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nesting pair. DFG shall also be consulted to determine if it is necessary to temporarily preserve foraging habitat(in addition to the buffer area)until the nest is no longer active. • If feasible,250-foot buffer areas shall also be established around all other occupied burrows. If this is not feasible,DFG shall be consulted to determine whether smaller buffer areas and/or relocation of owls is necessary. Relocation may include passive techniques, such as use of one-way doors to encourage owls to move to alternative burrows outside the impact area,or capture and movement of owls to specific mitigation sites. • Other Nesting Raptors • If project construction begins during the raptor nesting season(February 15 to August 31),pre- construction surveys shall be conducted by a qualified biologist in areas of suitable nesting habitat within 500 feet of project activity. Surveys shall be conducted within 2 weeks before the beginning r of construction or tree removal. If no active nests are found,no further mitigation shall be required. • If active nests are found,impacts shall be avoided by establishment of appropriate buffers. No project activity shall commence within the buffer area until a qualified biologist confirms that the nest is no longer active. DFG guidelines recommend implementation of 500-foot buffers,but the size of the buffer may be adjusted if a qualified biologist and DFG determine it would not be likely to adversely affect the nest. Monitoring of the nest by a qualified biologist may be required if the �• activity has potential adversely affect the nest. • San Joaquin Kit Fox ~ To minimize the potential for destruction of an occupied burrow and direct take of a kit fox,a pre- construction survey for active and potential kit fox dens shall be conducted by a qualified biologist no more than 30 days and no less than 14 days before the beginning of ground disturbance or construction activity. The survey shall include all undeveloped areas in and within 100 feet of development and staging areas. Potential dens shall be monitored to determine if they are active,in accordance with methods presented in the Standardized Recommendations for Protection of the San F Joaquin Kit Fox Before or During Ground Disturbance(USFWS 1999). • If no active dens are found during the surveys,a letter report documenting the survey methodology and findings shall be submitted to USFWS and DFG within 5 days after survey completion and before the start of ground disturbance or construction activity,and no further mitigation shall be necessary. • Any known or potential dens discovered within the survey area shall be monitored for 3 days to determine its current use. If no activity is observed during this period,the den shall be destroyed immediately to preclude subsequent use. If kit fox activity is observed,the den shall be monitored for at least 5 consecutive days from the time of the observation,to allow any kit fox occupying the den to move to another location. If it is not a natal or pupping den,use of the den can be discouraged during this period by partially plugging its eritrance(s)with soil in such a manner that any animal can escape easily. The den may be destroyed when,in the judgment of a qualified biologist,it is no longer occupied by a kit fox or it is temporarily vacant. Methods for den destruction shall be in accordance with USFWS recommendations. • Occupied natal or pupping dens shall not be destroyed until the adults and pups have vacated the den and then only after consultation with USFWS. A 250-foot buffer zone shall be maintained around natal dens until the biologist determines that the den has been vacated. College Park at Mountain House Spec'rfic Plan III Draft EIR EDAW San Joaquin County 4.10-45 Biological Resources