State Fish & Game Provides Permit for 241 Toll Road

On the heels of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) announcement that completing the 241 would not harm any endangered or threatended animals, the California Department of Fish & Game today issued its state permit to allow the traffic relief project to proceed. This is the third and final wildlife approval the project needs.

Last year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its determination that the project would not adversely affect the steelhead trout. And earlier this week USFWS confirmed that completing the 241 would comply with the Endangered Species Act and would not harm the habitat of the Pacific Pocket Mouse, the Fairy Shrimp, or any other endangered or threatened species. Today the State Department of Fish & Game issued a Streambed Alteration Agreement that requires 63 measures the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) must implement to protect fish and wildlife during the construction and operation of the roadway.

The Secretary of Commerce will weigh the opinion of the Coastal Commission, which says these animals will be threatened, with the opinions of U.S. Fish & Wildlife, the California Department of Fish & Game and NOAA, all of which say they won’t be. Interestingly, USFWS has the specific task of protecting endangered species, whereas endangered species are not mentioned anywhere in the Coastal Commission’s mission. It also makes Coastal Commissioner Sara Wan look pretty silly since she seemed to base her opposition to the project primarily on her concern for the protection of the Pacific Pocket Mouse.

Obtaining its permit from Fish & Game puts TCA one step closer to completing the 241 and provides the Secretary of Commerce yet another reason to overturn the Coastal Commission’s ruling.