| There are 20,000 PG&E employees bringing safe and reliable energy to 15 million people between the Pacific Ocean and Sierra Nevada mountains, from Eureka to Bakersfield. Energy is delivered via 141,000 circuit miles of electric lines and 42,000 miles of natural gas pipelines. PG&E has been in operation since 1852, so most lines were installed prior to enactment of the state and federal endangered species acts. Today, day-to-day operations and maintenance requires consideration of sensitive plants, wildlife, habitat, and stream sources, such as wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes and springs. To address where PG&E operations and maintenance activities intersects with sensitive resources, PG&E employs a team of 40 subject matter experts that guide project teams through the regulatory process with guidance from the Biology Program. The program provides well-informed advice, guidance, training and procedures to assist with effective, efficient and consistent biology and natural resource permitting. Development of guidance and procedures helps teams achieve regulatory compliance in a consistent, cost effective manner that is scientifically based and demonstrates environmental leadership. Guidance on Section 404 of the Clean Water Act is one example of guidance prepared by PG&E's Biology Program. |