Lost Hills Solar Project, Kern County, California; Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Habitat Conservation Plan

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment (draft EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. We also announce receipt of an application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and receipt of a draft habitat conservation plan (draft HCP). CED Lost Hills Solar, LLC has applied for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act for the Lost Hills Solar Project in Kern County, California. The permit would authorize the take of the federally endangered San Joaquin kit fox incidental to the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the solar project. Application for the permit requires the preparation of an HCP with measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of incidental take to the maximum extent practicable. The purpose of the EA is to assess the effects of issuing the permit and implementing the draft HCP on the natural and human environment.