1.5 miles south of the project, and may also contribute nitrogen deposition to the 

region. The peak impact from OMGP, which is located directly adjacent and east of the project, 

is roughly 13 kg/ha/yr, compared to the project’s contribution of a nominal 1.6 kg/ha/yr. The 

contribution of nitrogen deposition from the project is 2% of the total cumulative regional 

nitrogen background (Figure 5-5). 

The project will result in a cumulative minor increase in nitrogen concentrations in the action 

area, particularly to the east (as shown by comparing Figures 5-3, and 5-4). The cumulative 

increase in nitrogen concentrations may increase the propagation of non-native invasive plant 

species and the alteration of native vegetation communities. The cumulative incremental 

increase in nitrogen emissions from the proposed project may affect approximately 50 acres of 

native habitat suitable for Otay Tarplant, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, and Coastal California 

Gnatcatcher, but is not likely to adversely affect these species or designated critical habitat for 

these species. 




PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

5-15

5.3 NITROGEN DEPOSITION MITIGATION MEASURES

Conservation measures are to benefit or promote the recovery of general and special-status 

species as an integral part of the proposed action. These actions will be taken by the federal 

agency and the Applicant to minimize and compensate for project nitrogen deposition effects on 

the Otay Tarplant, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, and Coastal California Gnatcatcher and 

designated critical habitat for these species. 

As part of the project, PPEC proposes to implement a number of avoidance, minimization, and 

conservation measures that would be applicable and common to all species and any designated 

critical habitats (Section 3.4, General Avoidance and Minimization Measures). These measures 

are intended to reduce, ameliorate, and/or avoid potential adverse effects on the biological 

resources. The specific avoidance and minimization measure discussed below are expected to 

augment other project-related environmental commitments, BMPs, and mitigation measures that 

would be required under separate federal and state laws, regulations, and executive orders.

The project’s NOx emissions will also be offset to satisfy air District requirements. The 

NOx offsets that will be surrendered were generated from the decommissioning of a 

power plant located 10 miles west of the project site. 

Applicant will contribute funds in support of weeding efforts at an approved research and 

habitat management area that would include periodic weeding of non-native plants. The 

proposed funding would be sufficient to pay for periodic weeding of 50 acres. 

The project as thus constituted will, therefore, have no significant adverse effects on biological 

resources. Moreover, the project would not (either individually or cumulatively) cause an 

impermissible “take” of a protected species under Section 9 of the ESA. 

5.4 CONCLUSION

The information analyzed for this assessment, including air quality modeling and nitrogen 

deposition analysis, is sufficient to support a determination that the PPEC project may affect, but 

is not likely to adversely affect, federally- listed species or their critical habitat. Furthermore, 

with the NOx emission offsets and mitigation such as voluntary periodic habitat weeding, the 

project will compensate for all inconsequential cumulative adverse impacts from the project on 

biological resources and will mitigate any potential impacts to a less than significant level.
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

6-1

6.0 PREPARERS AND REVIEWERS

At the request of the PPEC, URS prepared this BA. A list of the professional members of the 

BA team is provided below. 

URS Corporation

Maggie Fitzgerald Program Manager:

20 years of experience

Lincoln Hulse Project Biologist

11 years of experience

Greg Hoisington Biologist

7 years of experience

Colleen Martin Biologist

3 years of experience

David Barrackman GIS Specialist

8 years of experience
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

7-1

7.0 REFERENCES CITED

Atwood, Jonathan L. and David R. Bontrager. 2001. California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila

californica), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of 

Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: 

http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/574doi:10.2173/bna.574

CDFG (California Department of Fish and Game). 2010. RareFind California Department of 

Fish and Game Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Otay Mesa USGS 7.5-Minute 

Quadrangle. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Fish and Game, Biogeographic 

Data Branch.

CDFG. 2011. State and Federally Listed Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Plants of 

California. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Fish and Game, Biogeographic 

Data Branch Biogeographic Data Branch, California Natural Diversity Database.

CEC (California Energy Commission). 2000. Rules of Practice and Procedure and Plant Site 

Certification Regulations.

CNPS (California Native Plant Society). 2010. CNPS Electronic Inventory of Rare and 

Endangered Plants: CNPS.

CNPS. 2011. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-01a). California 

Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA.

County of San Diego, Board of Supervisors. 1996. Biological Mitigation Ordinance.

County of San Diego. 1997. County of San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program. In 

conjunction with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department 

of Fish and Game. October 22, 1997. 

County of San Diego. 2010. San Diego County Correctional Facility Major Use Permit 

Modification 3301 06-074-01 (MUP), Otay Subregional Plan; District 1. Staff Report 

and attachment prepared by the County of San Diego Department of Planning and Land 

Use. November 19.

Digital Globe. 2009 Aerial Photography: Digital Globe.

Fenn, Mark E., Jill S. Baron, Edith B. Allen, Heather M. Rueth, Koren R. Nydick, Linda Geiser, 

William D. Bowman, James O. Sickman, Thomas Meixner, Dale W. Johnson, and Peter 

Neitlich. 2003. Ecological Effects of Nitrogen Deposition in the Western United States.

BioScience. Volume 54 Number 4. April 2003.

Hickman, J.C. (ed) 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. Berkeley: University 

of California Press.
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

7-2

Ochoa-Hueso, Raúl, Edith B. Allen, Cristina Branquinho, Cristina Cruz, Teresa Dias, Mark E. 

Fenn, Esteban Manrique, M. Esther Pérez-Corona, Lucy J. Sheppard, William D. Stock. 

2010. Nitrogen Deposition Effects on Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: An Ecological 

Assessment. Environmental Pollution 159 (2011) 2265-2279. December 2010.

Tonnesen, G., Z. Wang, M. Omary, C-J Chien. 2007. Assessment of nitrogen deposition: 

modeling and habitat assessment. California Energy Commission, PIER Energy-Related 

Environmental Research. CEC-500-2006-032. Available 

from: http://www.energy.ca.gov/2006publications/CEC-500-2006-032/CEC-500-2006-

032.PDF.

Sierra Research. 2011 Modeling Protocol for the Pio Pico Energy Center, San Diego County, 

California. Prepared by URS Corporation for submittal to the San Diego Air Pollution 

Control District and the California Energy Commission. November.

URS (URS Corporation). 2011. Biological Technical Report for the Pio Pico Energy Center.

May 2011.

USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1967. Native Fish and Wildlife, Endangered Species. 

Washington, D.C.

USFWS. 1997. Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) 

Presence/Absence Survey Guidelines. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Carlsbad, 

California. February 1997.

USFWS. 2002. Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino), Survey Protocol 

Information. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Carlsbad, California. February 2002.

USFWS. 2003. Recovery Plan for the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino). 

Portland, Oregon. x + 179 pp.

USFWS. 2004. Recovery Plan for Deinandra conjugens (Otay Tarplant). Portland, Oregon. vii + 

65 pp.

USFWS. 2010a. Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) Five Year 

Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Carlsbad, California. 

September 2010.

USFWS. 2010b. Critical Habitat Portal. USFWS.

USFWS. 2010c. San Diego Fish and Wildlife Office Endangered and Threatened Species List.

In: U.S. Department of the Interior, editor. Carlsbad, CA: USFWS.

USGS (United States Geological Service). 1975 7.5-Minute Quadrangle Map Otay Mesa, 

California.
PIO PICO ENERGY CENTER BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

7-3

Weiss, Stuart. 1999. Cars, Cows, and Checkerspot Butterflies: Nitrogen Deposition and 

Management of Nutrient-Poor Grasslands for a Threatened Species. Conservation 

Biology, Volume 13, Number 6, pp. 1476-1486. Blackwell Publishing for Society for 

Conservation Biology. December 1999.

Weiss, Stuart. 2006. Impacts of Nitrogen Deposition on California Ecosystems and Biodiversity.

Bren School of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Californa, Santa 

Barbara. Santa Barbara, California. Prepared for: Public Interest Energy Research 

Program, California Energy Commission. URL: 

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-500-2005-165/CEC-500-2005-

165.PDF.

Personal Communications

Crisp, A. 2011. California Energy Commission, Sacramento, California. Personal 

communications with URS Corporation.

Lucus, L. 2011. California Department of Fish and Game, San Diego, California. Personal 

communications with URS Corporation.

Porter, E. 2011. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad, California. Personal 

communications with URS Corporation.

Watson, C. 2011. California Energy Commission, Sacramento, California. Personal 

communications with URS Corporation
APPENDIX A -

RESUMES OF NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIALISTS
LINCOLN R. HULSE

Natural Resources Division Manager

Senior Wildlife Biologist 

Overview

Mr. Hulse has over a decade of consulting experience with Federal and State 

Endangered Species Acts (ESA) permitting and compliance, field research, 

ecological studies and project management. Mr. Hulse holds USFWS section 

10(a)(1)(A) recovery permits for the California gnatcatcher and San Bernardino 

kangaroo rat. He has a strong knowledge of federal, state, and local 

environmental regulations and policies. He has prepared numerous biological 

reports, assessments, permit applications, and restoration plans to 

demonstrate compliance with the California Coastal Act, Clean Water Act 

(CWA), California Fish and Game Codes, California Environmental Quality Act 

(CEQA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The following describes Mr. Hulse’s experience in greater detail.

Panoche Energy Center Project

Designated biologist for the Panoche Energy Center (PEC) Application for 

Certification and subsequent Data Adequacy and Data Request responses. 

Prepared reports and assessments to comply and authorize Incidental Take for 

the PEC. The PEC is a proposed simple-cycle power generation project that 

consists of four (4) General Electric LMS100 natural gas-fired combustion 

turbine generators (CTGs) and natural gas pipeline tie-in. The total net 

generating capacity is 400MW with each CTG capable of generating 100MW. 

The proposed plant will be owned and operated by Panoche Energy Center, 

LLC. The electricity generated by this project would be in support of a contract 

with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). 

Starwood Energy Center Project

Designated biologist for the Starwood Energy Center Application for 

Certification and subsequent Data Adequacy and Data Request responses. 

Prepared reports and assessments to comply and authorize Incidental Take for 

the Project. The project includes simple-cycle electric generation project 

consisting of two (2) FT8-3 SwiftPac Gas Turbine Generator (CTG) units. The 

total net generating capacity is 120 megawatts (MW) with each CTG unit 

capable of generating 60 MW. 

Granite Wind Energy Generation Project 

Senior Biologist - participated in the preparation of reports, and assessments to 

document compliance with the BLM’s West Mojave Plan, NEPA, Clean Water 

Act, California Fish and Game Codes, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, federal and 

state Endangered Species Acts for the proposed Granite Wind Project. Granite 

Wind, LLC is making an application for a right-of-way (ROW) grant for longterm commercial wind energy development from the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), Barstow District, California Field Office for the installation 

of a new wind energy generation facility and an application to San Bernardino 

County for a Conditional Use Permit for a commercial wind energy facility. The 

proposed facility will include the following: Access roads; Underground

Areas of Expertise

State and Federal Endangered 

Species Acts, Wildlife Biology, small 

mammal trapping, special status bird 

surveys, Discretionary Natural 

Resource and Wetland Permitting; 

Clean Water Act; California Fish and 

Game Codes;, Migratory Bird Treat 

Act; CEQA/NEPA Compliance and 

Project Management

Years of Experience

With URS: 10+ Years

Education

B.S./1998/Environmental Sciences 

with emphasis in Biology/ Northern 

Arizona University

Registration/Certification

USFWS Recovery Permit No. TE134334-0

California Gnatcatcher 

San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat 

Supplemental Education/Training

38-Hour Army Corps of Engineers 

Wetland Delineation & 

Management Training by the 

Wetland Training Institute (2006)

Fairy Shrimp Identification by Mary 

Belk (2006)

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher 

Identification Workshop by 

Southern Sierra Research Station 

(2006)

CEQA Training workshop 

sponsored by AEP (2002 and 

2005)

Desert Tortoise surveying, 

monitoring, and handling workshop 

by the Desert Tortoise Council 

(November 2001)

HAZWOPER 40 hour OSHA 

Training (2000-current)
2

electrical collection system; Underground communication lines; Up to 28 wind 

turbines, including concrete foundations, tubular steel towers, nacelles, and 

blades; Up to 28 pad mount transformers, one to be located beside the tower 

of each wind turbine; Overhead transmission line; Operations and 

Maintenance(O&M)building; Electrical interconnection / switchyard; Electrical 

substation; and Two permanent meteorological masts. The proposed project 

will be located on lands administered by the BLM, as well as private lands. 

Additional responsibilities included developing restoration plans, and mitigation 

packages in accordance with local, state, and federal agency standards.

Pio Pico Energy Center Project

Mr. Hulse prepared reports and assessments to document compliance with the 

Clean Water Act, California Fish and Game Codes, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 

California Energy Commission and federal and state ESA for the Pio Pico 

Energy Center (PPEC). Mr. Hulse also coordinated and conducted threatened 

and endangered species surveys including: Coastal California Gnatcatcher, 

Fairy Shrimp, and least Bell’s vireo, southwestern flycatcher and quino 

checkespot butterfly. The PPEC is a simple-cycle electrical generating facility 

that is contracted under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with San 

Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) in response to their 2009 Request for Offers 

(RFO). PPEC is designed to directly satisfy the San Diego area peaking and 

load-shaping generation current and long-term requirements. The PPEC site 

will be located in Chula Vista, California, along the southeastern city boundary 

of Chula Vista 

Soda Mountain Solar Project 

Senior Biologist - participated in the preparation of reports, and assessments to 

document compliance with the BLM’s West Mojave Plan, NEPA, Clean Water 

Act, California Fish and Game Codes, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, federal and 

state Endangered Species Acts for the proposed Soda Mountain Solar Project. 

Caithness LLC, is in the process of obtaining authorization to construct and 

operate the Soda Mountain Solar Project - a proposed 350 megawatt (“MW”) 

solar electric power generating facility on federal lands managed by the U.S. 

Department of Interior, BLM, in San Bernardino County. The Project consists of 

about 7,000 acres, located approximately 5 miles southwest of Baker, 

California along Route I-15. The solar power generating system proposed will 

utilize photovoltaic panels. The power generated by the Project will be intended 

for sale to one or more California electric utilities. 

Carrizo Energy Project 

Mr. Hulse is assisting Carrizo Energy, LLC, to gain environmental permits to 

license and build their Carrizo Energy Solar Farm (CESF). Mr. Hulse has 

performed small mammal trapping and reporting to document compliance the 

federal and state Endangered Species Acts for the proposed Project. The 

project consists of approximately 195 Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector 

(CLFR) solar concentrating lines, associated steam drums, steam turbine 

generators (STGs), air-cooled condensers (ACCs), and infrastructure, 

producing up to a nominal 177 megawatts (MW) net. The CESF is located in 
3

an unincorporated area of eastern San Luis Obispo County, west of Simmler 

and northwest of California Valley, California. 

Bullard Energy Center Project, City of Fresno, CA

Mr. Hulse coordinated and prepared reports and assessments to document 

compliance with CEQA, and federal and state ESA for the Bullard Energy Center 

as they seek approval from the CEC to construct and operate a simple-cycle power 

generation project that consists of two General Electric (GE) LMS100 natural gasfired combustion turbine generators (CTGs) and natural gas pipeline tie-in. The 

total net generating capacity is 200 megawatts (MW) with each CTG capable of 

generating 100MW. Coordinated California Fish and Game Code and federal 

Endangered Species Act compliance and permitting for impacts to San Joaquin kit 

fox.

Caltrans Route 58 Bypass Project Mojave, California

Mr. Hulse was the designated biological monitor for Caltrans route 58-bypass 

construction project. Mr. Hulse performed pre-construction federal and state ESA 

compliance surveys and weekly biological monitoring; desert tortoise and San 

Joaquin kit fox. Monitoring also included regular environmental awareness training 

and weekly reporting. 

References

Rory Paster, Permit Manager

OC Public Works, Regulatory Permits Section

300 North Flower Street

Santa Ana, CA 92703-5000

(714) 834-3739

Brian McCollough

California Energy Commission

1516 9th St., MS-40

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 653-1648

Rick York

California Energy Commission

1516 Ninth Street, MS-40

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-654-3945 
GREGORY HOISINGTON

Ecologist, Permitting Specialist

OVERVIEW

Mr. Hoisington is an Ecologist with over 8 years of professional experience in 

natural resource permitting; conducting biological surveys, construction 

monitoring and Global Positioning System (GPS) data collection. His 

professional experience also includes protocol USFWS special status species 

surveys for avian, mammalian, reptilian, vernal pool branchiopods and 

botanical surveys. He has prepared numerous biological reports and 

assessments to demonstrate compliance with the Western Riverside Multiple 

Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), Section 7 and 10 of the 

Endangered Species act (ESA), California Fish and Game Codes, California 

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 

and the California Energy Commission (CEC). The following describes Mr. 

Hoisington’s experience in greater detail.

PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

Soda Mountain Solar Project

Task Manager responsible for the preparation of reports, and assessments to 

document compliance with the BLM’s West Mojave Plan, NEPA, Clean Water 

Act, California Fish and Game Codes, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, federal and 

state Endangered Species Acts for the proposed Soda Mountain Solar Project. 

Caithness LLC, is in the process of obtaining authorization to construct and 

operate the Soda Mountain Solar Project - a proposed 350 megawatt (“MW”) 

solar electric power generating facility on federal lands managed by the U.S. 

Department of Interior, BLM, in San Bernardino County. The Project consists of 

about 7,000 acres, located approximately 5 miles southwest of Baker, 

California along Route I-15. The solar power generating system proposed will 

utilize photovoltaic panels. The power generated by the Project will be intended 

for sale to one or more California electric utilities. Mr. Hoisington coordinated 

Habitat Assessment Surveys; Focused Desert Tortoise Surveys; Focused 

Special Status Plant Surveys; Special Aquatic Resource Area Preliminary 

Jurisdictional Determinations; and Focused Mojave Fringe-Toed Lizard 

Surveys. Additional responsibilities included developing restoration plans, field 

survey protocols, and mitigation packages in accordance with local, state, and 

federal agency standards.

Carrizo Energy, LLC; San Luis Obispo County, CA.

Performed habitat suitability assessments and protocol adult and 

juvenile blunt nose leopard lizard surveys as well as small mammal 

trapping and reporting for Carrizo Energy, LLC, to gain environmental 

permits to license and build their Carrizo Energy Solar Farm (CESF). 

The project consists of approximately 195 Compact Linear Fresnel 

Reflector (CLFR) solar concentrating lines, associated steam drums, 

steam turbine generators (STGs), air-cooled condensers (ACCs), and 

infrastructure, producing up to a nominal 177 megawatts (MW) net. 

Areas of Expertise

Wetland Ecology, Natural Resource and

Wetland Permitting; Clean Water Act; 

California Fish and Game Codes; 

Migratory Bird Treat Act; California 

Coastal Commission; state and federal 

Endangered Species Acts; Regional 

Water Quality Control Board permitting,

Biological Monitoring and Surveys for

eelgrass (Zostera marina), invasive algae 

(Caulerpa taxifolia and banned species), 

and other marine flora and fauna.

Years of Experience

With URS: 6 Years

With Other Firms: 2 Years

Education

MS/2004/Biology/California State 

University, Long Beach.

BS/2001/Ecology and Environmental 

Biology/California State University, 

Long Beach.

Supplemental Education/Training

Desert Tortoise Council Tortoise 

Handling Workshop.

Flat Tailed Horned Lizard Monitor 

Training – Administered by Bureau 

of Land Management, El Centro, 

CA.

Caulerpa taxifolia Identification 

Training – Administered by NMFS, 

Long Beach, CA.

Project Management Training 

PM100/200, Tetra Tech EC, Inc

CEQA 16-Hour Training Workshop –

Successful CEQA Compliance, 

UCLA Extension Course 

40-Hour HAZWOPER, December, 

2004; 8-Hour HAZWOPER 

Refresher December, 2008

Chevron Loss Prevention Systems 

(LPS) Training

38-Hour Army Corp of Engineers 

Wetland Delineation and 

Management Training Program, 

Richard Chinn Environmental 

Training

Nuclear Health Physics Radiation 

Protection Training Program, 1990 

Institute for Resource Management 

(IRM)
2

Granite Wind Energy Generation Project 

Mr. Hoisington - participated in the preparation of reports, and assessments to 

document compliance with the BLM’s West Mojave Plan, NEPA, Clean Water 

Act, California Fish and Game Codes, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, federal and 

state Endangered Species Acts for the proposed Granite Wind Project. Granite 

Wind, LLC is making an application for a right-of-way (ROW) grant for longterm commercial wind energy development from the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), Barstow District, California Field Office for the installation 

of a new wind energy generation facility and an application to San Bernardino 

County for a Conditional Use Permit for a commercial wind energy facility. The 

proposed facility will include the following: Access roads; Underground 

electrical collection system; Underground communication lines; Up to 28 wind 

turbines, including concrete foundations, tubular steel towers, nacelles, and 

blades; Up to 28 pad mount transformers, one to be located beside the tower 

of each wind turbine; Overhead transmission line; Operations and 

Maintenance(O&M)building; Electrical interconnection / switchyard; Electrical 

substation; and Two permanent meteorological masts. The proposed project 

will be located on lands administered by the BLM, as well as private lands. 

Additional responsibilities included developing restoration plans, and mitigation 

packages in accordance with local, state, and federal agency standards.

Pio Pico Energy Center Project

Mr. Hoisington prepared reports and assessments to document compliance 

with the Clean Water Act, California Fish and Game Codes, Migratory Bird 

Treaty Act, California Energy Commission and federal and state ESA for the

Pio Pico Energy Center (PPEC). Mr. Hoisington also coordinated and 

conducted threatened and endangered species surveys including: Coastal 

California Gnatcatcher, Fairy Shrimp, and least Bell’s vireo, southwestern 

flycatcher and quino checkespot butterfly. The PPEC is a simple-cycle 

electrical generating facility that is contracted under a 20-year power purchase 

agreement (PPA) with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) in response to their 

2009 Request for Offers (RFO). PPEC is designed to directly satisfy the San 

Diego area peaking and load-shaping generation current and long-term 

requirements. The PPEC site will be located in Chula Vista, California, along 

the southeastern city boundary of Chula Vista 

Panoche Energy Center Project

Mr. Hoisington supported the Panoche Energy Center (PEC) Application for 

Certification and subsequent Data Adequacy and Data Request responses. 

Prepared reports and assessments to comply and authorize Incidental Take for 

the PEC. The PEC is a proposed simple-cycle power generation project that 

consists of four (4) General Electric LMS100 natural gas-fired combustion 

turbine generators (CTGs) and natural gas pipeline tie-in. The total net 

generating capacity is 400MW with each CTG capable of generating 100MW. 

The proposed plant will be owned and operated by Panoche Energy Center, 

LLC. The electricity generated by this project would be in support of a contract 

with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). 
COLLEEN M. MARTIN

Staff Botanist / Ecologist

Ms. Martin has an extensive botanical and wildlife background –

including field surveys, research, and ecological studies. Ms. Martin is a 

graduate from California State University, Chico. Colleen has 

participated in a variety of field work, including rare plant surveys; bird 

banding; bat mist-netting; vegetation mapping; wetland delineations; 

post-construction bat and avian fatality surveys on wind energy facilities; 

and general botanical and wildlife surveys. Over the last six years, 

Colleen has worked on numerous biological reports, including 

Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statements, Natural 

Environmental Studies, Wetland Delineations, Restoration Plans, 

Biological Resource Assessments, Biological Constraints Reports, 

Arborist Survey Reports, and various field survey summary reports. 

PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

Granite Wind Energy Generation Project, URS Corporation

Colleen prepared the Biological Resources section of the Environmental 

Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Granite 

Wind Project. Granite Wind, LLC is making an application for a right-ofway grant for long-term commercial wind energy development from the 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Barstow District, California Field 

Office for the installation of a new wind energy generation facility and an 

application to San Bernardino County for a Conditional Use Permit for a 

commercial wind energy facility. The proposed facility will include the 

following: access roads; underground electrical collection system and

communication lines; up to 28 wind turbines and pad mount 

transformers; over head transmission line; operations and maintenance 

building; electrical interconnection/switchyard; electrical substation; and 

two permanent meteorological masts. The proposed project is located in 

the Mojave Desert and will occur on lands administered by the BLM, as 

well as private lands, and has the potential to impact special-status 

species, including desert tortoise, golden eagle, and migrating bat and 

avian species. 

March Air Reserve Base Integrated Natural Resources Management 

Plan Project

Colleen revised and updated the 2005 March Air Reserve Base (ARB) 

Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) in accordance 

with United States Air Force (USAF) policy and the Sikes Act (16 United 

State Code 670a et seq). The INRMP guides the natural resources 

management program at March ARB, and details a solid foundation 

upon which to achieve its goal of ensuring the sustainability of desired 

military training and maintain ecosystem viability.

Areas of Expertise

Botany and Plant Systematics, 

Ornithology, Applied Ecology, 

Wetland Delineations, Bird Banding

Years of Experience

With URS: > 1 Year

With other firms: 3 Years

Non-firm field research: 3 Years

Education

BS, Biology – California State

University, Chico – Chico, CA

Additional Training

Plant Systematics, 2011, CSU 

Chico; course included the revised 

taxonomic treatments for the 2nd

Edition of The Jepson Manual

Bird Banding Techniques 

Workshop, 2010, Klamath Bird 

Observatory

Ecology of California Bats, 2008, 

San Francisco State University –

Sierra Nevada Field Campus

Rare Plant Assessments 

Workshop, 2008, California Native 

Plant Society and Northern 

California Botanists

Northern California Botanists 

Symposium, 2008 

Bird Banding Workshop – Age 

Determination by Plumage 

Characteristics, 2008, CSU Chico

Plant Diversity and Identification, 

2007, CSU Chico

Riparian Habitat Joint Venture 

Conference, 2007 

Wetland Delineation Certification 

Course, 2006, Wetland Training 

Institute, Inc.
2

California High-Speed Rail Authority’s High Speed Train Project

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) was created in 1996 

to develop a plan for the construction, operation, and financing of a 

statewide, inter-city high-speed passenger train system. The Authority 

and the FRA completed a Program level Environmental Impact Report 

(EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed California 

High Speed Train (HST) System in 2005 as the first-phase of a tiered 

environmental review process for the California HST System. Colleen

conducted special-status plant surveys, vegetation community mapping, 

and wetland delineation surveys along the proposed Project route from 

Palmdale to Los Angeles (e.g., between Union Station, Los Angeles, 

California and Palmdale, California) in support of preparation of a Project 

Level EIR/EIS. The field surveys and data collection supported the 

definition of a proposed linear HST corridor, which included the Project’s 

anticipated 500-foot physical ground disturbance footprint (e.g. stations, 

track, equipment storage areas, and so forth) plus a 1,000-foot buffer. 

Colleen evaluated the onsite habitat conditions and determined the 

potential for occurrence of common and special-status species, their 

habitats, and other special aquatic resource areas (e.g., Clean Water 

Act and CFGC jurisdictional features) within the proposed Project’s 

study area, which included Mojave Desert, coastal sage scrub, and 

chaparral communities. Colleen prepared the Biological Resources 

section of the EIR/EIS and the Focused Special-Status Plant Survey 

Report and participated in the preparation of the Natural Environmental 

Study Report for the proposed Project route from Palmdale to Los 

Angeles.

Pio Pico Energy Center Project

The Pio Pico Energy Center (PPEC) is a simple-cycle electrical 

generating facility that is contracted under a 20-year power purchase 

agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric in response to their 2009 

Request for Offers. PPEC is designed to directly satisfy the San Diego 

area peaking and load-shaping generation current and long-term 

requirements. The PPEC site will be located in Chula Vista, California, 

along the southeastern city boundary of Chula Vista. Colleen conducted 

surveys for special-status plants and the endangered quino checkerspot 

butterfly and participated in the preparation of the Biological Resources 

section of the Application for Certification for the project.

River Partners, Chico, CA

While working with River Partners, Colleen designed plant communities 

for restoration projects, focusing on habitat for riparian dependent 

wildlife species. Colleen also conducted field surveys on restoration sites 

to monitor for plant survivorship and health, wildlife use and invasive 

species presence; created Restoration Plans, End of Season Reports 
3

and Trial Summary Reports; and conducted monitoring and wrote 

reports for elderberry transplants in accordance with USFWS 1999 

Conservation Guidelines for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle. 

Bat Conservation International, East Coast

While working with Bat Conservation International, Colleen conducted 

post-construction fatality searches to monitor bat and bird mortality at 

wind energy facilities. Colleen processed bat and bird carcasses to 

determine species, age, sex and reproductive status; collected carcass 

data on specimens found including carcass condition, visible injuries and 

carcass location in relation to turbine; examined bat carcasses for signs 

of White-nose Syndrome; and collected bat wing and hair samples. 

Colleen also set up and maintained AnaBat equipment on monitoring 

towers; collected acoustic monitoring data at pre-construction wind 

energy sites; and analyzed bat acoustic call recordings using AnaLook 

programming. 

References:

Raymond J. Bogiatto, M.S.

Instructor, CSU Chico

Curator, Vertebrate Museum, CSU Chico

Department of Biological Sciences, Holt 211

California State University, Chico

Chico, California 95929-0515

(530) 898-4490

RBogiatto@csuchico.edu

Dawn Garcia, M.S.

Wildlife Biologist/Avian Ecologist

6372 Harvey Road

Paradise, CA 95969

(530) 513-1785

mel.dawn@sbcglobal.net

Michelle Ocken

M.S. Candidate in Biological Sciences, CSU Chico

Biological Science Technician, U.S. Forest Service

Department of Biological Sciences, Holt 241

California State University, Chico

Chico, California 95929-0515

(530) 518-7404

redtail11@gmail.com