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State of California—Natural Resources Agency — GAVIN NEWSOM,Governor
<br /> 01DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CNARITON H.BONHAM,Dfrocfor
<br /> Bay Delta Region G` lw
<br /> 2825 Cordelia Road,Suite 100
<br /> Fairfield,CA 94534 ,,,r""",,
<br /> (707)428-2002
<br /> www.wiidiife,ca.nov
<br /> February 11,2020
<br /> Ms.Alisa Goulart
<br /> San Joaquin County
<br /> Community Development Department
<br /> 1810 East Hazelton Avenue
<br /> Stockton,CA 95205
<br /> Subject: PA-1900127(UP)Use Permit Religious Assembly Expansion Project,Initial
<br /> Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration,SCH#2020019058,City of Tracy,San
<br /> Joaquin County
<br /> Dear Ms.Goulart:
<br /> The California Department of Fish and Wildlife(CDFW)received an Initial Study/Mitigated
<br /> Negative Declaration(IS/MND)from the San Joaquin County Community Development
<br /> Department for the PA-1900127(UP)Use Permit Religious Assembly Expansion Project
<br /> (Project)pursuant the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA)and CEQA Guidelines.'
<br /> Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments and recommendations regarding those
<br /> activities involved in the Project that may affect California fish and wildlife.Likewise,we
<br /> appreciate the opportunity to provide comments regarding those aspects of the Project that
<br /> CDFW,by law,may be required to carry out or approve through the exercise of its own
<br /> regulatory authority under the Fish and Game Code,
<br /> CDFW ROLE
<br /> CDFW is California's Trustee Agency for fish and wildlife resources,and holds those resources
<br /> in trust by statute for all the people of the State,[Fish and Game Code,§§711.7,subd.(a)and
<br /> 1802;Pub,Resources Code,§21070;CEQA Guidelines§15386,subd.(a)].CDFW,in its
<br /> trustee capacity,has jurisdiction over the conservation,protection,and management of fish,
<br /> wildlife,native plants,and habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of those
<br /> species.(1d.,§1802).Similarly,for purposes of CEQA,CDFW is charged by law to provide,as
<br /> available,biological expertise during public agency environmental review efforts,focusing
<br /> specifically on projects and related activities that have the potential to adversely affect fish and
<br /> wildlife resources.
<br /> CDFW is also submitting comments as a Responsible Agency under CEQA.(Pub.Resources
<br /> Code,§21069;CEQA Guidelines,§15381).CDFW expects that it may need to exercise
<br /> regulatory authority as provided by the Fish and Game Code.As proposed,for example,the
<br /> Project may be subject to CDFW's lake and streambed alteration regulatory authority.(Fish and
<br /> Game Code,§1600 et seq.).Likewise,to the extent implementation of the Project as proposed
<br /> may result In"take"as defined by State law of any species protected under the California
<br /> 'CEQA is codified in the California Public Resources Code in section 21000 el seq, The'CEQA Guidelines"are
<br /> found In Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations,commencing with section 15000.
<br /> Conserving Caffornia's Wi'Cdffe Since 1870
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