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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.F-39 <br /> Forward Inc. Landfill 2018 Expansion Project <br /> wildlife habitat (including raptor foraging habitat)is considered a cumulatively significant <br /> impact. <br /> Mitigation Measure F.B. The project shall comply with the SJMSCP mitigation requirements <br /> for the conversion of row and field crop lands (SJCOG 2000). Under the SJMSCP (2000),each <br /> acre of Swainsori s hawk habitat (i.e.,Agricultural Habitat Lands)converted to non-open space <br /> uses would be mitigated by the establishment of 1 acre of Row and Field Crop/Riparian <br /> Preserve (a 1:1 mitigation ratio). This measure would apply to the 8.6 acres of land to be <br /> developed in the southern portion of the property. This would reduce this impact to a less than <br /> significant level. <br /> Impact F.9. Increase in Existing levels of Night Lighting. Night lighting is not expected to <br /> increase, as all project components would be within the boundaries of the existing active landfill <br /> facility area. This is a less than significant impact and no mitigation is required. <br /> Impact F.10. Use of Rodenticides in the Capped Areas of Landfill Could Result in Adverse <br /> Impacts to Wildlife. As part of permits issued to landfills, rodent control is important to <br /> maintaining the integrity of the landfill cap and liner to prevent leaching or seepage. Rodent <br /> control is conducted through the application of rodenticides that is regulated through the <br /> Department of Agriculture. Application of rodenticides could adversely affect predator species, <br /> such as raptors and carnivores that feed on rodents on the site. When poisoned rodents are <br /> depredated,they can deliver significant doses to the predator. Raptors that eat small mammals <br /> in urban and agricultural areas are at risk of secondary poisoning from anticoagulant <br /> rodenticides, which can cause internal hemorrhaging and mortality. Some anticoagulants take <br /> several days to work(e.g., brodifacoum)even with lethal doses, allowing rodents to forage and <br /> be exposed to raptor predation before dying. As a participant in the SJMSCP,Forward <br /> proposes to incorporate SJMSCP guidelines developed to minimize potential effects of <br /> rodenticides to giant garter snake,burrowing owl, and Swainsori s hawk(USEPA 2000, <br /> Appendix A of the SJMSCP). However, this is still considered a potentially significant impact. <br /> Mitigation Measure H.10. Rodenticides and methods of application used at the landfill shall be <br /> reviewed by a qualified biologist approved by the SJMSP TAC,to determine if they reflect the <br /> most effective and safe methods for controlling rodents. That biologist shall make <br /> recommendations for improvement if needed. <br /> This mitigation measure would reduce these potential impacts to less than significant levels <br /> because rodenticide use would be strictly monitored and limited to TAC-approved methods. <br /> Impact F.11. Project Effects on Wildlife Corridors. All proposed project components would <br /> be within the boundaries of the existing landfill. Therefore, the proposed project would not <br /> create a new barrier to terrestrial wildlife movement. Additionally, the relocation of the South <br /> Branch of South Littlejohns Creek to the south of the landfill would maintain a potential <br /> movement corridor for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. Therefore,this impact would be less <br /> than significant and no mitigation is required. <br /> Impact F.12. Project Effects on San Joaquin Kit Fox. Based on the lack of suitable habitat and <br />