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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.F-37 Forward Inc. Landfill 2018 Expansion Project The ongoing bird control program described in the Land Use section would continue under the proposed project for an additional six years.The program has demonstrated to be effective at deterring gulls from foraging on the site. The program includes measures to minimize conflict between the falcons and other bird species, including that falcons are trained to focus on gulls and that a falcon handler monitors the birds to minimize conflicts with non-target species. As evidenced by the recent Swainsori s hawk nesting occurrence adjacent to the site,the bird control program has not excluded Swainsori s hawks from nesting in the area. Further,as part ' of the bird control program, regular monitoring is conducted to determine if the gulls return to forage on the landfill, and the falcons are only used when required. Given the above,related impacts to migratory birds from continuing the ongoing bird control are considered to be less ' than significant. Mitigation Measure F.6.Preconstruction surveys,consistent with the MBTA and the SJMSCP, shall be conducted for nesting birds during the nesting season(i.e., February 1—September 1). Appropriate measures to avoid impacts to nesting birds shall be determined through consultation with the USFWS Migratory Bird Treaty Office and CDFW. This mitigation measure would reduce these potential impacts to less than significant levels because impacts to nesting birds would be avoided. ' Impact F.7.Temporary Impacts to Foraging Special-status Bat Species. No active bat roosts are expected to occur within the project footprint. The project does not include the removal of trees,but a few buildings would be removed from the existing composting facility. However, ' these buildings are not expected to support an active bat roost because they are actively used and are subject to high baseline noise conditions from ongoing landfill operations. Although no bat roosts are expected to occur, species such as pale big-eared bat, California mastiff bat, ' western red bat,small-footed myotis,long-eared myotis, fringed myotis, and long-legged myotis may forage over the South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek. Relocation of the South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek could result in a temporary reduction in foraging habitat and a disruption in foraging behavior by special-status bat species such as red bat. However, abundant foraging habitat similar to that being affected is available in the immediate project vicinity. In addition, the proposed project,which includes the relocation of 3,000 feet and creation and restoration of 3,400 feet of South Branch of the South Fork of Littlejohn's Creek,is expected to provide at last equivalent bat foraging habitat. This impact is considered less than significant and no mitigation is required. ' Impact F.B.Loss of Nonnative Annual Grassland and Ruderal Vegetation,and Freshwater Emergent Wetland.The project-related loss of wildlife habitat would be minimal. All construction activities and associated habitat conversions would occur within the boundary of the existing landfill. The proposed northeast landfill development area is regularly disked and was devoid of vegetation at the time of the 2018 site visit;in this condition it provides little wildlife habitat value. This area would be replaced with an active, then capped landfill,which ' ultimately would provide similar or improved wildlife habitat value.The property owner has already paid the HCP mitigation fees associated with the loss of foraging habitat for this area. Most of the southeast landfill relocation area currently is used as a composting facility and provides little wildlife habitat value. In this area, the ground is covered with rows/piles of