As the nation’s largest private-sector hydroelectric system operator and one of California’s major landholders, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) Thursday begins the federal government’s review process for a habitat conservation proposal. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a public meeting in Sacramento, starting the clock on a period for written comments that will run through Dec. 26.

The multi-billion-dollar combination utility’s plan intends to give new protection to the California red-legged frog, the vernal pool tadpole shrimp, the Buena Vista Lake Shrew, San Joaquin kit fox and the Tipton kangaroo rat among more than 100 species called out in its plan.

Unlike the 140,000-acre hydro system’s watershed, which PG&E is slowly giving away to a conservancy created nearly five years ago, the latest conservation proposal would cover 550,000 acres in the four regions of the state in which it has utility operations. The expanse represents only about 1% of the 80,000-square-mile area in the 36 of 54 California counties in which PG&E operates.

Focused on the acreage in which there are ongoing utility operations, PG&E proposes a habitat conservation plan that includes most of its power line and natural gas pipeline rights-of-way. Electric generation plants are excluded.

Utility activities included in the habitat protection are gas pipeline protection, repair, and replacement; electric line protection, repair and replacement; electric pole repair and replacement; vegetation management around facilities; and minor construction for new gas and electric extensions.

PG&E’s plan intends to address impacts from its routine utility operations on its thousands of miles of pipelines, electric power lines and supporting facilities, covering 109 native species for 50 years. Among these identified species, 75 are officially protected. Another 34 species are not listed by the Fish and Wildlife Service but face some perils, PG&E said.

The broad approach by the utility to address small-scale impacts from its operations was begun last February when the Fish and Wildlife Service issued PG&E a permit for a habitat conservation effort covering its work in nine San Joaquin Valley counties in the state’s central valley.

The plan is a commitment to “protect and help rare species,” PG&E said. “The plan simplifies permitting under the Endangered Species Act and provides better species protection by planning for entire landscapes rather than single project consultations.”

Notice of plan and its public vetting was given in the Federal Register on Nov. 25.

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