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ff F i California State Mining and Geology Board Regulations Section 3503 of the State Reclamation Regulations states that all reasonable measures shall be taken to protect fish and wildlife habitat. Section 3703 provides performance standards for wildlife habitat and specifies that protection of special-status species shall occur in accordance with the applicable regulatory agencies and their adopted standards. Section 3703 performance standards also require that wildlife habitat be established on disturbed land to at least pre-mining conditions, unless the reclamation plan provides for another use of the reclaimed site. IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Standards of Significance APP endix G of the State CEQA Guidelines states that a project will normally have a significant impact on biological resources if it will: Substantially affect a rare or endangered species of plant or animal or the habitat g p of such species; • interfere substantially with the movement of any resident or migratory fish or wildlife species; or ; • substantially diminish habitat for fish, wildlife, or plants. Section 15065(a) of the State CEQA Guidelines also states that a project may have a significant effect on the environment when "the project has the potential to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, or reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal." Other significant impacts could include those that would conflict with local, state, or federal resource conservation plans, goals, or regulations. Impact 4.7-1 Potential Impacts to Common Plants and Wildlife All Quar[y Excavation Alternatives (1, 2, and_3) Mining on the project site under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3 would disturb a total of 142 acres of open/agricultural land over a 56 year period. The proposed mining and excavation activities would effectively remove all existing vegetation and reduce the local populations of some common plant and wildlife species that occur on the project site. Some common wildlife species could also be affected by increased truck traffic on adjacent roadways which could lead to an increase in mortality resulting from collisions with vehicles. Most Draft Environmental Impact Report 4-101 ER-96-3