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VERNALIS QUARRY MINING AND <br /> RECLAMATION PROJECT <br /> San Joaquin Kit Fox, California <br /> Red-Legged Frog, and Swainson's Hawk <br /> Habitat Assessment <br /> Introduction <br /> In October 2003, RMC Pacific Materials/CEMEX (RMC Pacific) submitted a revised application <br /> and reclamation plan for a Quarry Excavation Permit to the San Joaquin County Community <br /> Development Department. The application requested the approval of a proposed quarry operation <br /> (Project)located on about 590 acres in a rural area of San Joaquin County. A similar application <br /> for a Surface Mining Use Permit was submitted to the Stanislaus County Department of Planning <br /> and Community Development in June 2002 for the 98 acres of the Project site located in <br /> Stanislaus County. The entire Project site comprises about 688 acres(Figure 1.0). <br /> The proposed operation consists of sand and gravel extraction and the processing of construction <br /> aggregate on property either owned or]eased by RMC Pacific. The Project will eventually <br /> replace RMC Pacific's Tracy Facility,where reserves will be depleted within 10 years. The <br /> application proposes active mining for 26 to 60 years and the phased reclamation of all disturbed <br /> land,resulting in an ultimate end use of agricultural land and open space. <br /> " At RMC Pacific's request, ESA conducted a habitat assessment for the following species which <br /> occur in the region: San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), California red-legged frog <br /> (Rana aurora draytonii)and Swainson's hawk(Buteo swainsoni). This report documents the <br /> results of the habitat assessment and evaluates the potential use of the Project site by these <br /> species. <br /> Methodology <br /> ESA wildlife biologist Thomas Leeman reviewed the available literature for regional habitat use <br /> and occurrence information for each species,reviewed an electronic database for their <br /> documented occurrences, and conducted a field assessment on May 4,2005. Sources used in the <br /> preparation of this report include field notes of ESA biologists who conducted surveys for <br /> burrowing owls and the following documents: <br /> Vemalis Quarry Mining and R arnation Projed ESA 1203015 <br /> San Joaquin Nit Foz Califomla Red-Legged Frog,and Sv alnson's Hew Habitat Assessment Febmary 2008 <br /> r <br />